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RE: Death Is Not As Tragic As You Think It Is - A Brief Analysis of A.E Housman's To An Athlete Dying Young

in #poem6 years ago

Is death the crown of life?
According to the author, that boy had a brilliant destiny for dying young. So he could not see his dreams and achievements broken by someone more capable.
I think it's a very biased and conformist vision. A case the great teachers who changed the history of humanity and died at an advanced age did not leave a valuable legacy? Would it have been better if Siddhartha Gautama had not lived 80 years?
Anyway dear @gandhibaba you did not tell us your interpretation of the poem. Do you want to let us know?

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Thanks for this great comment, Piotr. Literature mirrors the society. Usually, dead is a tragic event. But in this poem, the narrator advances the view that death, especially dying young, has its advantage if the deceased person is an achiever.

The narrator believes that ultimately everyone will die and that it is better to die when the ovation is loudest instead of living old to see one's achievement die before one is buried.

Personally, I do not support the view of the poem. However, I find it insightful and this could be a consolation to the family of the bereaved. Good to always read your comment, friend.