In the novel "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel, the character Frith finds himself in a dire situation at Smithfield. He is being treated in a degrading manner as his youthful qualities—such as grace, knowledge, and beauty—are being buried beneath a mixture of mud, grease, and charred bone. This imagery illustrates the loss of his identity and humanity as he faces harsh realities that starkly contrast with the vibrancy of his former self.

The description symbolizes the brutal nature of the setting and the historical context within which Frith exists. It evokes themes of decay and the erosion of the individual amid societal turmoil, effectively capturing the tragic fate of those caught in the harsh machinations of power and survival during this tumultuous period.