He would have liked his own funeral if he could have seen it. It was small and quiet, and really not at all pompous, as Michael had feared it might be. 'The dead,' he had said once, 'need nothing from the living, and the living can give nothing to the dead.' At 22, it had sounded precocious; at 34, it sounded mature, and this pleased Michael very much. Essentially a romantic, he had put away the trappings of romance, although he had loved them deeply and never known.

Summary

This quote reflects on a character named Michael's evolving perspective on life and death. Initially, at a young age, Michael dismisses the significance of funeral ceremonies and proclaims that the dead require nothing from the living. However, as he grows older, this sentiment takes on a more profound meaning. Michael, described as essentially romantic, appreciates that a small and unpretentious funeral resonates the most with him. Signifying maturity, Michael relinquishes the romantic trappings he once cherished but never truly experienced, finding solace in simplicity and authenticity.

Topics