Question

Explain the line "Dust thou art, to dust returnest. "

Answer 1

The line "Dust thou art,to dust returnest" is taken from the psalm of life by Henry Longfellow. This is a line which is further taken from the bible in Ecclesiastes 3:20. The line signifies the futility of human life. It means that we were born from the earth (God created Adam from sand) and no matter what we do it will all be in vain, as we will all one day return to dust. The futility of man is a topic discussed by various poets such as P.B Shelley in the poem 'Ozymanidias' .Just like Longfellow he too believed that whatever we do, nothing will remain and it will all be futile. As nothing can prevent our return to the sand and thus oblivion.

Answer 2

Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. In the Book of Genesis, words that God spoke to Adam in casting him and Eve out of the Garden of Eden.