We all must die. There is no avoiding this. One day, like a sun setting into nighttime, we will all pass on. Olive Ann Burns teaches us through her book that this is not necessarily a sad event, no matter how it may seem. Her characters deliver the beautiful message that death is more than simply the end of life – it is the beginning of something new. The end is not always the end, but rather the beginning of new life, love, or a bright future. One such example is the death of Campbell Williams. Uncle Camp, the sweet, loving, and yet tragically misunderstood husband of Will’s Aunt Loma, ends his life, and with his parting comes overwhelming guilt and sorrow for the people of Cold Sassy. His death may be one of the darkest moments in the novel, but it can also be seen as the beginning of a better life for young Hosie Roach.
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Grandpa had been struggling the entire two years before she died because he was madly in love with Miss Love Simpson, the milliner in his store. He later tells Love “I took one look at you, so young and feisty, and hankered after you like a schoolboy” (301). He loves Granny so much, though, that he hates himself for lusting after Miss Love. The last thing he ever wants to do was to do is to hurt her, so he locks his feelings deep within, but he still worries that God will take Granny in payment for his sin. He confesses “Gosh a’mighty, Miss Love, all the time I was prayin’ Him to spare Miss Mattie Lou, like he was a dang Santy Claus, I was thinkin’ thet if’n she died I could marry you” (302). When Granny does pass away, Grandpa is liberated from this inner turmoil. He can finally find happiness. He proposes to and marries Miss Love, who grows to love him, saying “Oh dear, dear man. I love you. I love you” (366). The end of Granny’s death is painful for everyone who knew her, but it ultimately brings Grandpa and Love together, teaching everyone in Cold Sassy the importance of
Grandpa had been struggling the entire two years before she died because he was madly in love with Miss Love Simpson, the milliner in his store. He later tells Love “I took one look at you, so young and feisty, and hankered after you like a schoolboy” (301). He loves Granny so much, though, that he hates himself for lusting after Miss Love. The last thing he ever wants to do was to do is to hurt her, so he locks his feelings deep within, but he still worries that God will take Granny in payment for his sin. He confesses “Gosh a’mighty, Miss Love, all the time I was prayin’ Him to spare Miss Mattie Lou, like he was a dang Santy Claus, I was thinkin’ thet if’n she died I could marry you” (302). When Granny does pass away, Grandpa is liberated from this inner turmoil. He can finally find happiness. He proposes to and marries Miss Love, who grows to love him, saying “Oh dear, dear man. I love you. I love you” (366). The end of Granny’s death is painful for everyone who knew her, but it ultimately brings Grandpa and Love together, teaching everyone in Cold Sassy the importance of