Death in Litereature

Death is considered from many different standpoints in literature from around the world. We face death, deal with the death of a loved one, and discuss the religious or philosophical significance of death. Three authors that illustrate this are James Joyce, William Faulkner, and Stephen Crane.

In "Maggie: Girl of the Streets" Crane incorporates the idea of death in both the beginning of the story and the end. In the beginning the little brother, Tommy and the father die. The cause of the father's death is believed to be the excessive drinking. The father drank every night and this was his routine. Everyday he would go to the bar and drink before going home. To then argue with Mary and scare the kids. It was pretty much expected of him to drink. Tommy on the other hand we are not sure of his death. In the story they inform us of the tragedy but they never mention the cause. By the end of the story there is another death. Maggie dies. Maggie had been rejected by her family for choosing Pete over them. After Pete left Maggie for Nellie she tried to go back home but her family refused her. She then had no other choice but to try and make it on her own. To her the answer was prostitution. Later on Jimmie is sent to tell Mary the news of Maggie's death. Mary was in disbelief; the last thing she wanted was for her child to turn up dead. But once she came to truth with the reality of Maggie being gone she began to mourn with the woman of the choir. Knowing how Maggie has done wrong in her life and how her own mother never forgave her the women asked Mary to forgive her. Mary then agreed with the woman from the choir saying "Oh yes I'll forgive her! I'll forgive her!"

Joyce on the other hand does not have anyone die in his story. The theme of death is brought upon at the end when Gabriel is thinking. After the party at the Misses Morkans Gabriel sees that his wife is distant. The entire ride home she does not say a word and if he attempts to go near her she brushes him off. When they arrive at the hotel Gabriel approaches Gretta and asks her what is on her mind. She then tells him about Michael Furey. Michael was a guy Gretta was in love with when she was in Galway. He used to sing the Lass of Aughrim to her. When Gretta was leaving to Dublin Michael was sick but stood out in the rain to see her. A week after Gretta left Galway he died; she believes that Michael Furey died for her. Once Gabriel hears this he