Famous Last Words
This body of work explores the final moment’s of these famous persons, opening a window into their lives and brings contexts to the last words said or written.
Frederic Chopin: Due to his immense fear of being buried alive, he asked his sister for an open burial as well as his heart be removed. The doctor asked if he felt any pain to which he replied “Not anymore.”
Alexander the Great : Suffering from a fever and only able to muster eye movements and slight head movements , when asked “who shall be your successor?” he replied, “To the strongest!”
Hunter S. Thompson: After writing an article for ESPN , he finishes his work with the sentence “Relax–this won’t hurt” before ending his own life.
Lewis Carroll: In his sister’s home in Guildford, his final request asked of his sister was to “Take these pillows I shall need them no more.”
Cleopatra: Historians still are unsure whether it was an Asp that she allowed to bite her or by way of a makeshift poison, her final words recorder were “ So here it is.”
Salvador Dali: The surrealist painter Salvador Dali asked the question “Where is my clock?” before he passed away.
Edgar Allan Poe : Found in hysterics on the street, not in his own clothes, in his final moments uttered the words “Lord help my poor soul.”
L. Frank Baum: Author of The Wizard of Oz said the words “Now I cross the shifting sands” during his final moments, a reference to the desert surrounding the land of Oz.