I'm really not in a morbid mood... honest! I just happened along this article in my surfing:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danse_Macabre

"A danse macabre painting normally shows a round dance headed by Death. From the highest ranks of the mediaeval hierarchy (usually pope and emperor) descending to its lowest (beggar, peasant and child) each mortal’s hand is taken by a skeleton or an extremely decayed body. The famous Totentanz in Lübeck’s Marienkirche (destroyed by an Allied bomb raid in WW II) presented Death very lively and agile, making the impression that the skeletons were actually dancing, whereas their dancing partners looked clumsy and passive. The apparent class distinction in almost all of these paintings is completely neutralized by Death as the ultimate equalizer, so that a sociocritical element is subtly inherent to the whole genre: The Totentanz of Metzin for instance shows how a pope crowned with his tiara is being led into hell by the dancing Death."

I wanted to see how various historical reproduction decks displayed the Death card. I've included an image from the Cary Yale Visconti, which displays Death riding a horse, grinning widely as he gathers up people from all classes with his scythe.

Death in the Etteilla (Book of Thoth) deck grins, is dancing and wearing a bright red shawl, although no other figures are shown. (I was unable to find an image on the web of this card.) RWS also incorporates the Pope, King, Child imagery (see above).

Often, its important to consider the historical context in which these images came to be what they are today. In the face of the Black Death, Hundred Years War, and various famines, this card says, "Carpe Diem," or Seize the Day. It also relays that no one is immune and that Death is inevitable. This fatalistic message was often given as a reminder to live righteously since no one knew when Death would come.

As humans, we want to answer the question, "Why?" Why things happen the way they do. We want an explanation. Much of the religious thinking over the last several centuries came about to answer this question of why... The idea of a final judgement, where justice would be meeted out to the guilty or the evil, made living in difficult conditions a little more palatable. The same could be said of reincarnation and Karma, often used today...

One important social change wrought by the Black Death pandemic, was that the Christian church became less powerful, I believe in part, because they could not adequately answer the question, "Why?" In addition:

"Renewed religious fervour and fanaticism bloomed in the wake of Black Death. This spelled trouble for minority populations of all sorts, as some Christians targeted "various groups such as Jews, friars, foreigners, beggars, pilgrims", lepers and gypsies, thinking that they were somehow to blame for the crisis." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_death)

This was a very superstitious time, and Science was in its infancy. Still, this tendency to want an explanation for life events has not changed. As Tarot Readers, we are often asked why... was there a higher purpose or a lesson to be learned or a reason... In truth, sometimes bad things just happen.

I consider the Tarot to be a living system... one that continually changes with the times and grows as we grow. Look at how the Death card has evolved... and how we now view it as readers (from http://www.learntarot.com/):

"In readings, Death often represents an important ending that will initiate great change. It signals the end of an era; a moment when a door is closing. At such times, there may be sadness and reluctance, but also relief and a sense of completion. Death also suggests getting down to basics. Dying has a way of making you concentrate on what's important. This card reminds you to cut out the unnecessary. Death can also mean you will experience an inexorable force. Death is inevitable, and sometimes there are events that are inescapable as well. When these moments occur, the best approach is to ride your fate and see where it takes you."

Carpe Diem, everyone!