Final answer:
Option 3, 'Life and death intertwined,' best represents the themes discussed in the quoted texts, where the relationship between life's preciousness and mortality is a central contemplation. This connection is evident as life's inception and its end are shown to be deeply interconnected in the human experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
The contemplation of life and death, and the intricate relationship between the two, is a profound theme in literature and philosophy. These quotes explore the paradoxical nature of existence, where carrying life can simultaneously bring one closer to death. The fragility and delicate balance of life are poignantly encapsulated in these reflections, which offer deep insights into the human condition.
Option 3: 'Life and death intertwined' seems to most aptly encapsulate the subject matter. This choice acknowledges the inseparable connection between life and death, as birth and mortality are both parts of the same spectrum - one event inherently tied to the potential of the other.
Moreover, this theme is prominent in the literary excerpts provided. When the poet is contemplated, death becomes an ever-present reminder of life's transience but also of moments of affection, recalling the gentle countenance of her mother. In the story of Aylmer and his wife, life is described as a 'sad possession' to those caught between blindness and enlightenment, symbolizing the burden and preciousness of existence. Similarly, the Nightingale's sacrifice in the name of love exemplifies the thought that some values, like love, are placed even above life itself, by certain perspectives. Each narrative confronts the inevitability of mortality and its impact on the living.