Can Such Things Be? · Chapter
That of Granny Magone explained
In a remote cabin in the Cumberland mountains, the death of the reputed witch Granny Magone leads to a horrifying incident during the wake: a black cat attacks the corpse, and the dead woman's hand rises, seizes the cat, and hurls it agains
What happens
In a remote cabin in the Cumberland mountains, the death of the reputed witch Granny Magone leads to a horrifying incident during the wake: a black cat attacks the corpse, and the dead woman's hand rises, seizes the cat, and hurls it against the wall, leaving the watchers in terror.
Themes in this chapter
Death and the Supernatural
The corpse of Granny Magone exhibits a violent, seemingly supernatural movement during the wake.
The Uncanny and the Grotesque
The dead hand seizing the cat and the torn face-cloth create a grotesque and uncanny scene.
Characters to notice
- Rev. Mr. Cummings
The Methodist minister who conducted the funeral and related the events.
Key passages
“In a black shadow near the remains, they saw two glowing eyes staring fixedly; and before they could do more than rise, uttering exclamations of alarm, a large black cat leaped upon the body and fastened its teeth into the cloth covering the face.”
The watchers saw glowing eyes in the dark near the corpse, and a black cat jumped onto the body, biting the face-cloth.
Describes the cat's sudden attack on the corpse.
“Instantly the right hand of the dead was violently raised from the side, seized the cat, and hurled it against the wall, whence it fell to the floor, and then dashed wildly through an open window into the outer darkness, and was seen no more.”
The dead woman's right hand rose, grabbed the cat, and threw it against the wall; the cat fled through a window and disappeared.
The central supernatural event of the chapter.