(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

The Role of Death and Last Rites

            The right to die and euthanasia, also known as physician-assisted suicide, have long been topics of passionate debate. Euthanasia is simply mercy killing while the phrase "physician-assisted suicide" regards the administering or the provision of lethal means to aid in the ending of a person's life. The right to die entails the belief that if humans have the governmental and natural right to live and to prolong their lives then they should also have the right to end their life whenever desired. Articles such as Gary Cartwright's "Last Rights" and Margaret Somerville's "The Role of Death" provide the life support for these two topics will likely never fade away. Both articles cover physician-assisted suicide and the right to die. Cartwright's article is much more personal and easier for readers to relate to while Somerville's article is very aggressive and tries to persuade the reader with exhaustive vocabulary and unproven facts and statistics. .
             To begin with, Somerville's article is in response to the rise in news coverage of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in Canada. Somerville wrote this article in defense of the anti-euthanasia movement, to reinforce people who are against euthanasia, and to inform those that are not familiar with the topic. This article could also sway those that are stuck in the middle. Somerville believes that euthanasia is absolutely morally and ethically wrong and completely unacceptable unless, in very rare cases, that someone is in excruciating and terminal pain and has zero chance of living a better life. Somerville supports this idea by using facts and statistics but some of them are not very well backed up or proven. One example is her quoting of Ruth Von Fuchs who is the president of the Right to Die Society of Canada. Somerville quotes Von Fuchs saying, "Life is not an obligation." This is an unfair quote because no relevant context was given besides that Von Fuchs was being interviewed on a Canadian morning television show when she said it.


Essays Related to The Role of Death and Last Rites

1. funeral rites of passage

In his book Rites of Passage, Arnold Van Gennep describes the three phases of transition that accompany a "rite de passage". ... The death rites are performed so that eventually the liminal state will end and cleanliness and normalcy will return to the community. ... The Hindu belief in the continuation of life after death plays a large role in the way in which mourners feel and react to death. ... Perhaps the last idea I leave you with should be that the one thing that remains constant throughout all religions is death. ... It is for this reason that I might suggest that death is the one orga...

  • Word Count: 1416
  • Approx Pages: 6

2. Womens Gender Roles In Japanese Religious Traditions

And like the society of Japan itself, its religious traditions have specific gender roles that maintain the separate spheres of men and women. I am not going to discuss to much about the gender roles of males in the traditions of Japan because it is the roles of women I find to be much more important to the continuation of certain traditions along with being much more intriguing. ... The book deals with the rituals in Japan and specifically the roles of women in both Shinto and Buddhist practices. ... The gender roles that Japanese women experience in the country's religious traditions...

  • Word Count: 3406
  • Approx Pages: 14
  • Has Bibliography

3. Body Modification and Contempo

Body Modification and Contemporary American Rites of Passage INTRODUCTION Rites of Passage The term "Rite of Passage" describes any rite or ritual which marks or induces a change in an individuals social position. These life changes include birth, puberty, initiation into social and familial groups, marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and death. ... Because the hierarchy in our society is based primarily on monetary and vocational achievements, and rites of passage no longer play a role in the determination of an individuals social standing, the rite of passage has evolved primarily into a tes...

  • Word Count: 3564
  • Approx Pages: 14
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Confucious

But before his death he undertook a great writing task organising, writing and putting together the five Chinese classics. ... And • Li Chi or book of rites - a collection of directions on ceremonies. ... Birth, coming of age, marriage, and death. ... • Death - when death occurs, the relatives cry out aloud to inform the neighbours. ... He was revered for his role as the Sage to all generations. ...

  • Word Count: 1051
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Fraternities

Being a member of a fraternity involves certain rites and duties that are expected. These rites are secret ceremonies that are conducted for the initiation into the fraternity. ... This would be a reason why fraternity members try to achieve leadership roles. ... When Riker means the "higher and lower" in his last quote, he means the high or low active rate that the fraternity is in. ... One of the most common death related hazing would be alcohol abuse. ...

  • Word Count: 1880
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio

The brothers became fearful of the impact that if he would die at their home without the last rites, it would be like a sin so they decided to go in search for a friar. The brothers called a friar from the convent near the house in order to hear the wicked man's confession and to grant him his last rites. ... In short, the scoundrel managed to be a virtuous man during his last days of life. He was remembered as Saint Ciappelletto after his death. ... (Singer, 2007) The role of Andreuccio was very interesting and had been representing a merchant naive who was inexperience and also an unf...

  • Word Count: 954
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Islam

Among the things I am going to discuss are: Muhammad, the last prophet, the Five Pillars of Islam, the family life of Muslims, marriage between Muslims, and lastly, some traditions and festivals that Muslim's celebrate. ... Muhammad was the last and final prophet and his words and ideas came directly from God, and since his time, his revelation has not been corrupted. ... (Jomier, 1989, page 53) The main ideas under these five pillars is beliefs in god, in the Qur"an, in the angels, in the Prophet Muhammad and the prophets sent before him, and in the Last Day. ... In ...

  • Word Count: 1868
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Black Death of Europe

The death rate from the plague was erratic. ... The poor people saw so much death they wanted to enjoy life. ... The horror of the Black Death had taken on a new victim, the economy. ... The Effect on Jews and Peasants Amid the accumulating death and fear of contagion, people died without being administered the last rites. ... The Hundred Years' War played an important role in shifting power to monarchs, and away from feudal nobles. ...

  • Word Count: 1397
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question