Murder by the Clock · Theme
Death and the Afterlife
How Murder by the Clock develops Death and the Afterlife.
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.
Where it surfaces
- II: 9:24 p.m.—Hallmarks of Murder
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
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
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
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
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.