Death of a Beautiful Woman
Nineteenth-century writers, artists, readers, and theater-goes were fascinated by stories of death and mourning—especially of a young and beautiful woman. Famous poet and essayist, Edgard Allan Poe, was also fascinated with this, in fact, almost all of his poems have this topic. He asserted that "The death of a beautiful woman, is unquestionably the most poetical topic in the world."
Death of Elaine
by Thomas Hovenden, 1882.
by Thomas Hovenden, 1882.
There has been a long-standing philosophical problem of how tragic representations of suffering and death, especially of a beautiful woman, can arouse aesthetic pleasure and fascination. But why does this hold so much appeal and fascination to people?
Death is often given the role of providing a sense of closure in written narratives and theatrical performances, for it is an act of greater finality and completeness than any other. As a writer quoted, "Death is the sanction of everything which the storyteller can tell.
The death of a young beautiful woman is tragedy itself. The woman is still at the beginning of her life, probably she hasn't experience much about it, its joy, pain, sorrow, and happiness. She has much potential, and is beaming with radiance and happiness towards life. Suddenly, the inevitable struck. Death comes and she is whisked away. Forever. People will say that death took her prematurely. But how do we know if it isn't her time yet?
In these kind of situations, the death of another person who is so young and vibrant brings us closer to the inevitability of our own deaths; such sensations of fear and pity are integral to tragedy. By identifying with the death of a young beautiful woman, we feel fear over what fate can bring, and pity for the victims of such a fate. We realize that death chooses no one, no matter what stage of life we are or how we are living life when it will take us away.
It is important that the tragic events provide us with this insight, that the display of suffering does not appear completely senseless, for that would be at odds with the ideal of finding closure. To be moved by a beautiful young woman's death is to be convinced that death imparts some higher meaning or serves some purpose.
Death is often given the role of providing a sense of closure in written narratives and theatrical performances, for it is an act of greater finality and completeness than any other. As a writer quoted, "Death is the sanction of everything which the storyteller can tell.
The death of a young beautiful woman is tragedy itself. The woman is still at the beginning of her life, probably she hasn't experience much about it, its joy, pain, sorrow, and happiness. She has much potential, and is beaming with radiance and happiness towards life. Suddenly, the inevitable struck. Death comes and she is whisked away. Forever. People will say that death took her prematurely. But how do we know if it isn't her time yet?
In these kind of situations, the death of another person who is so young and vibrant brings us closer to the inevitability of our own deaths; such sensations of fear and pity are integral to tragedy. By identifying with the death of a young beautiful woman, we feel fear over what fate can bring, and pity for the victims of such a fate. We realize that death chooses no one, no matter what stage of life we are or how we are living life when it will take us away.
It is important that the tragic events provide us with this insight, that the display of suffering does not appear completely senseless, for that would be at odds with the ideal of finding closure. To be moved by a beautiful young woman's death is to be convinced that death imparts some higher meaning or serves some purpose.
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