Everyman Summary

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Here you will find a Everyman summary (Philip Roth's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.

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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024

Everyman Summary Overview

A crowd gathers around an open grave, paying their final respects to an anonymous man. His past co-workers, friends from the retirement community, three children, older brother Howie and Howie's wife, his former spouse Phoebe, and his private caretaker Maureen are among those in attendance. After delivering heartfelt eulogies, each mourner contributes a handful of soil to the casket. The narrative then switches to the evening before the man's final surgical procedure, allowing him to dwell on past relationships with women who were there for him during previous medical ordeals. He recalls his childhood hernia operation in graphic detail, marking it as a pivotal moment that instilled a lifelong fear of death and illness. This unnamed man's health deteriorates following a vacation with his new love interest, Phoebe. He had left his first wife and their two children for Phoebe, and is burdened with guilt. Back in New York, a therapist suggests his illness is due to his envy of a colleague. After convincing his doctor, he is admitted into a hospital only to find out he has a ruptured appendix. Phoebe and Howie assist him through recovery. However, he falls ill once more twenty-two years later, attributing it to the stress of watching his father slowly pass away. Experiencing the hospital atmosphere triggers memories of his childhood surgery, but the comforting presence of his mother is now absent. This time, Howie arranges for private nurses, one of whom he starts an illicit affair with. The man's father passes away, and despite his own atheistic beliefs, he's deeply affected by his father's increased religiosity in his later years. The funeral is a harrowing experience, forcing him to confront the inevitability of death. After a period of good health, his health declines once again, leading to a move from Manhattan to a retirement community in the wake of 9/11. He indulges in painting but misses his daughter Nancy, his one source of comfort in his recurring health issues. His existence in the retirement community is punctuated by reminiscences and fantasies, loneliness, and failed attempts at rekindling romantic connections. His final call to a dying former colleague makes him come to terms with the cruel reality of aging and mortality. Contemplating his relationships with his loved ones, he finally allows himself to face his own impending demise.

epigraph

The book starts off with an extract from John Keats’ “Ode to a Nightingale” serving as the epigraph. The said poem delves into topics such as the transience of existence and the significance of artful allure, akin to the pleasing melody of a nightingale. The excerpt used in the epigraph is specifically from lines 24-27 of the poem, where Keats illuminates on the impacts of aging and the metaphorical "death" of young vitality.

section 1

The tale commences with an anonymous protagonist's burial, surrounded by grief-stricken attendees. Among them are his ex-colleagues, daughter Nancy, senior citizens from his retirement village, sons Randy and Lonny, elder brother Howie and his wife. Phoebe, his second ex-wife and Nancy's mother, is also there despite her post-stroke condition. Phoebe declines to speak at the service, expressing disbelief over the protagonist's death. The protagonist's former private nurse, Maureen, uninvited, also appears to express her sorrow. Nancy delivers a heartfelt eulogy, explaining the protagonist's family ties to the cemetery where he is being laid to rest. She discloses that their grandparents are also buried there and their great-grandfather, who operated a boarding house in Elizabeth, New Jersey, had been a founding member of the cemetery. Despite the cemetery's disrepair, Nancy opts for it as her father's final resting place so he can be near his family. She emotionally bids farewell to her father, shedding tears as she drops a clod of earth on his coffin. The protagonist's elder brother, Howie, 77 and in good health, continues the ritual of dropping earth on the coffin. He comments on the absurdity of his younger sibling's premature death. He shares with the attendees about the protagonist's declining health and loneliness in his later years. They had often conversed until the protagonist inexplicably distanced himself from Howie. Howie reminisces about his late brother's passion and talent for painting, which he pursued fully after retiring from a successful advertising career. Howie thinks his brother should have enjoyed a longer life - a sentiment shared by most who've lost a loved one. Howie further reminisces about their childhood, assisting in their father's jewelry and watch repair shop. The protagonist was particularly captivated by the craftsmen and the shimmering facets of the diamonds, which sparked his artistic journey. Meanwhile, Howie was more interested in the financial aspect. Their father was popular for selling affordable wedding rings to local immigrants and was often invited to their weddings. Despite the hardships of the Depression and World War II, the brothers' lives were enriched by the weddings, attractive salesgirls, diamond delivery trips, and the nightly ritual of securing the jewelry trays.

