OED Reading Reflection
Word: “decline”
Quote: “…Laura would pleasantly frighten herself with the thought of Emma’s ghost coming back to make music with cold fingers, stealing into the empty drawing-room as noiselessly as she had done. But Emma’s was a gentle ghost. Emma had died of a decline, and when she lay dead with a bunch of snowdrops under her folded palms, a lock of her hair was cut off to be embroidered into a picture of a willow tree exhaling its branches above a padded white satin tomb. ‘That,’ said Laura’s mother, ‘is an heirloom of your great-aunt Emma who died.’ And Laura was sorry for the poor young lady who alone, it seemed to her, of all her relations had had the misfortune to die.”(Page 12).
Reflection
After looking at the word “decline,” I found out that it can either apply as a noun or a verb. The historical example of the use of the word “decline” is when something gradually reduces. It could be downward movements of the population or the price of products. For example, Britain’s industry has been in decline since the 1970s. Also, many ancient cities have fallen into decline. These examples signify a decrease in value for a specific period. I also noticed that the word” decline” has several meanings that apply to different situations. The word “decline” also refers to a verb when used with an object. The first meaning is when expressing a courteous inability to accept. For example, “decline that offer.” It also means refusing something or someone.
The meaning of decline is the gradual reduction of value, quality, and numbers. Its use in the passage implies a decrease in quality of life. It connects to Emma’s death, and a person would expect that the cause of someone’s death may also include that they have suffered from a specific disease. She might have had a disease that gradually reduced her health that she could no longer engage in her favorite activities. For example, the passage mentions that Laura frightened herself with the thought that Emma’s ghost would come back to making music. This statement reveals that Emma might have been a peaceful person who loved music. The idea that she had died saddened Laura as she was sorry for Emma’s death.
This passage reveals Laura’s longing relationship with her great-aunt, Emma. Even though Emma had died, Laura feels they could have had the best relationship. Emma’s ghost does not frighten Laura because she is gentle. It seems that even though her health had deteriorated, Emma died peacefully, and Laura and her mother continue to embrace Emma’s spirits. The passage portrays Laura’s relationship with the people around her. She may not have been around when her great-aunt Emma died and, therefore, did not know that they had to cut a lock of her hair and embroidered it into the picture of the Willow tree. Laura’s mother had to explain to her the details of the picture.