Jessica Mitford's “Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain” is a critique of the funeral industry and its barbaric ways of performing “demi-surgery” on corpses , according to Scribd. Utilizing metaphor and potent imagery, Mitford achieves her purpose, which is to expose the horrendous acts that occur in a funeral home.
Who wrote behind the formaldehyde curtain?
“The most famous (or infamous) thing Jessica Mitford wrote is The American Way of Death, a critique of the funeral industry. In this selection from the book, Mitford analyzes the twin processes of embalming and restoring a corpse, the practices she finds most objectionable.
What is the theme of behind the formaldehyde curtain?
Audience/Purpose
The audience that I believe Mitford is reaching out to is the general public. Simply to inform them of what takes place during the process of embalming. The purpose of the essay is to inform people about the process , from the deceased first arriving to the morgue until the end of the funeral service.
What according to Mitford is the mortician's intent?
what according to Mitford is the morticians intent? The mortician's intent, according to the author, is to be able to present the body as his or her own personal masterpiece . During this process, the mortician must deal with the degrading body figure due to the decay brought upon by death.
What is in embalming?
Typical embalming fluid contains a mixture of formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, methanol, humectants and wetting agents, and other solvents that can be used. ... Recently, more eco-friendly embalming methods have become available, including formaldehyde-free mixtures of chemicals.
What is a formaldehyde curtain?
Jessica Mitford's “Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain” is a critique of the funeral industry and its barbaric ways of performing “demi-surgery” on corpses, according to Scribd. Utilizing metaphor and potent imagery, Mitford achieves her purpose, which is to expose the horrendous acts that occur in a funeral home.
Do morticians sew mouths shut?
Morticians stuff the throat and nose with cotton and then suture the mouth shut , either using a curved needle and thread to stitch between the jawbone and nasal cavity or using a needle injector machine to accomplish a similar job more quickly.
Do they remove eyes during embalming?
We don't remove them . You can use what is called an eye cap to put over the flattened eyeball to recreate the natural curvature of the eye. You can also inject tissue builder directly into the eyeball and fill it up. And sometimes, the embalming fluid will fill the eye to normal size.
Do they remove organs when embalming?
Modern embalming now consists primarily of removing all blood and gases from the body and inserting a disinfecting fluid. ... If an autopsy is being performed, the vital organs are removed and immersed in an embalming fluid, and then replaced in the body, often surrounded by a preservative powder.
Where is formaldehyde used?
Formaldehyde is a strong-smelling, colorless gas used in making building materials and many household products. It is used in pressed-wood products , such as particleboard, plywood, and fiberboard; glues and adhesives; permanent-press fabrics; paper product coatings; and certain insulation materials.
What is Mitford's purpose in this selection?
Why or why not? The purpose of this piece is to inform the reader of the process of embalming in a painfully detailed fashion to draw out disgust . This is done so Mitford gains support in objecting towards the practice of embalming from the audience.
Why are mouths sewn shut after death?
Koutandos said a body's nose and throat are packed with cotton wool to stop fluids from seeping out. Cotton may be used to make the mouth look more natural, if the deceased doesn't have teeth. Mouths are sewn shut from the inside. ... Makeup—but not too much—is applied to lessen the ‘waxy look' a dead body might have.
Do undertakers sew mouths shut?
Undertakers close the mouth by means of what they call a jaw suture: a long stitch made inside the mouth with a curved, threaded needle through the bottom lip beneath the teeth, up under the top lip, through the septum and back down into the mouth. ... Be sure to tell your undertaker what he or she may or must not do.
Does a dying person know they are dying?
A conscious dying person may know that they are dying . ... A conscious dying person can know if they are on the verge of dying. Some feel immense pain for hours before dying, while others die in seconds. This awareness of approaching death is most pronounced in people with terminal conditions such as cancer.
How long can a body be kept without embalming?
A body presents little threat to public health in the first day following the death. However, after 24 hours the body will need some level of embalming. A mortuary will be able to preserve the body for approximately a week . Regardless of the embalming, decomposition will begin after one week.
What does a body look like after 1 year in a coffin?
Your body becomes a smorgasbord for bacteria
As hours turn into days, your body turns into a gory advertisement for postmortem Gas-X, swelling and expelling reeking substances. ... About three or four months into the process, your blood cells start hemorrhaging iron, turning your body brownish black.
