On Life And Death in "Thanatopsis", a poem by William Cullen Bryant, tells about how when one dies the grave becomes an endless world, how the deceased become one with the earth, the trees, and everything that is great within the earth, and how when one dies they do not die alone. He uses strong words to describe the feelings and visions one sees when they are in their last hours and even after they have passed away. The author makes death seem like something that should not be feared and should almost be looked forward to. "When thoughts of the last bitter hour come like a blight over thy spirit, and sad images of the stern agony, and shroud, and pall, and breathless darkness, and the narrow house, make thee to shudder, and grow sick at heart- Go forth, under the open sky, and list to Nature's teachings, while from all around- Earth and her waters, and the depths of air- comes a still voice"(Bryant 153). I think that Bryant is taking what can be considered the stereotype of what death and dying feels like and putting it in some very descriptive and strong words. He then goes on to show, from what I gather, how one should really feel when dying. I think the author's opinion of death is that it should be a happy and relaxing experience. He tries to show that when dying instead of feeling deep sorrow and pain you will become embraced by mother nature and her calmness and it will be a soothing experience rather than a painful and devastating experience. After reading this poem and seeing such strong descriptive words I can understand and almost invision how dying could be a pleasant experience, rather than going along with most of societies stereotypical ideas of how death really is. "Earth that nourished thee, shall claim thy growth, to be resolved to earth again, and, lost each human trace, surrendering up thine individual being, shalt thou go to mix forever with the elements, to be a brother to the insensible rock and to the sluggish clod, which the rude swain turns with his share, and treads upon"(Bryant 153).
