The Death of a Moth Essay - 1759 Words

What started out as an ordinary day turned out to be one if the worst tragedies in the history of Bangladesh – the fire at Nimtoli in Dhaka. I sat in shock as I saw the news reports of the tragic incident showing numerous buildings on fire burning mercilessly, people running in havoc with no idea where loved ones are and yet others trapped inside the buildings, screaming, being burned alive. However, nothing seemed to have any effect on the ruthless fire which kept on burning, claiming as many lives as it could, turning a deaf ear to the desperate cries of hundreds of people. The blazing flames simply devoured everything in their path, burning them to ash. It finally subsided in the early hours of dawn, but the damage it left behind was†¦show more content†¦As suddenly as Woolf picked up a pencil to aid the moth, she â€Å"laid [it] down again† (386). She gave up trying to help the moth knowing that it was â€Å"useless to try to do anything† (386). â₠¬Å"[N]othing, [she] knew, had any chance against death† and hence she resigned without even trying to help the moth (386). Though Woolf designates death as the most powerful force of nature, she does not portray it as a violent force, surprisingly; rather she depicts death as being calm and peaceful, a force that ends life’s struggle - an appealing thought. Woolf describes the moth as â€Å"decently and uncomplainingly composed† at death, in an attempt, it seems, to suggest that death should actually be accepted willingly (386). What Woolf fails to acknowledge is the struggle that the moth put up against the force of death. Woolf unfortunately overlooks the fact that if death is a function of nature, then it is nature that dictates death and therefore it is nature that is the superior force. The idea of nature being the driving force of life is addressed by Roy Reed in his essay â€Å"Spring Comes to Hogeye†. In his essay, Reed describes an old man, Mr. So lenberger who was truly connected with nature. Even at the old age of eighty-six, he found in himself the energy to continue his gardening – his way of staying in touch with nature at all times. His ties to nature are further revealed as he disclosesShow MoreRelatedThe Death Of The Moth859 Words   |  4 Pages In her essay â€Å"The Death of the Moth†, Virginia Woolf depicts the struggle of life confronting death through the death of a moth. Woolf sees a moth flying in â€Å"a pleasant morning, mid-September, mild, benignant† (385). She uses this soft autumnal description of her morning to emphasize the beauty of life and the happiness one feels while being alive; however, she uses the moth to represent life itself and show its own struggles: â€Å" [the moth] tried to fly across...the window-pane†, but â€Å"he failed†Read MoreEssay Death of the Moth.1046 Words   |  5 PagesWoolf incorporates symbolism in her essay by describing the moth a s life and energy. So simple a form of the energy and taken a tiny bead of pure life and decking it as lightly as possible with down and feathers, had set it dancing and zig-zagging to show us the true nature of life quoted from the essay. Another way she incorporates symbolism is by describing the months journey to death. Woolf also describes the scenery, the horses, and the farm itself. The month had traveled from one windowsillRead MoreDeath Of A Moth Essay1128 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The Land Ethic† vs â€Å"The Death of the Moth† Marlee Matlin once said,â€Å"The Earth does not belong to us: We belong to the Earth.† In Aldo Leopold’s essay, â€Å"The Land Ethic†, there are several overwhelming examples that illustrate why we as humans would believe we own the Earth when we really don’t. Paradoxically, looking at Virginia Woolf’s work, â€Å"The Death of a Moth†, one would come to believe that none of that matters because all living beings will suffer the fate of death. However, both works showRead MoreRhetorical Devices In The Death Of The Moth1224 Words   |  5 Pagesattempt to avoid death, and many times those people are successful; however, more often than not, when people face the predicament of dying, they are not fortunate enough to escape the misfortune. Whether a person surpasses the curse of death at one point in time, eventually they will come to meet death; death is inevitable. Virginia Woolf, author of the essay, â€Å"The Death of the Moth,† cap tures the message death is inevitable. Throughout the essay, Woolf follows the short life of a day moth. In followingRead MoreThe Death Of The Moth And The Sixth Extinction?1647 Words   |  7 Pagesbranches once more. Picking decomposing bats off of the ground while amidst giant icicles, some with dead flittermice trapped half-within. Virginia Woolf’s â€Å"The Death of the Moth† and Elizabeth Kolbert’s â€Å"The Sixth Extinction?† both present the common theme of the death of animals. Specifically, they share the use of the presentation of the death of animals, and vivid imagery to accompany it. There are many differences between the two essays, especially regarding matters such as voice, tone, and the intendedRead MoreVirginia Woolf - the Death of the Moth705 Words   |  3 PagesBattle between Life and Death Our existence is the battle between life and death. We face it everywhere; in people’s eyes’ and behavior, in the motions of the creatures that surround us and in the nature that somehow dies in the winter and gets a new life in spring. This battle is impossible to remain unnoticed because it is simply the way of life. In Virginia Woolf’s essay â€Å"The Death of the Moth†, she writes about a moth that is trying to get ‘a new life’ by going through the windowpaneRead More The Death of the Moth by Virginia Woolf Essay735 Words   |  3 PagesThe Death of the Moth by Virginia Woolf The Death of the Moth, written by Virginia Woolf, explains the brief life of a moth corresponding with the true nature of life and death. In this essay, Woolf puts the moth in a role that represents life. Woolf makes comparisons of the life outside to the life of the moth. The theme is the mystery of death and the correspondence of the life of the moth with the true nature of life. The images created by Woolf are presented that appeal to the eye. Read More The Death of the Moth by Virginia Woolf Essay761 Words   |  4 Pages‘The Death of the Moth† by Virginia Woolf   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Death is a difficult subject for anyone to speak of, although it is a part of everyday life. In Virginia Woolf’s â€Å"The Death of the Moth†, she writes about a moth flying about a windowpane, its world constrained by the boundaries of the wood holding the glass. The moth flew, first from one side, to the other, and then back as the rest of life continued ignorant of its movements. At first indifferent, Woolf was eventually moved to pity the moth. ThisRead MoreEssay about The Death of the Moth Analysis1518 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The Death of the Moth† Analysis Life is a constant struggle against the ever present chill of death. Fear, betrayal, and cowardice all stems from life’s distaste of death. Human beings naturally rebuke the unknown, so it is only logical that people fight the inevitability of death. However, most people are ignorant of the reality of one day dying, prompting writer Virginia Woolf to write the essay, â€Å"The Death of the Moth†, in order to convey the frailty of life whilst also showing the awesomeRead MoreDeath Of A Moth By Annie Dillard Analysis917 Words   |  4 PagesIn the excerpt, Death of a Moth, by Annie Dillard, she attempts to overcome her writers block by getting away from it all and taking a trip into the Mountains of Virginia. While taking time off, she intends to spiritually find her true self again and get back on a successful track. Only by using concrete imagery, drawing a strong parallel, and meticulously selecting a certain word choice to create points of clarity, is she able to e ffectively convey her inner struggle. Dillard effectively uses