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Post by Gillian Laird on Jun 1, 2024 17:21:32 GMT
"Death is a dignitary who when he comes announced is to be received with formal manifestations of respect, even by those most familiar with him" (Bierce, I).
This quote at the beginning of the short story really sat with me. As the story came to an end, I understood why. When reading the quote I got the sense that the author is eluding to the idea that death is inescapable, so it is best to welcome it with open arms and respect instead of trying to run from it. So, I wonder if when the protagonist seemingly escapes the call of death, only for it to then be revealed to the reader that he imagined the entire sequence, that Bierce is making some kind of commentary on the inevitability of death. I wonder if the aforementioned quote was meant to be foreshadowing.
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Post by meagangcurrie on Jun 1, 2024 18:20:09 GMT
That is an interesting take! I didn’t even notice that the quote was foreshadowing. Now looking back on it, it’s fascinating to think about. The inevitability of death, accepting rather than running from it, “dignitary”. Perhaps it was not only foreshadowing but a statement the author made to make the reader pause and think. To think on the idea of death for just a moment, a subtle break in the story.
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