Emily's constantly trying to track down the mystical music in The Mysteries of Udolpho, and not just because she likes a good beat. She hears the ever-elusive music for the first time the night her father dies, and forever after associates it with death.
The fact that death is always so close to Em—her father and mother die rapidly and she's constantly paranoid about getting murdered—gives her a reality check about her own mortality. Sure, it's cool to hear crazy stories about the Marchioness dying with a black face and trying to get the lowdown. We've all wanted to be Nancy Drew at one point, right? But for Em, it's all about coming to terms with the fact that she'll die one day, no matter how carefully she avoids the haunted room.
Questions About Mortality
- Does Em really fear death? Why are her feelings about mortality so complex?
- Why is Em specifically fascinated with murder?
- How does St. Aubert confront his own mortality?
- What does Agnes/Signora Laurentini think about her own impending death? Does she view it as an escape or as a punishment?
Chew on This
Em's not really as afraid of ghosts as she is of confronting her own mortality.
St. Aubert and La Voisin embrace the idea that the "other side" maintains a connection to the living world.