The Altar of the Dead

MP3 Audio CD. This is a short story which was first published in Henry James?s collection Terminations in 1895. A life and death literal fable of importance, the story considers how the advocate tries to hold on to the memories of his departed friends, to save them from being wholly forgotten in day to day affairs. He, then, meets a lady who has the same ideologies with him, only to find out that the past places seem to be a hurdle between them.

The short story exhibits an intense spirituality with regards to mortality and surpassing dominance of selfless love. George Stransom reminisces his memories of his great love, Mary Antrim, who died before they could even marry. One day, Stransom finds out that his former friend, Acton Hague, who had done him serious harm, has died. Stransom starts to think of his many friends and acquaintances who has gone to death. He lights candles at the side altar in a Catholic church, one candle for each of his lost friends, but not for Hague.

Stransom notices a woman who often visits the church and sits before his altar. He figured out that she also mourns for a lost one. They eventually became good friends. Later, Stransom discovers that his friend mourns for only Acton Hague. Hague too had caused her harm before, but she has already forgiven him. When his friend finds out about Stransom?s sentiments about Hague that he cannot resolve the issue by forgiving Hague and lighting a candle for him, she stopped honoring Hague at Stransom?s altar. This opposition drove them apart. His friend no longer visits the altar, and he could not find serenity.

Months after, Stransom, now weak, visits the altar for the last time. He had a vision of Mary Antrim who asks him to forgive Hague. He felt delighted to see her and finally forgave Hague. Then he finally reconciled with his friend.