--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I soon saw, however, that Creed's…" description: "\"“I soon saw, however, that Creed's obsession with death was typical of most of the children. This came out in their play. \"Let's play funeral\" was a fa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/catherine-marshall-11762_class-clown_i-soon-saw-however-that-creed-s-obsessio_6825.jpg" --- # I soon saw, however, that Creed's obsession with death was… ![“I soon saw, however, that Creed's obsession with death was typical of most of the children. This came out in their play. "Let's play funeral" was a favorite game at recess. To me, it seemed bizarre and mawkish play. All that saved it was the spontaneous creativity of the children and the fact…” quote by Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/catherine-marshall-11762_class-clown_i-soon-saw-however-that-creed-s-obsessio_6825.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/catherine-marshall-11762_class-clown_i-soon-saw-however-that-creed-s-obsessio_6825.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/catherine-marshall-11762_class-clown_i-soon-saw-however-that-creed-s-obsessio_6825.jpg) > ““I soon saw, however, that Creed's obsession with death was typical of most of the children. This came out in their play. "Let's play funeral" was a favorite game at recess. To me, it seemed bizarre and mawkish play. All that saved it was the spontaneous creativity of the children and the fact that, unerringly, they caught the incongruities and absurdities of their elders. One child would be elected to be "dead" and would lay himself out on the ground, eyes closed, hands dutifully crossed across his chest. Another would be chosen to be the "preacher," all the rest, "mourners." I remember one day when Sam Houston Holcomb was the "corpse" and Creed Allen, always the class clown of the group, was elected "preacher." Creed, already at ten an accomplished mimic, was turning in an outstanding performance. I stood watching, half-hidden in the shado of the doorway. Creed (bellowing in stentorian tones): "You-all had better stop your meanness and I'll tell you for why. Praise the Lord! If you'uns don't stop being so defend ornery, you ain't never goin' gift to see Brother Holcomb on them streets paved with rubies and such-like, to give him the time of day, 'cause you'uns are goin' to be laid out on the coolin' board and then roasted in hellfire." The "congregation" shivered with delight, as if they were hearing a deliciously scary ghost story. The corpse opened one eye to see how his mourners were taking this blast; he sighed contentedly at their palpitations; wriggled right leg where a fly was tickling; adjusted grubby hands more comfortably across chest. Creed then grasped his right ear with his right hand and spat. Only there wasn't enough to make the stream impressive. So preacher paused, working his mouth vigorously, trying to collect more spit. Another pucker and heave. Ah! Better! Sermon now resumed: "Friends and neighbors, we air lookin' on Brother Holcombe's face for the last time." (Impressive pause.). "Praise the Lord! We ain't never goin' see him again in this life." (Impressive pause.). "Praise the Lord!" Small preacher was now really getting warmed up. He remembered something he must have heard at the last real funeral. Hearty spit first, more pulling of ear: "You air enjoyin' life now, folks. Me, I used to git pleasured and enjoy life too. But now that I've got religion, I don't enjoy life no more." At this point I retreated behind the door lest I betray my presence by laughing aloud.”” [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A child’s play mimics adult rituals, exposing the absurdity of religious moralizing through exaggerated funeral theatrics. **In simple terms:** Children parody adult solemnity. Key Takeaway Play reveals hidden contradictions. Themes ritual satire authority critique innocent rebellion social learning absurdity mortality Mood playful subversive cynical Type anecdotal observational narrative When to use this quote - school recess - after‑school drama - family gatherings - cultural rites - peer bonding Key Concepts role‑play mimicry group dynamics performance tension Practical Applications - educational workshops on critical thinking - theatrical exercises for empathy Questions to Reflect On - How does humor alter perception of authority? - What does the children's reaction reveal about cultural transmission? A Different Perspective The scene could be seen as trivializing grief, potentially desensitizing children to death. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Class clown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-clown/) [Corpse Creed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corpse-creed-321017/) [Creed Grasped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creed-grasped-321018/) [Creed Obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creed-obsession-321019/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Enjoy life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy-life/) [Last time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-time/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Outstanding performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outstanding-performance/) [Play Funeral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-funeral-321016/) [Praise the lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise-the-lord/) [Preacher Creed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preacher-creed-321015/) [Right hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-hand/) [Time of day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-of-day/) ## Related quotes > [Research shows that for jobs of all kinds, emotional intelligence is twice as important an ingredient of outstanding performance as cognitive ability and technical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/research-shows-that-for-jobs-of-all-kinds-emotional-intelligence-is/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [“Hearing a succession of mediocre singers does not add up to a single outstanding performance”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/hearing-a-succession-of-mediocre-singers-does-not-add-up-to-a-single-2/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Congratulations for the outstanding performance! 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One of his key insights was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/in-a-seminal-1981-paper-the-economist-sherwin-rosen-worked-out-the/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“Hearing a succession of mediocre singers does not add up to a single outstanding performance.” In other words, talent is not a commodity you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/hearing-a-succession-of-mediocre-singers-does-not-add-up-to-a-single/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [The magic behind every outstanding performance is always found in the smallest of details.