A Critical Examination of Death within The World According to Garp, by John Irving

"Death is the only inescapable, unavoidable, sure thing. We are sentenced to die the day we're born." (Gary Mark Gilmore) Truer words have never been spoken. While many may not wish to except this idea, the fact that this statement is true is unavoidable. From the first day of someone's birth it is unknow if they will become a famous actor or a parent, or even a criminal. What is known is that one day …

…to death happens. But the main thing that is happening, is life. Despite all else that ails the characters of Irvings novel, life is the one they all choose. While death lurks around every corner for each character, life takes the step to meet death head on. The characters are not oblivious to death, but instead have come to accept the natural occurence. While death is in everyone's future, the present for all is life.