Stories About Dying
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This collection contains stories about dying, exploring diverse perspectives on death, capturing experiences of loss, final acts, and reflections on mortality. From selfless sacrifices to unexpected encounters, each story reveals characters’ varied encounters with death and its meanings.
Sacrifice and Selflessness: In The Happy Prince, a statue and a loyal swallow give up everything to alleviate others’ suffering, finding peace in their acts of generosity. The Nightingale and the Rose shows a nightingale sacrificing her life to help a young student, only for her gift to go unappreciated. In The Little Match Girl, a young girl’s brief visions of comfort lead to her final moments, with her spirit finding solace in a better place.
Reflections on Mortality: In The Masque Of The Red Death, Prince Prospero’s attempt to escape a deadly plague fails as the Red Death enters his sanctuary. The Old Oak Tree’s Last Dream follows an ancient tree’s final reflections as he recalls the lives he’s witnessed. Ex Oblivione presents a protagonist who seeks escape in dreams, only to find contentment in a state of oblivion.
Lessons from Nature: The Hawk and the Nightingale conveys the harsh realities of survival as a hawk refuses to release a captured nightingale. In The Sick Stag, a stag dies from neglect when others consume the resources he needs. The One-Eyed Doe shows the doe’s misplaced caution, resulting in her demise. Similarly, Protective Wings highlights the pigeons’ self-sacrifice to protect sparrows from freezing temperatures.
Human Error and Consequences: The Monkey and the Fishermen teaches the dangers of acting without experience when a monkey drowns trying to use a fishing net. The Facts In The Case Of M. Valdemar explores the unsettling consequences of mesmerism as a man decomposes while in a trance. In The Devoted Friend, Hans’s kindness to his selfish friend leads to his tragic death during a storm.
Death in Myth and Legend: In The Peony Lantern, a samurai’s love for a mysterious woman ultimately brings him to join her in death. The Green Willow tells of a samurai’s relationship with a mystical woman who dies when her tree is cut down. Horaizan contrasts two perspectives on life and immortality, showing the choice to embrace mortality.
Life and Afterlife: In The Star And The Lily, a lily’s longing for a star leads to her withering away. The Rose Elf involves an elf witnessing a murder and helping enact vengeance. The Loveliest Rose in the World concludes with a realization that love is life’s true sustainer.