Erik Velasquez
R. Chekuri
English 2327
February 12, 2014
Faith Activates God - Fear Activates The Enemy
Edward Taylor was a pastor, physician and an American poet. He lived between 1642 and 1729; a time of devastating living conditions. At this time America was still a colony of Britain a fact that increased human problems (Jerrett, 384). Edward, as everyone else, lived in terror of his life and home being in danger. Yet, during these terrifying moments, he drafted poetry one of them being A fig for thee oh! Death. Being a strong believer of Christian faith, Edward was determined to ascertain his belief of life after death. Just like most of his poem, "A fig for thee oh! Death" aimed at criticizing death. The analysis in the succeeding sections focuses on the poem in details paying special attention to his description and attitude towards death. In addition, an analysis is provided concerning Edward's central message, which was firmly founded in his unending faith in God.
The poem's title insinuates that the main idea was basically focused on the death phenomenon. However, perhaps it is possible to derive a different meaning from the manner Taylor addresses the subject matter. In the poem, he vows vehemently his lack of confrontation to save his life, his body, from cruelty of passing away, for God protect his soul (Jerrett, 386). Accordingly, it can be concluded that Edward attempted to prove that there was notable disparity between soul and body. At the same time, he also shows his attempt to reconcile the huge gap between body and soul. From the start of the poem, the poet creates two edges that form a man, the human Saul and body, "Kernelâ¦..nut" (Taylor 306). Death is embodied as a ghastly monster that is a...