iconmaster
Banned
Edit: excluding children*
Dante's Divine Comedy, a towering achievement in Western literature, was at least partly (or principally) inspired by his beautiful friend Beatrice, who died at age 25.
Edgar Allen Poe lost many women over the course of his life, including his wife Virginia at age 24. In his Philosophy of Composition he concluded "the death, then, of a beautiful woman is unquestionably the most poetical topic in the world."
It's so powerful a theme that it recurs continually throughout history, from Sleeping Beauty to Laura Palmer. "Fridging" a young woman important to the hero has become a cliché; but it still has the desired effect.
Let me suggest that the answer is yes: the death of a beautiful woman is more tragic than any other, and this is right and good. Beauty confronts us with the transcendent -- something above and beyond the ordinary routines in life. It can be found in mountains and trees and birds, but of course it is found in certain women as well. When we lose such a woman, we lose twice: we are bereaved of the person, but we are also robbed of that reminder of something higher and better to which we ought to aspire.
What do you think? Am I sexist, or I have I touched on a profound truth?
*Several users have suggested the death of a child is the most tragic. I would absolutely agree with that -- innocence is another biggie along with beauty. I'd like to limit the issue to adults for the sake of having a discussion -- otherwise, children win and the thread ends.
Dante's Divine Comedy, a towering achievement in Western literature, was at least partly (or principally) inspired by his beautiful friend Beatrice, who died at age 25.
Edgar Allen Poe lost many women over the course of his life, including his wife Virginia at age 24. In his Philosophy of Composition he concluded "the death, then, of a beautiful woman is unquestionably the most poetical topic in the world."
It's so powerful a theme that it recurs continually throughout history, from Sleeping Beauty to Laura Palmer. "Fridging" a young woman important to the hero has become a cliché; but it still has the desired effect.
Let me suggest that the answer is yes: the death of a beautiful woman is more tragic than any other, and this is right and good. Beauty confronts us with the transcendent -- something above and beyond the ordinary routines in life. It can be found in mountains and trees and birds, but of course it is found in certain women as well. When we lose such a woman, we lose twice: we are bereaved of the person, but we are also robbed of that reminder of something higher and better to which we ought to aspire.
What do you think? Am I sexist, or I have I touched on a profound truth?
*Several users have suggested the death of a child is the most tragic. I would absolutely agree with that -- innocence is another biggie along with beauty. I'd like to limit the issue to adults for the sake of having a discussion -- otherwise, children win and the thread ends.
Last edited: