Close Reading of 'Ode to Death': Smith's Paradox of Acceptance Anonymous College

Charlotte Smith’s late poem ‘Ode to Death’, published in 1797 in her collection of Elegiac Sonnets, draws on the idea of accepting death as a ‘friend’ (l.1) rather than fearing it. The ode carries a deep sense of desperation and sorrow, as it alludes to the grief endured by Smith in her own lifetime; predominantly referring to the passing of her daughter, Anna Augusta de Foville. This marks Smith’s capacity to manipulate her sorrow as a poetic construct, as the speaker acts as a substitute for her own identity. By dwelling on the ‘torturing pain’ (l. 7) of life, the poet succeeds in presenting mortality as somewhat desirable - personifying it as ‘Misery’s Cure’ (l. 21). This allows the reader to reflect on its ability to provide relief to those in suffering.

The speaker’s willingness to embrace death is evident in the opening line of the poem, as the stress on the word ‘friend’ (l. 1) elicits attention to itself. Despite the ode’s general use of iambic pentameter, here emphasis is placed on the first syllable of the line - meaning the image of death as a companion is more prominent. The abrupt nature of the exclamation ‘Friend of the wretched!’ (l.1) is also significant, as it hints at the despair of the speaker, who appears to...