While reading the following texts a common theme I've found was death. In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin, and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Within the play Hamlet the theme of death was apparent from the beginning when Hamlet initially met the ghost of his father and the ghost proclaimed that he was killed by his own brother. This theme continues throughout the play while Hamlet continuously seeks revenge for the death of his father. The finality of the theme, death becomes of him when the whole royal family of Denmark is found death at the end of the play, and the only one left, Horatio, has to explain what has happened in the Kingdom of Denmark.

​

https://www.thoughtco.com/death-in-hamlet-2984976

The above link will walk you through how death is a main theme in the play Hamlet, if you'd like further information.

 

In The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin she vividly reveals the details of a widow not mourning the death of her husband. As suspicious as it is the woman seems to be full of joy and happiness as she realizes that her love has passed away. This realization of her loss becomes of her as she starts with exclamations of joy. She longed for the death of her husband. As quickly as her joy lasted, it left within the same span, as she witnessed her husband walk into the household seconds later. The wife died of a heart attack immediately. How peculiar that the woman who wished death upon another was granted her wish to her.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

If you wish to hear the story of The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin, above I have attached the audio book, enjoy.

​

​

Last but not least we will discuss Station Eleven by Emily St. Mandel. Station Eleven discusses the Earth in a post-apocalyptic world and in such a wild and inspiring book the presence of the theme, death, is hard not to be noticed. As Station Eleven follows a group of performing Shakespeare artists, as readers, we also discover the crumbling world  surrounding our main characters, and are exposed to the truth that is survival of the fittest. In Station Eleven no one is afraid of death because everyone who has lasted through the collapse of civilization has overcome what they believe is the worst of what they've been exposed to. With no government, no societal religion, and no rules, its an open playing field for all who survive. We can see the evident strain this has caused on humanity, it has truly become survival of the fittest. Death becomes apparent when the readers are exposed to a world where everyone has killed, no ifs, and's, and or buts. Its a means of life. Their motivation is surviving.

​

Not convinced that you should read it, well here's a couple more reasons.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-pauline-lowry/you-should-read-station-e_b_5686596.html