Emily refused to have her father's body removed from the house due to a profound inability to accept death and an overwhelming psychological need to maintain control and closeness with her loved ones, even beyond their passing.
Understanding Emily's Refusal
Emily's actions, particularly her refusal to part with her father's body, stem from a complex interplay of grief, denial, and a deep-seated resistance to change and loss.
Denial of Death and Decay
A primary reason for Emily's refusal is her fundamental denial of death itself. For Emily, the line between life and death appears blurred, as she struggles to acknowledge the finality of passing. This denial manifests in several ways:
- Disregard for Time: Emily lives outside the conventional flow of time, seemingly oblivious to its passage and the natural processes of decay. This disregard extends to her perception of life and death, making it difficult for her to grasp the permanence of mortality.
- Non-Acceptance of Loss: She simply does not accept that death can take away her loved ones. Her actions suggest a belief that she can continue to "possess" them, even in their deceased state.
- Perpetual Love: Emily desires to love individuals as if they were still living, allowing her to keep them physically present in her life. By holding onto their bodies, she attempts to preserve the relationships and the presence of those she cherishes, defying the natural order of life and death.
Psychological Attachment and Control
Beyond the denial of death, Emily's refusal is deeply rooted in her psychological state, characterized by a need for control and an intense fear of abandonment.
- Fear of Abandonment: Having been strictly controlled by her domineering father throughout her life, Emily had very little agency. His death left her isolated and vulnerable. Clinging to his body can be seen as an attempt to prevent further abandonment and maintain the one constant, albeit morbid, presence in her life.
- Maintaining Control: In a world that was constantly changing around her, Emily sought to exert control over the few things she could. Keeping her father's body allowed her to dictate the terms of their relationship, effectively freezing it in time and preventing any further loss or disruption.
- Pathological Grief: Her refusal is also indicative of a severe, pathological form of grief, where the individual cannot process the loss and moves into a state of chronic denial. This inability to let go leads to extreme behaviors, such as preserving the deceased's body.
By preventing the removal of her father's body, Emily symbolically rejects the concept of loss and attempts to create a static world where nothing, especially her loved ones, can truly leave her.
