Godfather Death Analysis

Imagine having a sidekick – but instead of just any sidekick, this one is Death. Literally. The short story “Godfather Death” by Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm shows what happens when you have Death on your side. Then what happens when you betray him. It seems scary, but you can’t help wondering what it would be like. Working with Death comes with advantages, but there are also cruel consequences if you betray him.


Being one of the worst consequences, death is largely symbolized in this interesting story. As the doctor’s father is looking for a godfather for his son, he finds Death, who claims, “I am Death, who makes all men equal.” Having Death as a godfather could help to teach you lessons needed in life. The reader comes to realize that Death symbolizes a teacher in this story. Who would’ve thought that Death was capable of being inspirational? An interesting lesson that he teaches in this story is that you should be obedient – and he shows this with candles. “The tall ones belong to children, the middle-sized ones to married people in the prime of life, and the short ones to the very old. But sometimes even children and young people have only a short candle.” Just like Father Time uses hour glasses, Death uses candles to symbolize the type of person that each person was throughout their life. When the doctor requests to see his candle and sees that his candle is near dying out, he begs Death to put it on top of another candle so it’ll burn again. What he doesn’t realize, though, is that the herb that made him so famous could have saved his life. Since Death had told him only to use it when he stood by the patient’s head but the doctor betrayed him twice, not giving the herb to the patient when he wasn’t meant to would’ve saved him. Even though the doctor had Death on his side, he took it for granted.


Symbolism in the name, Death being the godfather of the doctor shows the reader that this story involves a bit of trouble. When he approached the doctor’s father in the beginning of the story, it just seemed to scream suspicion. Giving the doctor an herb, he tells him, “When you are called to a patient, I will always appear to you. If I stand next to the sick person’s head, you may speak boldly that you will make him healthy again. Give him some of this herb, and he will recover. But if you see me standing by the sick person’s feet, then he is mine. You must say that nothing can be done and that no doctor in the world can save him. But beware of using the herb against my will, or it will turn out badly for you.” Warning him so harshly, Death seemed as if he knew what would eventually happen. To show that he does have a hint of forgiveness in him, Death gave the doctor another chance the first time that he messed up. But the second time drew the line for him. Though Death ended up taking the doctor’s life, he started out as a godfather that anyone would hope for.


To give him an advantage in life, Death made the doctor the most famous doctor in the world. Glory and money are things that every person wishes for, and the doctor got that. Was he selfish, though? At some points in the story he seemed to be. When the king’s daughter fell into illness, he gave her the herb even though Death claimed her as his by standing by her feet. To make matters worse, he had only saved her because he wanted to be her husband. The doctor seemed to think that he could cheat Death just because he was his godfather – but he was terribly mistaken. Since the doctor had betrayed Death not once, but twice, his punishment was given to him fairly. Selfishness is a terrible quality to have, and it overcame the doctor since he thought that he could get away with betraying Death, who had been on his side.


Having Death on your side could make you feel like you’re standing on top of the world, but wouldn’t it also intimidate you? Throughout life you’ll hear things like, “Love is all around,” but have you ever thought of hearing, “Death is all around”? The symbols in the story cry out this saying to the doctor numerous times. Everyone has a guardian angel or someone to help them in their journey through life, and Death was the doctor’s helper – until the doctor turned his back on Death. Being another bad quality, stupidity also ended the doctor’s life. Remembering not to take things for granted and to be happy with the things you have are two key points in leading a good life.