Sutree stops next to an old crypt that a tree has medium dismantled in its growing. Inside there is nothing. Neither bones nor dust. As are undoubtedly the dead after death. Death is what the living carry with them. A state of panic, like a disturbing omen of a bitter memory. But the dead do not remember, and nothing is not a curse. At all.
In this passage from Cormac McCarthy's "Suttree," the protagonist encounters an old crypt overtaken by a tree, symbolizing the relentless passage of time. The emptiness within the crypt reflects the absence of life, with no bones or dust remaining, suggesting that death leads to a state devoid of memory or burden. This highlights the idea that when one dies, they are free from the memories and struggles that define the living.
The text emphasizes a poignant contrast between the living and the dead. While the living are haunted by memories and panic, the dead exist in a state of nothingness, untroubled by the weight of past experiences. Instead of being a curse, this nothingness evokes a sense of peace, free from the turmoil that the living carry. Ultimately, McCarthy's exploration of death invites reflection on the nature of existence and the memories that shape our lives.
