# Death — Poetry character guide

> Death in Poetry by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0001-the-rape-of-lucrece

## Who they are

Personified figure of mortality, addressed by Lucrece.

## Relationships

### [Jove](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/characters/jove)

_rivalry_

Death and Jove are opposing forces, with Death claiming Lucrece despite Jove's divine authority over life.

### [Jove](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/characters/jove)

_rivalry_

Death and Jove are opposing forces, with Death claiming Lucrece despite Jove's divine authority over life.

## In the story

### [Venus and Adonis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/venus-and-adonis)

Personified as the force that destroys Adonis, prompting Venus's prophecy.

### [The Passionate Pilgrim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/the-passionate-pilgrim)

Personified as causing untimely death, as in 'kill'd too soon by death's sharp sting.'

### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/x)

Death is personified as the agent that kills the fair creature too soon with a sharp sting.

### [The Phoenix and the Turtle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/the-phoenix-and-the-turtle)

Death is now the phoenix' nest; the turtle's loyal breast to eternity doth rest.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/vi)

Personified as a conqueror who would claim the youth if he remains childless.

### [Sonnet 13](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/xiii)

Personified as having 'eternal cold' and 'barren rage'.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/xviii)

Personified as a force that cannot claim the beloved because of the immortality granted by the poem.

### [Sonnet XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/xxii)

Personified as the end that expiates days when the beloved shows signs of aging.

### [Sonnet 30](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/xxx)

Personified as the keeper of the dateless night where precious friends are hid.

### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/xxxii)

Personified as 'churl Death' who will cover the poet's bones with dust.

### [Sonnet LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/lv)

The enemy against which the beloved shall pace forth.

### [Sonnet LXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/lxv)

Implied through 'sad mortality' that over-sways all.

### [Sonnet LXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/lxxiii)

Referenced as 'Death's second self' (sleep) and the inevitable end that seals all in rest.

### [LXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/lxxiv)

Personified as the arresting officer who carries the poet away.

### [Sonnet LXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/lxxvii)

Implied through 'mouthed graves' as the ultimate consequence of time.

### [Sonnet CVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/cvii)

Death is personified as a figure that now subscribes to the poet, acknowledging the poet's immortality through verse.

### [CXLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/cxlvi)

Personified as a force that feeds on men, but will itself be consumed by the soul.

### [Sonnet CXLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/cxlvii)

Referenced as the outcome of desire, which reason had previously forbidden.

### [A Lover's Complaint](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/a-lover-s-complaint)

Implied through the imagery of 'sepulchres in mud' and the destruction of tokens of love.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/characters/death
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_28_se/characters