Life and Death: Introduction
“Live life so completely that when death comes to you like a thief in the night, there will be nothing left for him to steal.” - Anonymous
When you were young, you rarely thought about death. Your life had just begun, and you had the feeling that you would live forever. Unfortunately, it is a harsh reality that everyone's life will end in death.
Pretend for just a moment that someone you love has received some terrible news. A doctor has said that this person has a horrible sickness and has three to six months left to live. How would your loved one feel? Words like shocked, nauseated, depressed, and devastated probably come to mind. However, once this person gets past these initial feelings, he or she would begin to think about the following questions:
- Have I lived a good life?
- How will I spend my remaining time?
- How will people remember me?
- Where am I going when I die?
So far, this has all been very depressing to think about. However, it can easily be transformed into something positive.
Exploring human mortality allows you to appreciate your life. As the opening quote implies, death makes you recognize that the time you have is limited, and you should make the most of it.
This unit contains literature in the form of short stories, speeches, and poetry that explore the life and death theme. While the journey through this literature may be uncomfortable at times, the texts will force you to look within. You will find yourself examining your own life and how you choose to live it.