Requiem in Literature: Introduction
A requiem in literature surpasses its conventional role as a funeral dirge or musical piece for the deceased. Integrated across genres, it explores grief, loss, and the search for meaning in mortality. Authors use it to evoke emotions and reflect on death’s impact. This literary device, a requiem, stands as a universal expression of the human condition.
Requiem in Literature: Shakespearean
“Hamlet” – Act 5, Scene 2:
- Context: In the final act of “Hamlet,” after the tragic events unfold, Hamlet addresses his impending death and the inevitable fate that awaits all.
- Excerpt: “Goodnight, sweet prince, / And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!”
“Macbeth” – Act 5, Scene 5:
- Context: As Macbeth learns of his wife’s death, he reflects on the futility of life and the transience of time.
- Excerpt: “Out, out, brief candle! / Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player / That struts and frets his hour upon the stage / And then is heard no more.”
“King Lear” – Act 5, Scene 3:
- Context: In the devastating conclusion of “King Lear,” Lear mourns the death of his daughter Cordelia, expressing deep grief and despair.
- Excerpt: “Howl, howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones. / Had I your tongues and eyes, I’d use them so / That heaven’s vault should crack.”
These Shakespearean examples showcase the theme of requiem in literature, capturing moments of grief, reflection on mortality, and the inevitable fate that befalls tragic characters.
Requiem in Literature: Examples
| Author & Work | Excerpt |
| Gabriel Garcia Marquez – “One Hundred Years of Solitude” | “He really had been through death, but he had returned because he could not bear the solitude.” |
| Toni Morrison – “Song of Solomon” | “You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.” |
| F. Scott Fitzgerald – “The Great Gatsby” | “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” |
| Kazuo Ishiguro – “Never Let Me Go” | “I keep thinking about this river somewhere, with the water moving really fast. And these two people in the water, trying to hold onto each other…” |
| Virginia Woolf – “To the Lighthouse” | “It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” |
| Ray Bradbury – “Fahrenheit 451” | “There must be something in books, things we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there…” |
| Ernest Hemingway – “For Whom the Bell Tolls” | “Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.” |
| George Orwell – “1984” | “But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother.” |
| Harper Lee – “To Kill a Mockingbird” | “Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.” |
| Sylvia Plath – “The Bell Jar” | “I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart: I am, I am, I am.” |
Requiem in Literature: Relevance in Literary Theories
Formalism:
- Focuses on the structural and aesthetic aspects of requiem, analyzing its role in shaping the overall literary work.
- Emphasizes the form, language, and style employed in expressing themes of mourning and reflection.
Reader-Response Theory:
- Examines how readers emotionally engage with requiem themes, exploring diverse interpretations and responses.
- Acknowledges the subjective nature of the reader’s experience in connecting with the emotional depth conveyed in requiem literature.
Marxist Literary Criticism:
- Investigates how requiem narratives reflect societal structures, power dynamics, and class struggles.
- Considers the socio-economic context embedded in the portrayal of grief and remembrance in literature.
Feminist Literary Criticism:
- Explores gender dynamics within requiem themes, scrutinizing the representation and agency of female characters.
- Considers whether traditional requiems perpetuate or challenge gender stereotypes.
Postcolonial Literary Criticism:
- Analyzes how requiem narratives may reflect or challenge colonial legacies and cultural perspectives.
- Explores the impact of loss, mourning, and remembrance within postcolonial contexts.
Deconstructionist Literary Theory:
- Deconstructs the language and symbolism used in requiem literature, revealing multiple and potentially contradictory meanings.
- Challenges fixed interpretations and highlights the inherent instability of language in expressing grief and reflection.
Requiem in Literature: Relevant Terms
| Literary Term | Definition |
| Requiem | A literary theme exploring grief, mourning, and remembrance. |
| Elegy | A poem or song expressing lament and sorrow, often for the deceased. |
| Dirge | A mournful song or poem, often performed at funerals or memorial events. |
| Memento Mori | A Latin phrase meaning “remember you must die,” prompting reflection on mortality. |
| Epitaph | Inscription on a tombstone or memorial, often poetic or commemorative. |
| Lamentation | Expression of grief or mourning, often in a poetic or musical form. |
| Threnody | A song, hymn, or poem of mourning, typically for the dead. |
| Epiphany | A moment of sudden realization or profound insight in literature. |
| Catharsis | Emotional release and purification experienced by the audience through tragedy. |
| Pathos | A quality in literature that evokes pity, sorrow, or compassion. |
Requiem in Literature: Suggested Readings
- Faulkner, William. As I Lay Dying. Vintage, 1990.
- Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms. Scribner, 2014.
- Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Vintage, 2004.
- O’Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. Mariner Books, 2009.
- Plath, Sylvia. Ariel. Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2004.
- Tolstoy, Leo. Anna Karenina. Penguin Classics, 2002.
- Walker, Alice. The Color Purple. Mariner Books, 2003.
- Wiesel, Elie. Night. Hill and Wang, 2006.
- Woolf, Virginia. Mrs. Dalloway. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1981.
- Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. Alfred A. Knopf, 2006.
