Verezzi sees physical death, leaving the earth, as his only possible way to peace after realizing that he broke his vow to Julia; he says, “no peace but in the grave for me.” In an attempt to attain that peace, he plunges a dagger “into his bosom! – his soul fled without a groan, and his body fell to the floor, bathed in purple blood” (141).
Motivated by the sight of Verezzi’s dead body, Matilda plans to take Julia’s physical life, even though it “deprives [her] of happiness for ever.” The physical death of Julia is more important to Matilda than her own spiritual death (142).
Matilda fears her own physical death because of what she believes waits for her in death; “the guilty Matilda shrunk at death […] her soul caught a glimpse of the misery which awaits the wicked hereafter […] a voice from within [whispered,] ‘thou shalt never die!’” (143).
Physical death can maintain reputation, which is at risk even after life has ended; facing her death, Matilda “summoned all her resolution [and] resolved […] to meet her fate with fortitude.” She does not want the “populace, as they gazed” to exclaim, “‘The poor Laurentini dared not to die’” (146).
Physical death does not rob Julia of her "celestial loveliness"; it is "unsubdued by death, [and] shone from her placid features" as those present at Matilda's trial saw her corpse (152).
Zastrozzi says that when his mother’s body “sank early to the tomb,” […] her spotless soul fled to eternal happiness” (155). Zastrozzi sees physical death as a release from this world, but not an end for the soul.
Zastrozzi is not satisfied with physical death alone; he claims that he has learned better than to have “destroyed [Verezzi’s father’s] body alone” (155).
Shelley, Percy B. Zastrozzi and St. Irvyne. Ed. Stephen C. Behrendt.
