# The Coffin-Maker Has a Visitor explained — Doctor Syn

> Chapter companion for Doctor Syn by Russell Thorndike.

## What happens

Captain Collyer visits Sexton Mipps in his coffin shop, where Mipps is hammering inside a coffin and singing. They engage in a macabre yet friendly conversation about Mipps's experiences with coffins, his near-death experience of being trapped in one, and his travels around the world. Mipps deflects Collyer's insinuations about piracy and invites him to stay for a drink and a yarn.

## Themes in this chapter

### Duality and Deception

Mipps's playful deflection of Collyer's suspicions about piracy highlights the theme of hidden identities and deceptive appearances.

### Supernatural and the Uncanny

Mipps's story of being trapped in a coffin and his matter-of-fact discussion of near-death experiences evoke an uncanny, macabre atmosphere.

## Character check-ins

### Captain Collyer

Visits Mipps's coffin shop, engages in conversation, and accepts an invitation to drink and smoke.

### Mipps

Found sitting inside a coffin, hammering and singing; shares stories of his near-death experience and travels, and deflects accusations of piracy.

## Key lines

> O hammer, hammer, hammer, And damn her, damn her, damn her, For I don’t fear my wife now she’s dead.

Mipps sings a crude song about not fearing his deceased wife while hammering inside a coffin.

_Reveals Mipps's dark humor and irreverent attitude toward death and marriage._

> I always does. I lies down inside ’em and pops the lid on the top to see if it’s airtight.

Mipps explains that he routinely tests coffins by lying inside them and closing the lid.

_Illustrates Mipps's macabre professionalism and lack of superstition._

> I shall never forget my feelin’s when my last bit of breath came up and went out. It was just the sort o’ feelin’ you gets when you drowns, only more so.

Mipps describes his near-death experience of being trapped in a coffin, comparing it to drowning but more intense.

_Highlights the uncanny and supernatural theme of the chapter._

> Can’t you adapt yourself for five minutes? Can’t you make an effort when you’re a-gossipin’ with honest folk to forget that there is dishonest ones?

Mipps chides Collyer for being suspicious and unable to enjoy a friendly chat without mentioning pirates.

_Shows Mipps's defensive and cunning nature, deflecting Collyer's accusations._

> It was the love of my work. The zeal to have a look at other sextons, vergers, and undertakers and see what they were a-doin’ with the business.

Mipps claims he traveled the world out of professional curiosity about funeral practices.

_A humorous and likely false explanation for his travels, reinforcing the theme of deception._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters/xxiv-the-coffin-maker-has-a-visitor
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/doctor_syn_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/doctor_syn_se/chapters