section 2

On the eve of his second carotid artery operation, the everyman reflects on the women who supported him during prior surgeries. His third wife Merete was there during his quintuple bypass, but her assistance during recovery proved insufficient. Instead, his recovery was accelerated by Maureen, his hired nurse, leading to an affair between them. With another surgery looming, he longs for Maureen's care again. However, he acknowledges the passage of time, noticing their aging. Attempting to turn his attention away from his impending mortality, he reminisces his first surgery. His mother attended this earliest memory of surgery, a hernia operation, marked by a distressing overnight hospital stay. There, he shared a room with a boy whose parents spoke only Yiddish, driving him to assume the boy was fated to die. This memory prompted thoughts of a dead body he once saw on the beach. He struggled to sleep and read that night, disturbed by medical staff bustling around his room. The following morning, he woke up for his operation to his mother's reassuring smile with a vacant bed beside him. This solidified his belief that the boy had died, but his mother assured him the boy was just relocated. The everyman was then wheeled into the operating room.

section 3

The protagonist recalls a distressing feeling he experienced after a Martha’s Vineyard holiday with his mistress, Phoebe. They relished their shared freedom, although the wild, nighttime sea stirred a fear in him. This was new, contrasting his naval experiences during the Korean War. He hid this fear from Phoebe. He examines his life, deeming himself mundane. He chose a secure life, following his parents’ wishes by getting married, having children, and taking a safe job in advertising, instead of pursuing his passion for painting. His troubled marriage leads him to seek escape through his affair with Phoebe. He doesn't abhor the idea of a traditional life, but contemplates if he needs to leave his family to keep his sanity. He reasons death is a worry for his older years, believing he has ample time for that later.

section 4

Following his journey to Martha’s Vineyard, the everyman falls sick back in Manhattan. Despite multiple medical tests, doctors find nothing wrong. A psychoanalyst suggests that his sickness is due to jealousy over a co-worker's recent promotion at the ad agency, but the everyman dismisses this. As his condition worsens, he insists on being hospitalized. At the hospital, a surgeon discovers an issue with his appendix and immediate surgery is undertaken. While recovering post-surgery, he is aided by Phoebe and Howie. Phoebe reveals that his appendix had ruptured earlier and he is suffering from peritonitis, a dangerous infection, which his father too survived. His father's brother, however, Sammy, died from appendicitis at a young age. The everyman is torn between fear of death and optimism of recovery. During his month-long hospital stay, he is cared for by mostly kind and efficient nurses. Phoebe's visits, where she dines with him after work, become invaluable to his recovery process. He strongly desires to keep her in his life. As he watches the autumn leaves change from his hospital window, he bemoans missing out on fall. The surgeon reminds him he was close to losing everything.

section 5

A time span of twenty-two years lapses between the everyman’s appendix surgery and his most recent medical procedure. During these years, he experiences good health and stability. He recalls the vow he took while strolling in Martha's Vineyard, to keep thoughts of mortality at bay until he reached the age of seventy-five.

section 6

The protagonist first feels unwell during a swim at the City Athletic Club in 1989, following a visit to his ailing father in New Jersey. Although he's always maintained a healthy lifestyle, he experiences breathlessness while swimming, signifying a serious ailment. Despite his surprise at needing cardiac surgery, he acknowledges that sickness can hit anyone. His operation, taking place at a Manhattan hospital, is emotionally taxing for his third wife, Merete, who accompanies him to the operating room, shedding tears. Interpreting her distress as worry for her own future should he not survive, he comforts her. The seven-hour operation leaves the protagonist with two significant wounds—one on his chest and another on his leg, from where they extracted a vein for his heart repair. Post-surgery, his cardiologist warns him against relying on Merete for care, as she's not capable enough. His brother Howie, who's energetically juggling between the protagonist's recovery in New York and their dying father in New Jersey, steps in. For the protagonist's health, Howie hires private nurses for day and night shifts, relieving Merete from the stress of caregiving.

