I’ve always considered that book one of my childhood favourites.
Not really a death speech, this classic piece of literature is really a speech given by the defendant during his trial, the result of which is his execution.
Can’t believe nobody posted this yet:
“Et tu, Brute? Then die Caesar.”
Julius Caesar, Shakespeare.
Dang! It’s “Then fall Caesar.”
Geez, you guys are so way beyond me. I was going to post the speech from the chick in Final Destination about how the others were freaks for being obsessed with death and that they should just go on and live their lives and if they didn’t agree with that then they could just drop dead. And then a millisecond later she gets hit by a bus.
“I knew he’d have someones eye out messing with that bow and arrow”
King Harold, Battle of Hastings, 1066
:D:D
Sorry just couldn’t resist it.
“It’s the end, but the moment has deen prepared for.” -Tom Baker’s last words from Doctor Who.
I know it’s not liturature, but neither is bloody Blade Runner.
The Portage to San Cristobal of A.H., a novel by George Steiner, in which he imagines that Hitler is caught and put on trial. In the final pages of the book, Hitler makes a speech, rebutting his accusers. Shattering.
Here’s Phoenix’s death speech from the famous X-Men #137:
“You want me to fight? I have. I am… with all my strength. But I can’t forget that I killed an entire world… FIVE BILLION PEOPLE… as casually, as unthinkingly, as you would crumble a piece of paper. I want no more deaths on my conscience. Your way, I’d have to stay completely in control of myself every second of every day for the rest of my immortal life. Maybe I could do it. But if I slipped, even for an instant, if I… failed… if even ONE more person died at my hands… it’s better this way. Quick. Clean. Final. I love you, Scott. A part of me will always be with you.”
When he understood it, he called for his friends, and told them of it. Then said he, “I am going to my Father’s; and though with great difficulty I am got hither, yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am. My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage; and my courage and skill to him that can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me that I have fought his battles who now will be my Rewarder.” When the day that he must go hence was come, many accompanied him to the riverside; into which as he went he said, “Death, where is thy sting?” And as he went down deeper, he said, “Grave, where is thy victory?” So he passed over; and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.
–John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress
There is a willow grows ascaunt the brook,
That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream.
Therewith fantastic garlands did she make
Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,
That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,
But our cold maids do dead men’s fingers call them.
There on the pendant boughs her crownet weeds
Clamb’ring to hang, an envious sliver broke,
When down her weedy trophies and herself
Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide,
And mermaid-like a while they bore her up;
Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds,
As one incapable of her own distress,
Or like a creature native and indued
Unto that element. But long it could not be
Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,
Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay
To muddy death.
–Ophelia’s death, in Hamlet
Frankenstein’s monster had a good one at the end of the novel.
Romeo’s buddy from early in Romeo and Juliet. Our boy has been stabbed in a street fight, he looks at the wound and says something like this:
“T’is not so wide as a church door, nor deep as a well, but ‘twill suffice, ‘twill suffice.”
General Sedgewick, the “they can’t hit an elephant at this distance” guy, was one of the Union Army’s corps commanders and was beloved by his troops who called him “Uncle John.” He died doing his duty, up at the front among the gunners. This comment was to discourage the gunners from ducking and bobbing as rifle fire came into their gun line. He was not a famous soldier but a solid soldier and a good officer.
Frankenstein’s monster in Mary Shelley’s novel was considerably more articulate than most of his screen incarnations:
It’s only Literature by a stretch, but I’m rather fond of this one:
Why don’t we just wait here for a little while…see what happens.
–the thing.
It was good to be alive, wasn’t it boy?
–Druss the Legend
Forgive me…my queen…for slowing us.
–Blood of the Fold
I realize calling any of that literature is a stretch but I figured I’d make an idiot of myself in my first post anyway so I might as well do it on purpose. 
Okay, here’s the Charlotte’s Web speech (I think. Apologies if something else was meant):
My contribution: Thorin Oakenshield’s speech to Bilbo in The Hobbit:
Mecutio in Romeo and Juliet:
Help me into some house Benvolio,
Or I shall faint. A plague a both your houses!
They have made worms’ meat of me.
I have it, and soundly too. Your houses!
played superbly by a friend of mine.
This next one breaks the rules. It’s an “about” rather than a “by” quotation. From Pilgrem’s Progress.
They scourged him, then they buffetted him; then they lanced his flesh with knives; after that they stoned him with stones, then pricked him with their swords; and last of all they burned him to ashes at the stake. Thus came Faithful to his end.
Of course I meant Pilgrim’s Progress.
I’m in complete agreement with you, I love that particular passage and adore Hamlet, by far one of Shakespeare’s greatest literary acheivements in my view.