Homework #50: First Third of "The American Way of Death Revisited"

Précis

The funeral industry seeks to gain profit through manipulation of the interactions between them and the bereaved. Rules are made up, unnecessary embalming is implemented, all in the hopes of earning more money while providing for the loss.

Quotes

“They have from time to time published lists of In and Out words and phrases to be memorized and used in connection with the final return of dust to dust; then, still dissatisfied with the result, they have elaborated and revised the list. Thus, a 1916 glossary substitutes “prepare body” for “handle corpse”. Today, though, “body” is Out and “remains” or “Mr. Jones” is In,” (p. 52).

“A funeral service is a social function at which the deceased is the guest of honor and the center of attraction...A poorly prepared body in a beautiful casket is just as incongruous as a young lady appearing at a party in a costly gown and with her hair in curlers,” (p. 54).

“’If embalming is taken out of the funeral, then viewing the body will also be lost. If viewing is lost, then the body itself will not be central to the funeral. If the body is taken out of the funeral, then what does the funeral director have to sell?” (p. 63).

Analytical Paragraph

            Jessica Mitford sheds light on a lot of aspects of the funeral industry that the outside world tends to ignore. Like any industry, the incentive is always money, no matter the emotional situation. While a funeral parlor seems hardly the place for a hidden money trade, Mitford explicitly describes its existence. This can be seen in the placement of the caskets in the showroom. Using various techniques, Undertakers are able to swindle their customers into buying the more expensive caskets. Placed in order of price, the bereaved is led around based on their reaction to the different prices, ultimately with them ending up buying something that is in their minds “worthy” of their loved one and also quite beneficial to the Undertaker. Why does this come as such a surprise? Death is taboo, in the American culture many never speak of it. Because of the deep emotional implications of death, it is clear that people are vulnerable to outside forces, however I doubt it would ever cross one’s mind to accuse the Undertakers of taking advantage of this vulnerability. The question also comes up, is this really a bad thing? Insurers swindle their clients out of money, why should it be wrong for an Undertaker to take what he rightfully believes is his? The undertakers in a sense could even be helping the bereaved, through this “grief therapy.” However there must be a point when a line is drawn between providing grief therapy and arranging caskets in order to manipulate the buyer. It seems unfair that one must worry about their finances in such an emotional time.