The theme of Death in the Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, and in Watership Down.

THE THEME OF DEATH IN THE ODYSSEY, ROMEO AND JULIET,

AND IN WATERSHIP DOWN.

By Richard Stock

Death is inevitableIn the Odyssey Death for the suitors is

inevitable because they were meant to die at the hands of Odysseus. The suitors tried to escape death by asking for Odysseus to spare them, they tried to kill him, but they were all killed because of what crimes they committed against Odysseus and his house. There were predictions to the suitors end like how Penelope kept them waiting for Odysseus to come home and save her.

Romeo and Juliet In Romeo and Juliet the fate of the two in

love was not meant to be. They had to escape death from their parents, and each others family. At the end they both kill themselves to be together forever in the afterlife. They are like Odysseus in a way as they had escaped death until the end when they killed themselves for their love.

Watership Down The characters in Watership Down all have

escaped death in some way, but Hazel and El-ahrairah are the ones who are the most affected afterwards. Hazel was shot in the leg so now he limps for the rest of his life. El-ahrairah is a great example of one who always escapes death and get what he wants after. He always has some trick up his sleeve. But they can’t outrun or trick Death for its inevitable. At the end Hazel goes into the Owsla of the heavens and he dies happily instead of in a fight.

“The Fate of Death” Wherever you look death can be

found

For it is not bound to a certain place.

It is everywhere even in the tears on your face.

It moves like a black beast in dark black robes,

In the day and in the night it will find you for you cannot hide.

Its black eyes watching for death is why

You and your friends stay alive, for every one else will die.

Fate is for death to decide for you cannot out run it

Because it will hunt you down and strike in the open.

Faith, Belief, and hope are nothing unless you can survive to the end.

Death has a fate of its own and we know what that is.

The power of life is fading and fate of death is to take over.

The end is where humanity dies for they have lived too long.

Through love, escape, and destiny will the black robed beast draw you in,

Into the deep chamber at the bottom of the soul where

nothing survives

Not even our angelic lives.

TOO soon is the fate of death’s arrival

For you must save yourselves in time for your final trial.

(Eurylochos, in Odysseus’s tale:) ‘“Listen to what I say, my companions, though you are suffering evils. All deaths are detestable for wretched mortals, but hunger is the sorriest way to die and encounter fate. Come then, let us cut out the best of Helios’ cattle, and sacrifice them to the immortals who hold wide heaven, and if we ever come back to Ithaca, land of our fathers, presently we will build a rich temple to the Sun God Helios Hyperion, and store it with dedications, many and good. But if, in anger over his high-horned cattle, he wishes to wreck our ship, and the rest of the gods stand by him, I would far rather gulp the waves and lose my life in them once for all, than be pinched to death on this desolate island.”’ (12.340-351)

"...Some consequence yet hanging in the stars/ Shall bitterly begin his fearful date/ With this night's revels, and expire the term/ Of a

despised life clos'd in my breast/ By some vile forfeit of untimely death." Act 1, Scene 4, lines

107-111

“There’s terrible evil in the world, It comes from men. All other elil do what they have to

do and Frith moves them as he moves us. They live on the earth and they need food. Men will never rest till they’ve spoiled the earth and

destroyed the animals.” Watership Down

Images I chose these images for their beauty and

how they relate to the sadness and theme of death in the three books. Most were found on the internet. The background and a couple of pictures are from the Lord of The Rings. They represent the Nazgul, who are black beasts in black robes. I tried to use HD images so the quality would show how meaningful the theme is. A good amount of these pictures are of the Grim Reaper who is the main symbol of death.

Music This song is called Die Another Day by Madonna. It

is saying that the characters from the books in relation to the theme are going to die later and not when they most expect it. Death is inevitable but this song gives the idea that you still have another chance at life and you need to take it. To relate it in the Odyssey, Odysseus goes through all these obstacles and finally makes it home to kill the suitors. In Romeo and Juliet they die at the end of the play avoiding death until the end and also avoiding love. In Watership Down, Hazel is shot and lives to the end, then is taken away to heaven. I just love this funky song, and I thought it went perfect with my theme.