Death and Tragedy

Death is rarely tragic. It is normal and to be expected.

"Men must endure

"Their going hence, even as their coming hither:

"Ripeness is all."

             -- King Lear, Act V, Scene II

For good Christians, death is a comedy -- a happy ending to life, no matter when it may come. For the unreligious, it is a disorganization of those atoms which life had organized, freeing them for new roles. For all, death is loss only to those among the living who are unwilling to accept the way the universe works.

"Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so" 

            -- Donne, Holy Sonnet #10

What is tragedy?

To me it is something so extreme and unexpected -- that it affects us long after the event. It is Oedipus striving diligently to avoid Fate, and failing. It is Hamlet, paralyzed by shock, depression, grief, and uncertainty, wanting to act, but able to do so only when dying.

Tragedy affects our emotions and our thoughts, Tragedy teaches us a lesson that strikes us in our heart and mind equally. Tragedy requires a rare combination of circumstances and events that we cannot ignore, cannot diminish, and cannot forget.