# the Reaper Death — Magnolia Leaves character guide

> the Reaper Death in Magnolia Leaves by Mary Weston Fordham.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the grim Reaper

**First appearance:** 0018-the-crucifixion

## Who they are

Personified Death appearing as a symbolic figure in several poems.

## In the story

### [Bells of St. Michael](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/bells-of-st-michael)

Implied by the tolling of bells for the dead buried in 'God's Acre'.

### [The Crucifixion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/the-crucifixion)

Mentioned as having lost its dominion over humanity because of Christ's death.

### [Uranne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/uranne)

Referenced as the 'sharp scythe of the Reaper Death' that takes the mother.

### [Magnolia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/magnolia)

Personified as the grim Reaper who claims the maiden and encompasses the narrator.

### [Nestle-Down Cottage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/nestle-down-cottage)

Implied as the cause of the child's death, referred to in the line 'they whispered my darling was dead'.

### [The Dying Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/the-dying-girl)

Implied presence as the dying girl nears the end of her life.

### [Lines to Florence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/lines-to-florence)

Personified as 'King Death, the mighty reaper' who takes Florence.

### [Passing of the Old Year](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/passing-of-the-old-year)

Implied as the force that has taken spirits and caused sorrow throughout the year.

### [The Cherokee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/the-cherokee)

Death is referenced through the fallen warriors and children.

### [Ode to Peace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/ode-to-peace)

Implied as the force behind the 'dead' yielded to God and earth.

### [A Requiem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/a-requiem)

Addressed as an insatiable monster who took the young friend despite her youth and the spring season.

### [The Grafted Bud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/the-grafted-bud)

Implied as the force that doomed the child to die.

### [Rev. Samuel Weston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/rev-samuel-weston)

Referenced as the 'gates of death' that the Reverend passes through triumphantly.

### [Mr. Edward Fordham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/mr-edward-fordham)

Death is personified as a dark portal through which Mr. Fordham passes to find relief from pain.

### [Death of a Grandparent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/death-of-a-grandparent)

Death is referenced as 'death's portals' which the grandmother has passed through to enter life.

### [Queenie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/queenie)

Death is referenced as 'death's dart' which Queenie escapes by ascending to heaven.

### [In Memoriam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/in-memoriam)

Death's Portal is mentioned as the passage the child passes through.

### [Mrs. Rebecca Weston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/mrs-rebecca-weston)

Addressed as 'death' in the rhetorical question about the sting of death.

### [Mrs. E. Cohrs Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/chapters/mrs-e-cohrs-brown)

Death is implied as the force that has taken the young woman's life.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/characters/death
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/magnolia_leaves_se/characters