section 7

The nocturnal nurse, Olive Parrott, is a formidable black woman, hailing from an avocado farm with a noteworthy resemblance to Eleanor Roosevelt. She lulls the protagonist with tales from her childhood in a warm West Indian-accented voice, comforting him in his post-surgery recovery from a life-threatening heart attack. The daytime nurse, Maureen, is a forthright Irish-Slavic redhead, who's less than cordial with Merete, who struggles with her own inability to manage alone. In the rehabilitation phase extending over three weeks, Maureen assists the protagonist with physical exercises and brief strolls, causing a surge in his strength and a pang of jealousy in Merete. Maureen's spiritedness, despite her history of affairs with patients, enlivens them, making them more inclined toward life. She drives the protagonist to New Jersey for his father's funeral as he was still incapable of doing it himself. The protagonist's brother, Howie, manages the funeral proceedings. Their father, more devout in his later years, would frequent the synagogue daily, especially after losing his wife. His last rites were performed in Hebrew, a language the protagonist, who dismissed religion in his adolescence, finds incomprehensible. Despite deeming faith childish and showing a preference for the tangible reality of the human body, he submits to the traditions during the burial of his father.

section 8

The everyman is present at his father's burial in the same deteriorating cemetery where he himself will be laid to rest. The entrance is marked by damaged and rusty gates, and the singular brick mausoleum resembles a shed rather than a noble resting place for the wealthy inhabitants. As the everyman and other mourners navigate towards the gravesite, they pass numerous gravestones etched in various languages such as Hebrew, Yiddish, Russian, German and Hungarian, with intricate carvings symbolizing blessings, children's graves, and more. It's even possible to discern the number of deaths during the 1918 influenza epidemic, a year that the narrator describes as forever staining the memory of the 20th century.

section 9

The protagonist stands at his father's burial site, his daughter Nancy by his side and his sons, Randy and Lonny, behind him. His post-surgery body struggles with the emotional weight of his father's passing. His brother Howie supports him, holding him at the waist. He watches as his father's coffin is lowered into the earth beside his mother's grave. The concept of their mortality confounds him. His father had operated his own store from 1933 to 1974, consistently providing for his children's futures. He cultivated a reputation for generosity, granting credit to Christian patrons without verification, which surprisingly didn't harm his business but rather fostered good relations. His shop was always well-decorated, particularly during Christmas, but his most ingenious idea was the store's name: Everyman's Jewelry Store. The protagonist's father had instilled in his sons that it was crucial for the working class to possess a diamond, as it symbolised status and elegance, and was a timeless object. When inquired why he left his previous job to start his own business, he'd simply respond, it was for the purpose of leaving something behind for his sons.

section 10

At the burial, the protagonist notes two standing shovels, presuming they're for the gravediggers to refill his father's grave, unaware it's a Jewish tradition for mourners to do so. His brother, Howie, aware of this, starts refilling the grave solemnly. The task, shared between Howie, his four sons, and the protagonist’s sons Randy and Lonny, takes around an hour. The protagonist feels the job is harsh and unending. The thought of his father's mouth filled with dirt agitates him, yet he realizes he's powerless to halt the burial. He contemplates that even if he leaped into the grave, the burial would persist. It's a distressing experience for him. He recalls his father's bewildered joy when holding his grandchildren for the first time, which makes him comprehend the reality of burial. Leading the mourners along with Nancy and Howie, he remains haunted by the grim scene, and the taste of the airborne dirt lingers as they return to New York.

section 11

The protagonist stays healthy for another nine years until 1998 when he faces a renal artery issue, resolved by a stent. At the age of sixty-five, he retires, begins receiving Medicare and Social Security, and drafts his will. Following the tragic events of 9/11, he relocates from Manhattan to Starfish Beach retirement village, a nostalgic location near his family's former summer vacation spot on the Jersey Shore. He transforms his living room into an art studio and settles into a pleasing, busy daily routine. His New York life's only longing is for Nancy, now divorced. He invites Nancy and her twin preschoolers to join him at the Jersey Shore, assuring them of a superior lifestyle and safety from potential terrorist threats.

