Short Fiction · Question
How does Short Fiction develop the theme of Decay and Mortality?
Answer
Short Fiction by M. R. James develops Decay and Mortality across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Themes of physical and moral decay pervade the book, from the 'decayed town' of Comminges to the rotting ash-tree and the graves and skeletons that surface, reminding characters of death and the fragility of life.
The story culminates in Mr. Abney's gruesome death with a lacerated heart, and the ghostly children embody the decay and mortality of his victims.
The dried skeleton of a woman, the seared remains of spiders, and the blackened bodies of the victims highlight themes of decay and death.
The carving of the 'King of Terrors' (Death) on the stall, the bones found at the Hanging Oak, and the archdeacon's declining mental state all evoke themes of mortality and decay.
Evidence in the book
- Lost Hearts
The story culminates in Mr. Abney's gruesome death with a lacerated heart, and the ghostly children embody the decay and mortality of his victims.
- The Ash-Tree
The dried skeleton of a woman, the seared remains of spiders, and the blackened bodies of the victims highlight themes of decay and death.
- The Stalls of Barchester Cathedral
The carving of the 'King of Terrors' (Death) on the stall, the bones found at the Hanging Oak, and the archdeacon's declining mental state all evoke themes of mortality and decay.
- Martin's Close
The murder, the corpse in the pond, and Martin's execution on Holy Innocents' Day underscore themes of death and the decay of the body.
- Letter IV
The moth-eaten pall, the parish bier, and the discovery of Uncle Henry's body emphasize themes of decay and the inescapable presence of death.
- Two Doctors
The sudden, unexplained death of Dr. Quinn and the rifling of a mausoleum underscore themes of death and decay.
- A View from a Hill
The black liquid from the broken binoculars, the gallows vision, and the unholy graveyard all evoke decay and the presence of death.
- An Evening’s Entertainment
Graphic descriptions of corpses, blood, and the pit burial emphasize physical decay and death.
