The Commercialization of the Funeral Industry
In "Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain," Jessica Mitford presents a compelling, if unnerving, argument for the commercialization of death and the funerary industry in North America and specifically in the United States. She explains that the role of the funeral director has evolved to the point that he (or she) "has put on a well-oiled performance in which the concept of death played no part whatsoever" (Mitford). Embalming plays a central role in this show because it is the means through which the funeral industry can present the deceased in a manner that will make them appear as lifelike as is possible, given their limitations. Embalming and presenting the dead has spawned a vast supporting market into which, Mitford notes, Americans willingly shovel hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Mitford argues that the funerary industry in America has become a commercial venture, in which the dead are paraded about for the satisfaction of the living. In such a situation, the role of the embalmer takes on a special purpose. In that case, "the purpose of embalming is to make the corpse presentable for v
Funeral home directors must coordinate the efforts of a vast number of individuals, including embalmers, pallbearers, the public, and even religious figures. It is with this point in mind that we should truly consider Mitford's "Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain. She writes of the Steril Chapel Tent: "resists the intense heat and humidity of summer and terrific storms of winter . Similar descriptions litter the text, often with prices included. Their purpose is simply to limit the contact that people (and potential clients) must have with death itself. The embalmer, she writes, "is supplied by an advanced chemical industry" in addition to various devices and cosmetic implements to improve the presentation of the corpse during the few hours it is available to the public (Mitford). iewing in a suitably costly container" (Mitford). It is as if Mitford is quoting from the catalog of a funeral supply company (which she very well may be). In fact, this logic can be demonstrated as Mitford discusses the dazzlingly array of peripheral products and services available to the modern embalmer to complete his or her task. available in Silver Grey, Rose or Evergreen" (Mitford). These items include waxes, skin tanning agents, clear cement to keep eyelids closed and an impressive array of embalming fluids with names like Flextone and Suntone. Mitford's detailed description of the steps involved in the embalming process, for instance, explain the extreme and unsettling lengths to which embalmers will go to give corpses the chance to be presented as if they were living people who just happened to doze off inside a casket. However, the additional comment regarding the cost of the casket adds a commercial element to the entire venture.
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Acceptance Essays
