Death Is Not the End

"The Palm-Wine Drinkard" uses mythology and symbolism to explore various aspects of death. One definite theme is that death is not an end but a transition. The drinkard faces death many times and in many ways but lives through the experiences. In fact, early in the story he pays Death himself a visit and tricks Death into falling into a net, so that Death can not go back home again. "So since that day that I had brought Death out from his house, he has no permanent place to dwell or stay, and we are hearing his name about in the world." (Chapter 1, p. 199)

When the drinkard and his wife have their horrible baby, they decide to kill it by burning down the building where their son is. This death is not permanent, and when the wife insists on going back for her gold...