Why do you think death is gendered in Appointment in Samarra?

Death in the book The Appointment in Samarra is personified as a woman, which is unlike the typical depictions of a skeletal male cloaked figure emblematic of Death. However, there are many cultural instances of “Lady Death.” Her gender is pertinent here.
In this novel, the main character is essentially seeking to ruin his own life and eventually attempts suicide. It seems as if he is pursuing or courting Death. In that regard, it is interesting that they chose to make Death a woman, making her something of the man’s mistress or the object of his desire. It exemplifies his pursuit of Death and desire to ruin his own life because he wants badly to be with her. He pursues and flirts with other women as well, showing a desire for a mistress and companion, which extends the metaphor further.