The fundamental thing behind all motivation and activity is the constant struggle against annihilation and against death. It is absolutely stupefying in its terror, and it renders anyone's accomplishments meaningless. Only within the scaffolding of these truths, only on the firm foundation of unyielding despair, can the soul's habitation be safely built. And why does he refer to truth, ie. The meaning of life is tied to our view of death.
Death can make life seem absurd.
Death reminds us of our finitude. D. Examples in Literature, Art, and Music 1. In music, see the compositions of the 20th century composer Gustav Mahler. In painting there are many examples. The most important contemporary writers on the subject of death are the existentialists.