Chapter 24:...And Rarely Just Illness

According to Foster, one of the most "picturesque" and proper deaths-by-illness to be employed in literature is death-by-tuberculosis. One of the many TB-filled stories out there is Moulin Rouge. I feel a little typical writing about this, because I'm probably not the only one, but oh well.

Principles of Disease in Literature

1.In Foster's opinion, TB is quite picturesque, giving the ailing an almost ethereal beauty as they travel farther into the arms of Death.

2.The mysteriousness of TB is not quite as present today, but when it first reached epidemic proportions, no one knew where it came from, how to stop it, or how to avoid it.

3.Symbolism and metaphors are extremely possible, as TB is a "wasting disease."

A major theme of Moulin Rouge is "love conquers all." By one of the lovers, Satine, dying, and by Christian (the other lover) narrating the story, telling of his irrevocable and unconditional love for Satine, the story truly reflects this theme. The two battle innumerable obstacles standing in their way, and triumph over them, only to have Satine dead at the hands of disease. Hmmm, that's a bit ironic. Dying may not seem like conquering love, but Christian's devotion to Satine, even in her death, writing down their story of love so that it is never forgotten, is truly a reminder that love can battle even the most permanent of separations.

Tuberculosis is a proper death for Satine. Throughout the course of the story, she's already proved that she's too strong for a simple death. She fought the Duke and his devotion, she fought against her background as a courtesan, and she fought to escape her life and aspire to her real passion: acting. Foster claims that TB is "picturesque," giving the ill a "bizarre beauty." Pale, "almost translucent skin," "dark eye sockets," the "appearance of a martyr." How fitting this is for Satine, a beautiful woman, who is known as the "Sparkling Diamond" of the brothel in which she works. For her to take on beauty even in her death is only proper. This also sets well with the theme of the story. Several of the themes of the story are based on the bohemian values of "freedom, beauty, truth, and love." Satine's "beautiful" and "picturesque" death bolsters the theme of beauty. In her death, she is also freed from the underworld of the brothel in which she worked for so long, and from running from the fates she does not want to have to succumb to.