First Death in Nova Scotia

Jack Frost heightens the sense of defamiliarization and eeriness. He represents a mortuary cosmetologist because he puts makeup on Arthur. The speaker sees Jack Frost starting to “paint him” (Line 34), but then, without an explanation, he stops and exits the scene. The “paint” is makeup. Frost’s occupation as a mortuary cosmetologist undercuts Frost’s typical place in culture and makes him a working-class person. Turning Frost into a makeup artist for the dead reinforces the lack of emotion at funerals and surrounding death. Frost connects to harsh winter weather; he’s not there to bring warmth.

Frost does have the capacity for feeling, as he begins to paint “a few red strokes” (Line 38) on Arthur’s hair. The presence of color among the “all white” (Line 32) body suggests that Frost isn’t exclusively an agent of monolithic gloom. However, Frost’s quick departure indicates that any warmth he may have isn’t sustainable. Realizing that he’s betraying his bleak values, Frost leaves before he does any further damage to his reputation.

The poem mentions four British royals: Edward, Prince of Wales; Princess Alexandra; King George; and Queen Mary. The speaker’s mother puts Arthur “beneath the chromographs” (Line 3), turning the royals into symbols of hierarchy.