Markup View

Author: Goldfritha

May 4th 2013 at 6:19:01 PM

One notes that in other cultures the color may be different for mourning.

[[AC:Literature]]
* LFrankBaum's Oz books:
** In ''TheWonderfulWizardOfOz'', Dorothy thinks she has to go back because they can't afford mourning, among other reason.
-->''"My greatest wish now," she added, "is to get back to Kansas, for Aunt Em will surely think something dreadful has happened to me, and that will make her put on mourning; and unless the crops are better this year than they were last, I am sure Uncle Henry cannot afford it." ''
** In ''Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz'', Dorothy sees, in the magic mirror, Uncle Henry and Auntie Em in mourning, thinking she had been killed in the earthquake.
* In CharlesDickens's ''DavidCopperfield'', after Dora's death, at one point David is asked about his mourning armband and informs the questioner that it was his wife who died.
* In LouisaMayAlcott's ''LittleWomen'', 
** at a visit to Aunt March's, Amy is shown her jewelry, including "the jet mourning rings and pins."  (Jet is black, and allowed to be worn during mourning.)
** when Laurie and Amy meet again in Europe, it is shortly after Beth's death, and Laurie notes how poignant Amy looks, partly because of her mourning:  "the black ribbon that tied up her hair,"
* In AndreNorton's ''Ice Crown'', the heroine dreams of the court after the king's death.  Another character realizes it was a true vision because she described the (heavily purple) formal mourning, which she has never seen.

[[AC:Poetry]]
* Walter de La Mare's [[http://www.wisdomcriethwithout.com/a-widows-weeds-by-walter-de-la-mare/ Widow's Weeds]] puns on the trope
-->''A poor old Widow in her weeds''
-->''Sowed her garden with wild-flower seeds;''