# Canto XII: Death explained — Mirèio > Chapter companion for Mirèio by Frédéric Mistral. ## What happens Mirèio, having reached the shrine of the Saints, collapses and dies in the arms of her parents and Vincen, after a vision of the Three Maries. The chapter depicts the grief of Ramoun and his wife, the despair of Vincen, and the solemn rituals at the chapel. ## Themes in this chapter ### Sacrifice and Tragic Love Mirèio's death is the culmination of her sacrificial journey; Vincen's grief and wish to be buried with her underscore the tragic love. ### Folk Tradition and Religious Piety The chapter is steeped in folk piety: the veneration of relics, the chapel of the Maries, and the rituals of the pilgrims. ### Nature and Pastoral Life The opening simile of orange-lands and pastoral sounds, and the imagery of the sea and waves, frame the death scene. ## Character check-ins ### Mirèio Dies at the shrine after a vision of the Three Maries; her body is laid on the tiles overlooking the sea. ### Vincen Grieves wildly over Mirèio's death, speaks of being buried with her, and laments her loss. ### Ramoun Arrives at the shrine with his wife, finds Mirèio, and pleads with the Saints to spare her. ### Ambroi Mentioned in Vincen's lament as 'Poor Master Ambroi' who will weep for his son. ### Santen Present at the shrine; Vincen entrusts him with the wish to be buried with Mirèio. ### Mary Jacobe One of the Three Maries in Mirèio's vision; their voices are described as music passing heavenward. ## Key lines > As, when in orange-lands God’s day is ending, The maids let fly the leafy boughs, and, lending A helpful hand, the laden baskets lift... Just as evening falls in the orange groves, with maids harvesting and boats coming ashore, so the music of the Maries fades away. _Opening simile comparing the fading of the Maries' voices to the end of a pastoral day._ > But, as a frighted vireo Who spies the huntsman, shrieked Mirèio, “O God, what is it? Father, mother, tell! Where will you go?” And therewith swooned and fell. Mirèio, startled like a bird seeing a hunter, cries out to her parents and then faints. _Mirèio's reaction upon seeing her parents at the shrine._ > Slowly the maiden answered, “My poor friend, What is it doth affright you, and offend? Believe me, dear, the thing that we call death Is a delusion. Lo! it vanisheth, As a fog when the bells begin their pealing; As dreams with daylight through the window stealing. Mirèio reassures Vincen that death is an illusion, like fog or dreams that disappear. _Mirèio's final words to Vincen, expressing a transcendent view of death._ > “See you not she is dead?” he loudly wailed. “Quite dead?” And therewith fiercely wrung his hands, As he of old had wrung the osier-strands, And threw his naked arms abroad. Vincen cries out that Mirèio is dead, wringing his hands as he used to wring willow branches. _Vincen's anguished realization of Mirèio's death._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/mir_io_se/chapters/canto-xii-death - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/mir_io_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/mir_io_se/chapters