section 12

A year following his renal stent procedure, Everyman undergoes a less serious surgery to clear an obstruction in his left carotid artery. With Nancy occupied with her work and children, and not wanting to disturb Howie's busy schedule, Everyman has minimal emotional support during this period. Despite the operation being non-threatening and his surgeon's assurance of a quick recovery, he gets into a bizarre conversation with a man in the waiting room about his life's unfortunate events. For the surgery, Everyman decides on local anaesthesia, making the operation experience quite suffocating and frightening, but he perseveres. He leaves the hospital the next day, lying that a friend is giving him a ride home. Alone, he drives himself back to his condominium, where he breaks down in tears.

section 13

The everyman's health deteriorates rapidly, requiring yearly hospital visits. A silent heart attack is discovered one year post his carotid artery surgery. His daughter Nancy offers emotional support during this time. To stay composed during medical procedures, he visualises the specifics of his father’s storefront, including the different watches stocked. A year after the placement of stents, he gets a permanent defibrillator inserted with Nancy by his side. Seeing the bulge from the defibrillator distresses Nancy, but he manages to stay composed. This triggers memories of Nancy's adolescence when she was a promising track athlete. However, an injury and puberty ended her potential career prematurely. Around this time, her parents also got divorced. These distressing memories resurface for Nancy after seeing her father's defibrillator. She shares her long-held wish that her parents would reconcile. Despite her hopes, the everyman advises Nancy to accept reality as it stands.

section 14

Feeling closer to the end of his life, the everyman decides to connect more with his surroundings rather than returning to Manhattan. He forms painting classes for his fellow residents at the retirement village. One of his top students, Millicent Kramer, often rests in his room because of her troublesome back. One day, he finds her in tears. Previously, her spouse Gerald Kramer, an assertive, sociable ex-newspaper publisher, had his self-image shattered due to brain cancer. Post his death and with her recurring back pain, Millicent’s life quality has degraded. She's embarrassed by her sickness and her helplessness. The everyman empathizes with her situation and attempts to console her. However, Millicent commits suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills ten days later. The everyman then informs that he'll be postponing his well-liked painting classes until the forthcoming fall due to a schedule shift.

section 15

The protagonist reflects on his relationship with his daughter Nancy, and his estranged sons, Randy and Lonny. Their lack of communication leads him to think it's better to avoid arguments. He's unsure of what he could have done to improve the relationship with his sons, except maybe not divorcing their mother. He decides not to inform Randy and Lonny about his hospitalizations, fearing they might feel relieved. The narrator discloses some reasons for the protagonist's infidelity towards Phoebe. Unaware of the full circumstances behind his actions, Randy and Lonny fail to comprehend their father's true nature. He speculates that his solitude would have been less profound had circumstances been different, yet he acknowledges and accepts his reality.

section 16

The main character has always maintained a solid bond with his brother, Howie, who continues to thrive in his business even post-retirement. Despite their busy lives, they take time to reminisce about their childhood during their frequent calls. However, envy towards Howie's robust health starts to creep into the everyman's heart, despite his understanding of its absurdity. He admires Howie's accomplishments in both his professional and personal life. Yet, his mounting jealousy leads to a decrease in their interactions. He almost convinces himself, against better judgment, that Howie's well-being causes his own ill health.

section 17

The protagonist begins teaching art classes in hopes of starting a new relationship, but he finds no woman appealing. Instead, he is drawn to the young female joggers, whose sight serves as a painful reminder of his solitude. Memories of a past filled with loved ones haunt him. The joy he once found in painting slowly fades away. Despite managing to exhibit and sell some of his works, he eventually feels inadequate, mirroring the disappointment Randy and Lonny perceive him to be. He comes to the realization that painting was merely an escape from the reality of his impending death. As a sense of dread sets in, he understands that all activities, even painting, carry the potential for failure.

