Memorable deaths

The recent death of a Coronation Street character leads to Roy Hattersley from The Guardian to reflect on famous fictional deaths, and what it is that makes a death scene memorable.

Authors whose characters depart in peace usually do no more than illustrate the risk of going gently into the literary good night. Piety too easily becomes ridiculous. Helen Burns expired after expressions of sentiments so noble that Jane Eyre could have been left in no doubt that her friend would be at home with the angels.

What does Mr Hattersley mean? Does he consider this death ridiculour or on the other hand uses it as an example of a good, pious death? Perhaps the matter is left for the reader to decide.

If Baldwin, like Heathcliffe [sic], was to be buried next to his lost love, with one side of his coffin left open for easy access, there would be complaints to the television regulators.

Ha! That was a good one. But then again so many scenes from Wuthering Heights would be frowned upon by the watchdogs!

Categories: Jane_Eyre, Wuthering_Heights, In_the_News