# Bodies of the Dead explained — Can Such Things Be?

> Chapter companion for Can Such Things Be? by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

This chapter explores the unsettling and often grotesque treatment of corpses in Bierce's stories, examining how dead bodies serve as focal points for horror, supernatural occurrences, and psychological terror. The narratives delve into the macabre details of death and the lingering presence of the deceased.

## Themes in this chapter

### Death and the Supernatural

The chapter focuses on the physical remains of the dead and their connection to supernatural events, such as reanimation and ghostly appearances.

### The Uncanny and the Grotesque

Descriptions of corpses and their unexpected behaviors evoke a sense of revulsion and unease, emphasizing the grotesque nature of death.

## Character check-ins

### Hugh Morgan

His death and the inquest into his mysterious demise are central to the chapter's exploration of dead bodies.

### Silas Deemer

His corpse is a key element in the story of the dead returning to life.

### Henry Armstrong

His body is the subject of a bizarre and horrifying resurrection.

### John Mortonson

His funeral and the grotesque discovery at his wake highlight the theme of the uncanny corpse.

## Key lines

> Bodies of the Dead

The chapter examines how dead bodies are portrayed in Bierce's stories, often as sources of horror and supernatural phenomena.

_This is the chapter title, summarizing its focus on corpses and their narrative roles._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/can_such_things_be_se/chapters/bodies-of-the-dead
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/can_such_things_be_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/can_such_things_be_se/chapters