Behind The Formaldehyde Curtain

Words: 413
Pages: 2

“Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain” is a short story written by Jessica Mitford, about the process of embalming. It is clear her ultimate goal is to share many of the common practices of the funeral industry. She discusses the practice of embalming, the secrecy behind it, and describes in detail how the procedure works. Her point is that if more people understood these practices, North American funeral practices might change, and the mystery of what goes on behind the formaldehyde curtain would be out in the open for everyone to understand and acknowledge.
The story starts out by introducing us to a Mr. Jones who was arriving into the mortuary. She goes on to tell us the horrors that will happen to him, “sprayed, sliced, pierced, pickled, trussed,