Jessica Mitford Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain Critical Reading Questions

Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain Essay Review

Behind the formaldehyde drape is an essay written by Jessica Mitford. The essay focuses closely on the process of embalming after the author gives a dramatic and symbolic introduction laden with an irony and near satirical twists. In a rather shine and casual prose, Mitford goes on to explain the processes of embalming.

This paper will go along to clarify the essay by Jessica Mitford. The paper will take and concentrate on the author's viewpoint concerning the process of embalming. Mayer defines this process of embalming every bit the preparation of the body of a deceased person for viewing. Information technology is this purpose of embalming that Mitford is against off. Mitford argues that information technology does not brand much sense if the sole purpose of embalming would be to make the torso exist presentable for viewing within the casket before burying. According to Mitford, the embalming process is but a money making venture past the morgues scattered all over the globe. Through the illumination and analysis of the essay past Mitford, this paper volition try to analyze whether the procedure of embalming is of whatsoever meaning importance or it is only a business venture like whatever other. The thesis and objective statement becomes "embalming: its significance and relevance in the modern world.

Mitford goes on to argue that embalming is synonymous to mutilation of the body. In her essay, she gives a vivid and well-nigh dramatic exposure to the world few of u.s.a. know about.The main places of concentration are the mortuaries present on American soil. The following assay and word emanates from this author's betoken of view.

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Discussion and analysis

Mitford in her essay is constant questioning the viability of the embalming process and the importance in the globe today. Traditionally, when people died, the overly complicated process of embalming was not fifty-fifty taken into context.  The deceased were just cached without having the agony of their bodies passing through the 'Mutilating' procedure of embalming.

Consent from the relatives

Today, according to Mitford, when a person dies and is taken to the morgue, the attendants take it upon themselves to 'prepare' the body for the concluding viewing before the torso is cached. The author argues that this should not exist the example. The next of kin or relative of the deceased should be allowed to give their view on the whole process. Mostly, the embalmers do not divulge the intricate details that occur during the process of embalming. The author is confident that, if the relatives were informed of those processes, they would surely non let their honey ones to undergo through such torture. Not unless in absolutely necessary circumstances and with the special asking of the deceased's family unit, this procedure, according to Mitford should exist banned or put on restrictions.

Embalming process: Beautifying the body for final viewing?

Mitford states that the embalming procedure supposed to 'beautify' the body for the sole purpose of viewing. The embalmers make the body look respectable earlier information technology is buried. The essence of embalming is to brand the deceased announced presentable at least one concluding fourth dimension earlier their bodies are laid to residue. Information technology is supposed to have the bodies achieve a sense of normality. However, you find that sometimes many people die without blemishes or without even falling ill. Their skin is still in presentable condition making the author question the practicality of applying this process on such people. Embalming alters the look of the deceased making them wait different from what other people have been used to.

"Mutilating" the body

Mitford vividly describes the happenings behind the closed doors of the morgue. When a person dies, the morgue attendants accept over and perform operations on the body that the author tin only draw as "torture." With indignation, and a sense of sarcasm, the author goes on to give a precise description of what happens later on decease, using a character, Mr. Jones as the specimen. Death is a natural procedure that all of us take to become through. But after expiry, co-ordinate to Mitford, the body shouldn't be subjected to further boldness through the process of embalming. The writer proposes that once a person dies, he or she should be given the infinite to achieve peace of mind and create peace with his or her deity. The body should be allowed to retain the original form in which it was charred. The procedure of embalming is just pure torture and totally not called for.

The embalming process according to Mitford

Mitford gives a very informed and very precise description of what happens to the body one time it is wheeled into the mortuary starting from the tools used to the bodily process. In a sense of detached humor, Mitford compares the attendant's embalming bed to the surgical bed in a hospital. Even the tools are most similar albeit a little rudimentary for the morgue attendant. The procedure embalming as Mitford outlines it begins with the identification of any defects in the body. The body is washed and and then a survey is conducted to make sure that there are no ruptures on the skin, swellings of any kind or some other form of disfigurement.  If defects are found in the body, the attendant first takes care of these defects before embarking onto the other torso areas.

