Question

What was the theme of the poem "Appointment in Samarra"? What are your views about it?

P.S: A little note of mine, How does the poem relate to Sherlock season 4? How does it relate to the Eurus Holmes problem? You need not answer this.

Answer 1

Appointment In Samarra, published in 1934, is the first novel by American writer John O'Hara (1905 – 1970). It concerns the self-destruction and suicide of the fictional character Julian English, a wealthy car dealer who was once a member of the social elite of Gibbsville (O'Hara's fictionalized version of Pottsville, Pennsylvania). The book created controversy due to O'Hara's inclusion of sexual content.[1]

In 1998, the Modern Library ranked Appointment in Samarra 22nd on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.

Answer 2

The theme of this story is you can’t escape death. in the story Death is talking and explaining to the merchant that she wasn't threatening the servant. The servant left thinking he could run away from death. In the end Death told the merchant she had an appointment with the servant in Samarra where the servant fled to just so he could escape. Even though the servant though he escaped, he just ended up going along with what fate had for him and couldn't change his fate/destiny. When the merchant asked Death why did you make a threatening gesture towards the servant, Death herself said “That was not a threatening gesture... for I have an appointment with him tonight in Samarra”