section 18

The protagonist tells Nancy he's quit painting as he can no longer appreciate art. They disagree about his failure as a painter; Nancy attributes it to his young-age responsibilities and family, whereas he labels himself a novice. Nancy claims his artwork draws admiration from others, which she proudly displays in her home. He appreciates that she remains proud of him, attributing it to her pure and generous nature. He blames her marital failure on her inability to see her husband's flaws. He doubts Nancy's soothing words but finds solace in them, feeling loved by her. Their conversation shifts to swimming and Nancy's family, as he laments over his damaging behavior towards Nancy's mother, Phoebe, and expresses regret.

section 19

As he reaches his fifties, the protagonist begins to find women increasingly attractive. Despite lacking intimacy in his marriage with Phoebe, he hesitates before finally succumbing to his longing. He engages sexually with his young secretary, which surprises him since he considered himself a man of convention. Despite getting caught by his employer, he continues his indiscretions. During an advertising photoshoot in Grenada, he encounters Merete, a twenty-four-year-old Danish model, and they indulge in a passionate three-day affair. After returning to New York, they maintain their affair, which becomes public when he deceives Phoebe, claiming he is off to Paris for a work photoshoot with his colleague, Ezra Pollock. Grounded in Paris due to bad weather, he extends his stay with Merete. In Paris, he splurges on a diamond necklace for her, worth more than his father's total jewelry store stock. He likens their affair to being in an exclusive, secret society.

section 20

Upon reaching his hotel, the protagonist discovers a note from Phoebe informing him that their mother is critically ill. He learns from Phoebe that their mother suffered a stroke and isn't expected to survive. He's unable to fly due to poor weather conditions. Phoebe assures him that their brother, Howie, is at the hospital and she'll join their father soon. She reveals her failed attempt to locate him and his mistress, Merete, and her humiliating knowledge of their affair. He fails to reach his mother before she passes away. In the hospital, he encounters the stark reality of death while observing his deceased mother. He mourns the loss of two influential women in his life. Despite the circumstances, he continues to deceive Phoebe about his Paris trip. He alleges he took Merete to Paris to end their relationship, but Phoebe remains unconvinced, even aware of his fling with his secretary. Phoebe expresses her inability to trust him and her disdain for his deceitful behavior. She asserts that lying is an attempt to manipulate others and articulates her disapproval of liars. She is unwilling to forgive him for his betrayal. The day following their mother's funeral, Phoebe expels him from her life. Determined to redeem himself, especially in his daughter's eyes, he marries Merete. He then uncovers aspects of Merete's character beyond their physical relationship. Merete struggles with tax issues and has an intense fear of aging and illness. Unlike Phoebe's strength and capability, Merete isn't helpful.

section 21

In his retirement, the everyman's life slows down considerably. His everyday routine involves a morning walk, brief weightlifting, and a swim, all in an effort to maintain his heart health. With no other obligations, he spends his time gazing at the sea, reminiscing about his past. He often has dinner at a local fish store near the sailboats and sometimes visits a town where he used to holiday with his family. He ponders the limit of reliving his past memories and wonders if this nostalgia is a part of growing old. He relishes the recollection of his youth, specifically the moments of sprinting back from the sea, vividly experiencing those warm summer days after the war ended. Those were simpler times when he didn't think twice about his health.

section 22

After returning to his home in the elderly community, the protagonist attempts to immerse himself in his art books. However, they only serve to remind him of his inadequacies as an artist. He finds no comfort in the company of his fellow residents, who only talk about their distant grandchildren. The bonds they share with their spouses intensify his feeling of isolation. He acknowledges his regret of leaving New York, where he thrived in a dynamic environment rather than in the static and stagnant setting he's currently in. His surroundings offer no comfort, spark no interest, and fail to cater to his emotional needs. He feels incomplete, as if his life has passed him by and his identity has deteriorated.

section 23

The protagonist regularly greets a young female jogger passing his condo. One day, he initiates a conversation, learning she's been employed at a Philadelphia ad agency for seven years. She is taken aback when he mentions his former workplace, a renowned ad agency. They chit-chat about their shared industry. Despite his best efforts, he can't help but ogle her, noting she could easily be mistaken for a teenager despite being in her late twenties. He shouldn't flirt, but he does, handing over his contact details while hiding his nerves. Her acceptance of his number sets his mind ablaze with romantic possibilities. She jogs away, his number secured in her top. However, she never contacts him, nor does he catch sight of her jogging again.

