Can Such Things Be? · Chapter
John Mortonson’s Funeral explained
John Mortonson is dead and his funeral is underway.
What happens
John Mortonson is dead and his funeral is underway. Mourners gather, the minister delivers a eulogy, and the widow collapses in grief. As the clock strikes three, the coffin falls, the glass shatters, and John Mortonson's cat emerges from the coffin, its muzzle stained with blood, before calmly leaving the room.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This passage marks the dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of the narrato…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Death and the Supernatural
The story centers on death and the grotesque revelation of the cat emerging from the coffin, blurring the line between natural decay and supernatural horror.
- The Uncanny and the Grotesque
The cat's emergence with a bloodied muzzle transforms a somber funeral into a shocking, grotesque scene.
Characters to notice
- John Mortonson
Deceased; his body lies in a mahogany coffin with a glass plate.
Key passages
“John Mortonson was dead: his lines in “the tragedy ‘Man’ ” had all been spoken and he had left the stage.”
John Mortonson had died; his part in the drama of life was over.
Metaphor comparing life to a theatrical performance.
“From the opening crawled John Mortonson’s cat, which lazily leapt to the floor, sat up, tranquilly wiped its crimson muzzle with a forepaw, then walked with dignity from the room.”
John Mortonson's cat emerged from the broken coffin, calmly cleaned its blood-stained face, and left the room with composure.
Climactic reveal of the cat's gruesome act.
