I think that, rather than demonic children rising from the dead and killing him (which a couple of my friends seem to think), either
what jfoxx said:
"I felt like this was the Rake's greeting into death. That William had killed him, and the first thing he sees upon dying is all his murdered children, which will be with him for eternity in death. A fitting sentence."
or
His conscience finally catches up with him, and his murdered children's voices drive him insane (and possibly making him commit suicide), thus making it easy for Margaret to escape and be reunited with William/William to rescue Margaret.
'but father I return'
I take 'return' to mean the rake is still in the land of the living when the voice is haunting him.
'But papa here in death'
This could mean that he's joined his children in death, but I think it's just them talking from death, and he is still alive.
So yes, I think that he is still alive in this song, although probably not for much longer. Who knows, he might simply run away in his insanity.
'rather than demonic children rising from the dead and killing him'
rather than HIS demonic children
my bad, just 'demonic children' makes it sound like I meant just any old demons, rather than his own dead children specifically.
'rather than demonic children rising from the dead and killing him'
rather than HIS demonic children
my bad, just 'demonic children' makes it sound like I meant just any old demons, rather than his own dead children specifically.
I think that, rather than demonic children rising from the dead and killing him (which a couple of my friends seem to think), either
what jfoxx said: "I felt like this was the Rake's greeting into death. That William had killed him, and the first thing he sees upon dying is all his murdered children, which will be with him for eternity in death. A fitting sentence."
or
His conscience finally catches up with him, and his murdered children's voices drive him insane (and possibly making him commit suicide), thus making it easy for Margaret to escape and be reunited with William/William to rescue Margaret. 'but father I return' I take 'return' to mean the rake is still in the land of the living when the voice is haunting him. 'But papa here in death' This could mean that he's joined his children in death, but I think it's just them talking from death, and he is still alive.
So yes, I think that he is still alive in this song, although probably not for much longer. Who knows, he might simply run away in his insanity.
'rather than demonic children rising from the dead and killing him' rather than HIS demonic children my bad, just 'demonic children' makes it sound like I meant just any old demons, rather than his own dead children specifically.
'rather than demonic children rising from the dead and killing him' rather than HIS demonic children my bad, just 'demonic children' makes it sound like I meant just any old demons, rather than his own dead children specifically.