section 24

Following his brush with the jogger, the protagonist plans to let go of his condo and relocate back to New York. His initial exit from New York after 9/11, once seen as an optimistic new beginning, is now seen as the onset of his loneliness and isolation. His intention is to get a residence on New York's Upper West Side to be closer to Nancy, and if possible, accommodate Nancy and her children in his home. However, as he prepares to execute his plan, he learns about Phoebe's stroke, a result of her migraine medication. Nancy informs him that Phoebe might stay with her once discharged from the hospital. During his visit to Phoebe in the hospital, he starts considering his idea of living with Nancy as selfish, anticipating the burden it might impose on her. Consequently, he abandons the idea permanently. Despite Phoebe's impaired speech due to the stroke, they manage to converse. She shares her fear of paralysis with him, breaking down in tears. He yearns for their past and her ability to converse without difficulty. Despite the doctor's assurance of Phoebe's complete recovery, her deteriorating health and his skepticism about the doctor's words make him wary. While reminiscing their past and the thrill their life together offered, he gently strokes Phoebe's hair.

section 25

Several of the protagonist's past coworkers endure declining health in a short period of time. Brad Karr, a former creative head, is admitted to the hospital for severe depression with suicidal tendencies. Ezra Pollock is battling terminal cancer at the age of seventy. Clarence Spraco, the protagonist's previous boss who had been sick for a substantial period, passes away due to a heart attack. The protagonist contacts Clarence's widow, Gwen, to communicate his sympathy, and they recollect some moments about Clarence and Nancy. Gwen appreciates the protagonist's call, mentioning the non-stop ringing of the phone for the past two days, which has ensured she doesn't feel alone.

section 26

The protagonist contacts Brad Karr at the mental health institution, harking back to their successful advertising collaboration. He checks on Brad's wellbeing and they reflect on their agency days. Despite Brad's bleak tone, he remains hopeful about recovery. Post-call, the protagonist doubts if Brad genuinely remembers their shared past or if he'll recover. Next, he phones Ezra Pollock. Even while battling terminal illness, Ezra maintains a positive demeanor, spending his time writing an advertising memoir. They share memories, plan a lunch, and talk about Ezra's discomfort and treatment. Ezra credits his terminal condition for overcoming writer's block. The protagonist offers his support, shares his number, and urges Ezra to call anytime. Drained, all he wants is to reach out to Nancy and, impossible as it seems, his deceased parents.

section 27

The protagonist is hospitalized for the seventh consecutive year due to an obstructed carotid artery found during a routine check-up. Meanwhile, Ezra Pollock passes away. Despite the upcoming surgery, the protagonist remains unbothered, trusting his surgeon through familiarity. He decides against informing Nancy of his medical situation and he can't reach Maureen, his former nurse. He reflects on Howie, a neglected friend, and sees parallels with his loss of Phoebe and the harm caused to his children, all due to his actions. Stricken with guilt and despair, he physically punishes himself for his consistent self-destructive behaviour. He recalls a past time at Howie's Santa Barbara ranch, while Howie and family were away, and contemplates whether he could stay there temporarily to figure out his next step. Despite his attempt to reach Howie, only the answering machine responds. Eventually, Howie's youngest son, Rob, calls back. He informs the protagonist that Howie and his wife are in Tibet, countering the protagonist’s suspicions they are avoiding him at Santa Barbara. Rob reveals they are on a three-week trip after Howie's business trip to Hong Kong. Although Rob offers to relay a message via email, the protagonist declines.

section 28

The protagonist realises he must cope on his own. Nearing seventy-five, he confronts the unexpected fact that he’s no longer attractive to women. He attempts to not miss them excessively. He once believed the absent elements of his life would come back, completing him. However, it's now evident that, like many older folks, he's gradually losing more of himself and must face life's end through a slow decline and sadness. It's his turn to grapple with the fear of being forgotten.

