Do people have the unalienable right to a proper burial (or other respectful treatment) of their body upon death?
Do people have the unalienable right to bury (or otherwise respectfully treat) the bodies of their immediate family members upon death?
If your government believes the answer to these is no, do you have the unalienable right to demand a burial (or other respectful treatment) for your immediate family member, and if your demands are not met, defy your government by enacting a makeshift burial (or other respectful treatment) outside its borders?
Do these questions remind you of a certain famous ancient Greek play?
The novel Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie sure reminded me of a certain famous ancient Greek play. I would like to believe I would’ve noticed the similarities on my own, but Shamsie kindly put the idea into my head from the get-go. The book’s epitaph—oops! I mean, the book’s epigraph is pulled from Seamus Heaney’s translation of Antigone by Sophocles:
“The ones we love . . . are enemies of the state.”
Like Antigone, Home Fire is about familial love and romantic love, border crossings and makeshift burials, headstrong leaders and enemies of the state.
What do you think about dead bodies?
(Oh yeah . . . and happy Halloween!)
You really had me going there with opening my mind right up to your (Oh yeah… and happy Halloween!), which made me laugh! Good job!
Yeah, this article does indeed remind me (and brings back memories) of Antigone. With that said, you have me curious about Home Fire, too. Don’t be surprised if someday I walk into the next book club meeting with a copy of it. On that note, you inspired me to read something else that I WILL bring to the upcoming meeting…. and I’m not telling you. LOL!! Ciao.
Glad to see you are reading Play It As It Lays! I’ll lend you my copy of Home Fire if you want. 🙂