Life and Death: Philosophical Reflections in Literature
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Life and Death: A Philosophical View
Life's Earthly Condition
Life is a condition of individuals represented in earthly actions. We can find that life contrasts with death, which is a completely different event, perhaps represented at another, possibly celestial, plane. Life, in turn, may be related to a river: it originates from the mountains, grows in the valleys, leaves ramifications, and ends by merging with the sea.
Literary Treatment of Mortality
The theme of life and death is hotly discussed in literature, more specifically in the poetic genre of the medieval funeral elegy. This genre is characterized by encompassing everything man thinks and feels regarding the problem of life and death.
Jorge Manrique's Contribution
One of the most representative poets and authors of this literary genre is the famous Spanish writer Jorge Manrique (1440 - 1479), who wrote a work directly referring to the title of this essay.
Verses on the Death of My Father
This work by the previously named author is Verses on the Death of My Father. The author's inspiration for writing this well-known poem was entirely the death of his father. In this poem, several topics stand out, among which is the idea that the way of life and death equalizes all men, regardless of their status.
Life as a Journey
Life is referred to as a road or crossover that is traversed. During this span, various events occur, and good or bad deeds are done. Just as fruits are obtained along the way, at the end of the road lies death. But is death truly the end of the road, or is it the beginning of a new life? This is the central problem between life and death.
The Inevitability of Death
It is clear that death shows no forgiveness. At the moment of truth, it does not see race, sex, fame, or fortune; it always arrives—sometimes creeping, sometimes violent, but in the end, it always comes.
Conclusion: Rest and Eternal Life
To conclude this essay, I personally think that death is the beginning of a new life—a wonderful, complete rest, an eternal life. We are convinced by the title of the work, and although the certainty of eternal life is not known worldwide, we believe in it. We also believe that life is a path of pain and suffering, while death is a journey of rest and peace.