# How does Murder by the Clock develop the theme of Death and the Afterlife?

> Murder by the Clock by Rufus King

## Answer

Murder by the Clock by Rufus King develops Death and the Afterlife across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.

Mrs. Endicott's fascination with death and the beyond is a recurring motif, as she speaks of seeking 'mysteries in that life which beckons from beyond life' and attempts suicide, while the narrative repeatedly plays with the idea of death being reversible or misunderstood.

The chapter opens with the stillness of death and the body in the cupboard, emphasizing the finality and mystery of death.

The chapter deals with the immediate aftermath of death, with characters confronting mortality and the mystery of the cause.

The possibility that Mr. Endicott's death was not natural but induced by shock or fear, blurring the line between natural death and murder.

## Evidence

- [ii-9-24-p-m-hallmarks-of-murder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_by_the_clock_se/chapters/ii-9-24-p-m-hallmarks-of-murder.md): The chapter opens with the stillness of death and the body in the cupboard, emphasizing the finality and mystery of death.
- [iii-9-45-p-m-guards-are-stationed-at-the-doors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_by_the_clock_se/chapters/iii-9-45-p-m-guards-are-stationed-at-the-doors.md): The chapter deals with the immediate aftermath of death, with characters confronting mortality and the mystery of the cause.
- [iv-10-02-p-m-pale-flares-the-darkness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_by_the_clock_se/chapters/iv-10-02-p-m-pale-flares-the-darkness.md): The possibility that Mr. Endicott's death was not natural but induced by shock or fear, blurring the line between natural death and murder.
- [viii-11-28-p-m-mrs-endicott-screams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_by_the_clock_se/chapters/viii-11-28-p-m-mrs-endicott-screams.md): The chapter deals with the brink of death, revival, and the uncertainty of Endicott's recovery, highlighting the fragility of life.
- [ix-11-55-p-m-queer-deeps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/murder_by_the_clock_se/chapters/ix-11-55-p-m-queer-deeps.md): Roberts expresses a dread of death's finality and a desire to believe in immortality, suggesting a personal stake in the possibility of an afterlife.

## Links

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