When the commonplace "We must all die" transforms itself suddenly into the acute consciousness "I must die-- and soon," then death grapples us, and his fingers are cruel; afterwards, he may come to fold us in his arms as our mother did, and our last moment of dim earthly discerning may be like the first.
by George Eliot (0 Reviews)
In George Eliot's "Middlemarch: A Study of Provincial Life," the distinction between the abstract idea of death and the personal realization of one's own mortality is emphasized. While people often acknowledge that everyone must die, it becomes a terrifying reality when one confronts the possibility of their own death. This moment of awareness can be filled with fear as we grapple with the inevitability and cruelty of fatality.
Eliot suggests that the experience of dying is multifaceted. Initially, there may be anguish and struggle, akin to being gripped by a harsh force. However, she also hints at a more gentle, comforting aspect of death, likening it to the embrace of a nurturing figure. This duality captures the profound journey from life's awareness to acceptance of mortality, evoking a sense of continuity between the beginnings and endings of existence.
Comments will not be approved to be posted if they are SPAM, abusive, off-topic, use profanity, contain a personal attack, or promote hate of any kind.