# John Mortonson’s Funeral explained — Can Such Things Be?

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

## What happens

John Mortonson is dead and his funeral is underway. Mourners gather, the minister delivers a eulogy, and the widow collapses in grief. As the clock strikes three, the coffin falls, the glass shatters, and John Mortonson's cat emerges from the coffin, its muzzle stained with blood, before calmly leaving the room.

## Themes in this chapter

### Death and the Supernatural

The story centers on death and the grotesque revelation of the cat emerging from the coffin, blurring the line between natural decay and supernatural horror.

### The Uncanny and the Grotesque

The cat's emergence with a bloodied muzzle transforms a somber funeral into a shocking, grotesque scene.

## Character check-ins

### John Mortonson

Deceased; his body lies in a mahogany coffin with a glass plate.

## Key lines

> John Mortonson was dead: his lines in “the tragedy ‘Man’ ” had all been spoken and he had left the stage.

John Mortonson had died; his part in the drama of life was over.

_Metaphor comparing life to a theatrical performance._

> From the opening crawled John Mortonson’s cat, which lazily leapt to the floor, sat up, tranquilly wiped its crimson muzzle with a forepaw, then walked with dignity from the room.

John Mortonson's cat emerged from the broken coffin, calmly cleaned its blood-stained face, and left the room with composure.

_Climactic reveal of the cat's gruesome act._

## Links

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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/can_such_things_be_se/chapters