| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
karikaririka
Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 46
|
 Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:57 am Post subject: "So much for death with dignity?" Is this joke or |
 |
|
When I was reading a mystery novel, I met a phrase I could not understand.
The scene was as follows.
Special Agent Landers receive a report of a murder and went to the crime scene and saw the body.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Beneath him was the body of what appeared to be a
male whale. A very pale male whale. He was buck
naked, lying flat on his back. His legs were splayed
and his arms went straight out from his shoulders.
Spread-eagled. He was covered in dark dried blood.
"So much for death with dignity, huh?" Landers
said.
Brown looked at him deadpan. He didn't even
smile. How could he not smile? That was pretty *beep*
ing funny. Landers chalked it up to petty jealousy.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I couldnt make out the meaning of the phrase, "So much for death with dignity"
Is this funny ? What does the "death with dignity"in this sentence refer to?
Does it have any relation to the description,"Spread-eagled."?
I thought that the situation the victim was dead (buck naked)lacked dignity, and thought Landers meant "What a disgraceful death it is?", but I'm not sure. Could you please tell me the meaning of this phrase? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Bob S.
Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject: Re: "So much for death with dignity?" Is this joke |
|
|
| karikaririka wrote: |
I couldnt make out the meaning of the phrase, "So much for death with dignity"
Is this funny ? What does the "death with dignity"in this sentence refer to?
Does it have any relation to the description,"Spread-eagled."?
I thought that the situation the victim was dead (buck naked)lacked dignity, and thought Landers meant "What a disgraceful death it is?", but I'm not sure. Could you please tell me the meaning of this phrase? |
Yes, it was meant to be funny. It is dark humor or black humor. The body was found in a very undignified situation (naked and spread eagle). So the comment was meant to be funny in that it was sarcastic or ironic.
Death with dignity means to die is a dignified and peaceful manner, typically free of pain or anything that might cause you embarrassment in your last moments or days.
_________________
"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
karikaririka
Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 46
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:37 am Post subject: Thank you! |
|
|
Yes. Landers is a very sarcastic person throughout the story.
I could make out the meaning of "Death with dignity" because of your help. It means "mercy killing", doesn't it?
Thank you very much for your comprehensible explanation.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bob S.
Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 3:15 pm Post subject: Re: Thank you! |
|
|
| karikaririka wrote: |
| I could make out the meaning of "Death with dignity" because of your help. It means "mercy killing", doesn't it? |
Not exactly, but it is often used together.
Sometimes people have terrible diseases that cause great pain and suffering before they kill the person. So the person may request euthanasia (mercy killing) to prevent a long undignified painful death. It is still controversial though.
_________________
"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
karikaririka
Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 46
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:04 am Post subject: Thanks a lot |
|
|
| I see. So, "Death with dignity" doesn't always mean "mercy killing", does it? Like it doesn't mean "mercy killing" in this sentence. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