section 29

Just days before his surgery, the insomniac protagonist decides to visit Nancy, her kids, and Phoebe in New York. He has a dream where he's lying naked next to Millicent Kramer's lifeless body, holding her in the same way he comforted Phoebe during her intense migraines. Upon awakening, he illuminates his room and contemplates the agonizing circumstances surrounding Millicent's suicide. Although he's conscious of his impending death, he finds purpose in caring for Nancy. He pictures himself running aimlessly in Elizabeth, shouting out the names of his unreachable loved ones - his parents, Howie, Phoebe, Nancy, Randy, and Lonny. He envisions informing them of his departure, echoing their own departures and their words to him - that he was too late.

section 30

The protagonist doesn't reach New York as intended. Instead, he finds himself in the dilapidated cemetery where his parents rest. The state of the cemetery was unnoticed when his father was buried as he was too consumed by grief. Recently, he's been to two other burials in better-maintained cemeteries. The rabbi from his father's memorial had cautioned him to visit during the High Holy Days due to police presence, but he chooses not to due to his dislike for the occasion. His attended funerals were of his art class colleagues who succumbed to cancer within a seven-day span. At the burials, he scrutinizes his fellow Starfish Beach retirement community dwellers, speculating who might be next. A weeping woman, who attended both funerals, stands beside a seemingly indifferent man. This man, who the protagonist assumes is her spouse, criticizes her flamboyant grieving during the ceremony. The protagonist explains it's due to the raw and unjust nature of death, but the man dismisses this, stating she simply longs for her youthful days.

section 31

The protagonist, everyman, stumbles upon his parents' grave, which triggers a wave of tears at the sight of their names etched together. He takes a trip down memory lane, going from his most recent memories to the earliest ones with his parents, a task that weighs heavy on him. He attempts to connect with his lost family by standing near their graves, trying to catch any message from them. A sense of peace envelops him as he feels a link with their remains. He engages in a conversation with his parents, mentioning his age of seventy-one to his parents who passed away at eighty and ninety. His mother's spirit appreciates his life, while his father encourages him to make amends where possible and make the most of his remaining life. Leaving the cemetery is a difficult task for the everyman, filled with a yearning for the departed to be alive once more.

section 32

Returning to his vehicle, the Everyman stumbles upon an older man, seemingly sturdy, manually digging a grave. Intrigued, the Everyman inquires about the methods of grave digging, under the impression it was a mechanical process. This ensues a thorough discussion with the gravedigger, who outlines the steps from earth removal, positioning the burial plot to slicing the turf. The gravedigger discloses his son's assistance in this task and how the resulting grave needs to appear dignified, both for the deceased and their relatives. The Everyman stays to observe the gravedigger, reluctant to leave the burial ground and his parents' tombstone out of sight. As the gravedigger highlights a tombstone of a kind World War II veteran and former POW, the Everyman is intrigued if the gravedigger knew others laid to rest there. The gravedigger admits knowing a teenager who tragically died in a car accident, and whose friends leave beer cans or fishing rods at his grave. Their conversation is shortly disrupted by a woman named Thelma, who brings food and drink for the gravedigger, though her connection to him is left undefined. The Everyman guides the gravedigger to his parents' graves, questioning if he was the one to dig them. Upon confirmation, the Everyman expresses gratitude for his service and provides the gravedigger with $100 for him and his son. As he hands over the money, the Everyman scrutinizes the man who, sooner or later, will be burying him.

section 33

After his cemetery visit, the protagonist reflects on his childhood, drawing strength from the love of his parents and experiences from his past. He is admitted to the hospital for surgery on a Wednesday morning. Given the choice between local or general anesthesia, he opts for the latter, seeking a less traumatic experience than his previous surgery. The echoes from his parents' graves fill him with a sense of invincibility and triumph over his deepest fears. He feels a connection to his younger self, vibrant and unquenchable. His thoughts turn to the brilliance of daylight, to the living sea's radiant beauty, and to the preciousness of life itself, as if viewed through his father's magnifying loupe. Overwhelmed with a hopeful mindset, he succumbs to anesthesia, eager to embrace life. Tragically, he never awakens from the surgery, succumbing to a heart attack. His passing is sudden and unnoticed, just as he always dreaded, slipping into nonexistence without any awareness.

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