# John Mortonson — Can Such Things Be? character guide

> John Mortonson in Can Such Things Be? by Ambrose Bierce.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** John

**First appearance:** 0032-john-mortonson-s-funeral

## Who they are

A man whose funeral takes a bizarre and terrifying turn.

## In the story

### [John Mortonson’s Funeral](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se/chapters/john-mortonson-s-funeral)

Deceased; his body lies in a mahogany coffin with a glass plate.

### [Some Haunted Houses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se/chapters/some-haunted-houses)

Character whose death is tied to a haunted house mystery.

### [Bodies of the Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se/chapters/bodies-of-the-dead)

His funeral and the grotesque discovery at his wake highlight the theme of the uncanny corpse.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se/characters/john_mortonson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/can_such_things_be_se/characters