Mortality Quotes in The Corrections

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

His affliction offended his sense of ownership. These shaking hands belonged to nobody but him, and yet they refused to obey him. They were live bad children. (2.454)

Alfred is a control freak to the core, so it's a cruel twist that he becomes unable to control even his own body

Quote #2

The truth was that he was going to die. That heaping your tomb with treasure wouldn't save you. (3.263)

Gary's fear of death is a direct echo of Alfred's. In his attempt to distance himself from his father, Gary ends up doing the same exact thing.

Quote #3

"Well, but if he thought there might actually be a cure—"

"What, so he can be depressed for an extra five years and die miserable at eighty-five instead of eighty? That's going to make all the difference?" (3.818-819)

Gary genuinely believes that this is how Alfred would spend the rest of his life—because that's what he'd do, too.