The Gender of Death A Cultural History in Art and Literature [Paperback]

An illustrated historical study of gendered personifications of death in Western art, literature, and culture.In this illustrated historical survey of the image of death in art and literature Karl S. Guthke assesses the significance of the various personifications of death in different ages and cultures, as male or female, enemy or lover, friend or avenger, angel or devil. Guthke shows that such images are reflections of the life and cultures that produced them, and through them he offers astonishing new insights into the nature and perception of the Western self in its cultural, intellectual, and literary context.In this illustrated historical survey of the image of death in art and literature Karl S. Guthke assesses the significance of the various personifications of death in different ages and cultures, as male or female, enemy or lover, friend or avenger, angel or devil. Guthke shows that such images are reflections of the life and cultures that produced them, and through them he offers astonishing new insights into the nature and perception of the Western self in its cultural, intellectual, and literary context.In this illustrated historical survey of the image of death in art and literature Karl S. Guthke assesses the significance of the various personifications of death in different ages and cultures, as male or female, enemy or lover, friend or avenger, angel or devil. Guthke shows that such images are reflections of the life and cultures that produced them, and through them he offers astonishing new insights into the nature and perception of the Western self in its cultural, intellectual, and literary context.Introduction: why this book? 1. Imagining the unimaginable: death personified; 2. The Middle Ages: the unfortunate Fall; 3. Renaissance and Baroque: the devil incarnate; 4. The Romantic age: 'How wonderful is death'; 5. From decadence to postmodernity: the stranger at the masked ball; Epilogue: death immortalising life.'[Guthke] entices the reader fromlÃ