blog




  • Essay / The use of decadence and beauty in "Stella's Birthday"

    Does the acceptance of either help the speaker accept the fate of time and aging in the poem? Explain why or why not. “Stella's Birthday” and “Good Old Man” The life of an average person is a cycle and consists of a few stages, starting from birth and childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age followed by death. Not everyone is satisfied with their life when they finally start to see the end coming as old age approaches. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay However, there are always those lucky people who see the world differently, embrace all that is left, and cherish the past. A poet named Jonathan Swift wrote a poem called “Stella’s Birthday” dedicated to a dear friend of his who was in failing health and nearing the end of her days. This dedicated poem is about her thoughtful tribute, expressing how wonderful and important she was in his life. She brought him joy and happiness, ups and downs, and above all, an unforgettable figure who will always remain in his heart even after death separates them. Swift explains in her poem how accepting reality is not always a bad thing. Acceptance of old age evokes the article "Menopause is Women's 'Good Old' Thought on Reproductive Aging" written by Heather E. Dillaway of Wayne State University. This study explains how feminist researchers came to the conclusion that women view menopause as an overall positive experience. Although aging and beauty both play a role in life, Jonathan Swift's "Stella's Birthday" and Dillaway's article on "The Good Old Man" focus on the optimistic side of both themes, even when age-related decadence is at their doorstep. In "Stella's Birthday", the theme of aging comes into play when Swift references her old age as well as Stella's poor health. In the first stanza he says: “Who can, despite all decadence, Endure a few remaining days: From the gravest theologians, Accept for once a few serious lines. » Swift does not care about the reality of decadence, but accepts it and sees well for her remaining days. The second stanza: “Although we can no longer form long plans for life, as before; Yet while time flies, you can look back with joy on the past” supports the idea of ​​aging. Old age interferes with creating more vivid events but that does not stop them from enjoying the wonderful memories of their past. Due to the normal stages of a woman's reproductive cycle, the cessation of menstruation or menopause is inevitable as old age approaches. Menopause typically occurs around age 50, and according to Heather Dillaway's article "Good Old," individuals actually view menopause as a positive experience. The themes of age and beauty are both correlated when it comes to old age. This can be seen in the article "Good Old" when it states: "Because activities like sex continue, aging individuals may not feel old...women are finally engaging in sexual relationships as 'they should have…as ​​younger ones”” (Dillaway, 400). ). These individuals feel younger and more beautiful when interacting in normal activities. In "Stella's Birthday", the theme of beauty comes from the wonderful kindness and warmth Swift witnessed from her, and he embraced her all his life and,/30044600.