The Portrayal of Death and Lamentation

The attitudes toward death and lamentation differ throughout the world. Some feel that death is a sad, scary thing, which must be mourned. Others feel that death, especially in warfare, is a noble thing. Views on lamentation differ as well. Opinions range from belief that it should be a private thing, to the notion that the more people lamenting, the higher status of the deceased person. Still others feel that prolonged lamentation is unnecessary, for the deceased person is in a better place. The Bible, Antigone, History of the Peloponnesian War, and "Apology" in The Last Days of Socrates each show different attitudes toward death and lamentation.

In the Bible, death is portrayed as something of which to be afraid. When Jacob died, "Joseph himself upon his father, weeping over him and kissing him"(Genesis 50:1). This depiction makes death out to be a terrible thing from which one must be protected. Further, it seems that people live to keep order. When they pass away, terrible things may happen: "Now that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers were afraid..."(50:15). Thus, according to the Bible, people keep order and peace. Once they are dead, potential chaos may take their place.

In the Bible, lamentation is also key. After Jacob's death, Joseph and his brothers "raised a loud and bitter lamentation; and Joseph observed seven days' mourning for his father" (50:10-50:11). Thus, long, loud, semi-public or public lamentation is necessary. It is a sad thing, according to the Bible, when a person passes away.

In Antigone, death is also a sad thing, particularly if the body of a deceased person is not buried. It is believed, in Greek culture, that if a body is not buried, the person's soul will be stuck in the mortal world for all of eternity and will never make it into Hades. Antigone considers death to be grievous: "I shall meet with nothing more grievous, at worst, than death, with honor"(4). Thus, there seems to be a mixed message. Dying is bad, and people should try their utmost not to die. However, if a person is going to die, he/she might as well do it with honor.