A day of cremation
...ion in which most would shun and found that it is an event full of exquisiteness and delicacy. Shaw even mentioned that the coffin his mother was lying in was “violet.” This detail suggests to the reader that Shaw saw his mother as majestic, by laying her in a color of royalty. The use of repetition of the word “no” showed that Shaw had been pleasantly surprised with the atmosphere in which the cremation would take place. It was a peaceful atmosphere ironically used for advancing the dead into their peaceful afterlife. The actual burning itself is portrayed as a captivating, whimsical dance of flames. Shaw referred to the flames as “Pentecostal tongues,” which, in an alliteration to the bible, illustrates the intensity of the ever-growing combustion. Moreover, also showing that Shaw has a religious respect for the ceremony, and further conveys the acceptance Shaw has for the passing of his mother. “Streaming ribbons” were also referred to in the context of the flames. This demonstrateing the meshing of flesh and flame in a flow of colors and shapes, captured through the eyes of Shaw as he watched the last of his mother fade away. Shaw finds that as his mother drifted out of his sight, she began to drift into the air beside him and laugh. Shaw portrayed his mothers’ reaction to the refining of her ashes as “shaking with laughter.” Shaw used detailed diction to convey this analogy of his mothers’ response. “Little tongs,” were included to bring through the seriousness and care that the workers put into delivering ashes as clean as possible. This diction added some humor to the story leading the reader to envision a bi...