George Shaw Death

429 Words2 Pages
Dying, for most humans, is the opposite of living, the end of the road. It is usually a sorrowful, difficult experience for those who remain. However, George Shaw, in dealing with the death of his mother, shows hope and even joy in his experiences. In his essay, his vivid imagery, symbolism, and diction show his attitude that death is not final, but instead is simply a passing from one’s life to a better life. Since he believes this, Shaw does not grieve in his mother’s death. The first half of the piece begins with a vivid description of the actual act of cremation that the author witnessed. This, in his eyes, was symbolic of the actual death of his mother. His quote, “As the whole coffin passed in, it sprang into flame all over, and my mother