Odour of Chrysanthemums Theme of Death

Although the corpse doesn't show up until pretty late in the game, death definitely dominates the story's final paragraphs—which is when you realize there have been hints all along that the Reaper was going to make an appearance. First of all, there's the title: "The Odour of Chrysanthemums." Since chrysanthemums are a traditional cultural symbol of death, we get a huge clue that death is important before we've even read a line of the actual story. There are also some early bits of foreshadowing. For example, Elizabeth talks about men carrying Walter home (drunk) and resolves to let him sleep on the floor—which, of course, is exactly what ends up happening . . . not because he's drunk, but because he's dead. Be careful what you wish for . . .

Walter's death touches off a big epiphany for Elizabeth, who suddenly realizes that the life she was living is a big fat lie. Death is usually pretty traumatizing for those left behind (and probably for the person who dies, of course), but Elizabeth seems particularly bowled over by all the changes that Walt's death is likely to bring about in her life.

1. What are some other examples of how the story uses foreshadowing to alert us a death is coming? What does the foreshadowing do for the story (beyond just being clever)?
2. Why does seeing Walter's dead body make Elizabeth totally reevaluate her relationship to . . . well, basically everything and everyone?
3. Beyond Walter, what are some other references to death in the story? What do they do for your understanding of death's thematic role?

In "The Odour of Chrysanthemums," Walter's death is used to rip off the veil that makes life and its everyday activities seem purposeful/meaningful; Elizabeth is traumatized at the end because she realizes that relationships, daily routines, and life in general are totally meaningless.

The story isn't trying to make a larger statement about life's meaning/meaninglessness. Rather, it focuses on death to show how this particular family was experiencing stagnation or "deadness" (in terms of their relationships) long before Walter turns up dead.