Depending on what the deceased had died of, different processes and products are applied to make sure the body is in a good for you tranquillity for last viewing and farewell. Normally, they kickoff past draining the blood out of the trunk's system. This is done to prevent 'live burying' according to Mitford. The blood tuckered is replaced with the embalming fluid having been pumped into the torso through the arteries. The choice of the embalming fluid that is used depends largely upon the pare tone of the deceased person. Then three to six gallons of liquid, dyed and perfumed solution of the formaldehyde, glycerin and other components including water are pumped into the deceased body Mitford. In the specimen, Mr. Jones' oral cavity is sewn together with a needle that is placed between his upper lip and gum and brought out through the left nostril to give the corners of the oral fissure a slight enhance for a more 'pleasant expression'.  Subsequently this is done, the attendant takes a long poke, places it within the chest cavity of Mr. Jones, pokes around, pumps out the contents and replaces with crenel fluid.

The abdomen is the sewed together to foreclose the cavity fluids from leaking. Cream is applied heavily to prevent Mr. Jones' peel from getting burnt or breached past the tremendous amount of chemicals circulating inside his torso.

Mr. Jones is left for a while waiting the final activities in this process of embalming where he is made to be ready for casketing. If he has whatsoever broken limbs, they are sewn together in a very rudimental manner. Then he is washed again and dressed well. The author argues that probably Mr. Jones has received a far greater preparation than he could accept e'er afforded were he alive. The grotesqueness by which the writer gives a narration of this process serves to show its indignation of the whole process.

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Morgues: are they in it for business?

Mitford tends to remember that it's all about business organisation for these morgue attendants and morgue owners. With the rapid increase of the facilities offering funeral and embalming services, the writer has been convinced that this happens because of concern interests, cypher else. There is no law or statute in the land that calls for embalming of bodies when people die and still, this is done without fifty-fifty a question or consent from the relatives of the deceased. And they are expected to pay, forced even, for a service they never applied for. The notions and concept of the processes involved in embalming are never let out to the general public. The crude methods that happen behind the formaldehyde curtain are never to be let know lest people become upset. When people run across their loved ones neatly dressed, well composed and with a calm placidity inside the casket, they embed that paradigm in their minds every bit the terminal affair their beloved ones looked like. People wouldn't want to run across their loved ones disfigured or all cut upwardly as the terminal image before they bury them. It is this weakness that the attendants at the morgue accept advantage of. Mitford (1978) notes with indignation that near of these attendants haven't even undergone through much educational activity, about times having a year or so crash program to prepare the dead for final cheerio. That is why near of them pay piddling or no respect to the bodies they work upon. To them it is merely a business organization venture. They charge exorbitant corporeality for the  embalming process, a thing  that does not go down well with the author as she views it as a form  of extortion. The attendants and morgue owners are in information technology for as long equally the money keeps coming. To top it up, after they prepare the trunk and do all other rituals pertaining to the morgue, they offer to requite transport services and even bury the dead for an extra fee.

Is embalming of any importance?

Falcony states that the process of embalming is very intricate. The major objective of embalming is achieved but during the concluding viewing. Any since the last viewing is done only once then this begs to inquire the question on the importance of the process. Why get to all that extent of preparing a trunk for just a few minutes viewing? Autonomously from the respectability appearance that the body achieves after undergoing the process, what more added value results from that?  The answer, according to Mitford is nil.

Determination

Based on the discussion and analysis of this essay by Mitford, I practise whole agree with the writer that embalming and all the processes related to it should be done away with. Laws should be applied to make certain businessmen exercise non take advantage out of a sorry encounter such as expiry to proceeds unscrupously. I support the writer in her endeavor to sensitize the people on the crudeness of the embalming process and in calling for a simple method of burial our deceased.

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