The Dear Departed Summary by Stanley Houghton

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Introduction

The story of Dear Departed depicts the sad reality of the modern nuclear families that are strained with selfish interests and individual desires.ย Reflecting the society at large, the tale takes place at the house ofย the Slaters.

Mrs. Slater is one of two daughters of Mr. Abel Merryweather whoย lives with her. The other daughter Elizabethย and her husband Ben stay separately.

Merryweather Lying Motionless

The two sisters are notย on talking terms with each other as they often quarrel on things when in the same place. Mrs. Slaterโ€™s husband, Henry and daughter Victoria stay in the house with her father but rarely care about his health and happiness.

One day Mrs. Slater finds her father sprawled motionless on his bed. Sheย assumes the worst andย declares him dead. She asks Victoria to change into sober clothes as a form of respect as they in mourning of her fatherโ€™s demise.

Greed & Quarrel

Henry also joins them and the three start rearranging Abelโ€™s things for their own benefit. Henry sends aย message to the Jordansย and they were on their way to the house. Aware of the time that was at hand, Henryย is encouraged by his wifeย to take herย fatherโ€™s slippers.

Then, the twoย move her fatherโ€™s bureauย in their own room in place of their old andย creaky chest. Henry was not too happy about such disregard for the things of the recently departed and Victoria expresses her discontent vocally but to no avail.

Soon the Jordans arrive and the sisters give each other a cold and customary kiss. The four of them waste no time in talking about the funeral and inย particularly the bestowal of their fatherโ€™s things. The departedโ€™s insurance is discussed as well as the contents of his obituary.

They decide to start dividing his things and Mrs. Slater asks Victoria to go toย her grandfatherโ€™s room. Irritated by her motherโ€™s greed and frostiness she trudges to the room reluctantly.

Mr. Merryweather Alive

However, she returns with an expression of white horror on her face. Sheย informs them that the dead had reawakenedย and was preparing to come down to talk with all of them.

Mr. Merryweather is surprised to seeย his estranged daughter in the house as they have not come to meet him for several years. The fact that all the people are dressed in clothes worn forย mourning baffles him.

Excuses to Hide Greed

Mrs. Slater tries to quell anyย suspicion by sayingย that Ben has had a family bereavement and they were honoring the dead with their attire.

Suddenly, her father notices Henry wearing his footwear. Victoria quickly seizes them andย offers them to him. His fatherย asks about his bureau and Mrs. Slater isย mortified to come up with a soundย excuse for moving it.

Elizabeth, taking the opportunity to have a dig at her sister, accuses her and Henry of stealing. This ticks the Slaters and both the couples resort to finger-pointing and name-calling. The truth is finally exposed and their father is devastated by their lack of compassion and care for him.

He gathers courage and decides to make wholesale changes coming next Monday. First, he teases his daughters by saying that he will offer his will to the daughter in whose house he will die. The sisters quite expectedly begin to quarrel over it as well.

Merryweatherโ€™s Decision

Calming everyone, heย proclaimsย that he is giving all his belongings toย Mrs. Shorrocks (works at a Church) who loves him and truly worry for him.

They will marry each other and spend the rest of their days taking care ofย oneย another. In the end and with a cheek in his tone, heย asks his daughters and their greedy husbands to attend the wedding and bless the bride and groom.

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