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan/the-magic-behind-every-outstanding-performance-is-always-found-in-the/) [Gary Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan/) > [“The understatement rule means that a debilitating and painful chronic illness must be described as ‘a bit of a nuisance’; a truly horrific experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-fox/the-understatement-rule-means-that-a-debilitating-and-painful-chronic/) [Kate Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-fox/) > [“If everyone likes it, it's probably because it has been doing well. 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Love your zone!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/specialization-concentration-and-consistency-is-the-key-to/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The theater is a baffling business, and a shockingly wasteful one when you consider that people who have proven their worth, who have appeared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilka-chase/the-theater-is-a-baffling-business-and-a-shockingly-wasteful-one-when/) [Ilka Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilka-chase/) > [“...the big increases in heart and blood volumes that occur by the 12th week of pregnancy should have the same effect as 'blood doping'.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-clapp/the-big-increases-in-heart-and-blood-volumes-that-occur-by-the-12th/) [James F. Clapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-clapp/) ## More by Catherine Marshall > [“Living in the middle of beauty like this, we've no call to have puny ideas about God. 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It's today I must be livin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/the-house-it-s-already-been-a-settin-here-for-a-hundred-years-it-ll/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [“Evil is real - and powerful. It has to be fought, not explained away, not fled. And God is against evil all the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/evil-is-real-and-powerful-it-has-to-be-fought-not-explained-away-not/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [Truth could never be wholly contained in words. 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The God who made giraffes, a baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/whence-comes-this-idea-that-if-what-we-are-doing-is-fun-it-can-t-be/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [When the dream in our heart is one that God has planted there, a strange happiness flowers into us. At that moment all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/when-the-dream-in-our-heart-is-one-that-god-has-planted-there-a/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [“Have you ever watched a baby learning to walk? He totters, arms stretched out to balance himself. He wobbles - and falls, perhaps bumps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/have-you-ever-watched-a-baby-learning-to-walk-he-totters-arms/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [“Truth could never be wholly contained in words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/truth-could-never-be-wholly-contained-in-words/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [I learned that true forgiveness includes total self-acceptance. And out of acceptance wounds are healed and happiness is possible again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/i-learned-that-true-forgiveness-includes-total-self-acceptance-and/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [Of course you'll encounter trouble. But behold a God of power who can take any evil and turn it into a door of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/of-course-you-ll-encounter-trouble-but-behold-a-god-of-power-who-can/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [A Christian has no business being satisfied with mediocrity. He's supposed to reach for the stars. Why not? He's not on his own anymore.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/a-christian-has-no-business-being-satisfied-with-mediocrity-he-s/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [... where there was hunger there would also be bread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/where-there-was-hunger-there-would-also-be-bread/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) [Explore all 58 Catherine Marshall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) ## More Class clown quotes > [You know, I was the class clown in Catholic school, but I never thought I would make a living out of it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-vergara/you-know-i-was-the-class-clown-in-catholic-school-but-i-never-thought/) [Sofia Vergara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-vergara/) > [When I first started getting into acting, I was doing improv in acting class, and I had done a serious monologue and everyone was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/when-i-first-started-getting-into-acting-i-was-doing-improv-in-acting/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [Class clowns are never allowed to date anybody decent, but you don't get beaten up, you're invited to parties, and everybody likes you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harmon/class-clowns-are-never-allowed-to-date-anybody-decent-but-you-don-t/) [Dan Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harmon/) > [I wasn't a class clown, I never developed this comedic flair as a kid. Even when I decided to become an actor, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-wasn-t-a-class-clown-i-never-developed-this-comedic-flair-as-a-kid/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I was sort of always the class clown, but I think that was confusing for my teachers because I had the grades to back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/i-was-sort-of-always-the-class-clown-but-i-think-that-was-confusing/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [“My parents must have seen something in me that I missed. My teachers insisted that I didn’t apply myself… I know that I didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/my-parents-must-have-seen-something-in-me-that-i-missed-my-teachers/) [Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/) > [“Be like Allan Pearl. Sit next to the class clown and study him. 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This came out in their play. \"Let's play funeral\" was a favorite game at recess. To me, it seemed bizarre and mawkish play. All that saved it was the spontaneous creativity of the children and the fact that, unerringly, they caught the incongruities and absurdities of their elders. One child would be elected to be \"dead\" and would lay himself out on the ground, eyes closed, hands dutifully crossed across his chest. Another would be chosen to be the \"preacher,\" all the rest, \"mourners.\" I remember one day when Sam Houston Holcomb was the \"corpse\" and Creed Allen, always the class clown of the group, was elected \"preacher.\" Creed, already at ten an accomplished mimic, was turning in an outstanding performance. I stood watching, half-hidden in the shado of the doorway. Creed (bellowing in stentorian tones): \"You-all had better stop your meanness and I'll tell you for why. Praise the Lord! If you'uns don't stop being so defend ornery, you ain't never goin' gift to see Brother Holcomb on them streets paved with rubies and such-like, to give him the time of day, 'cause you'uns are goin' to be laid out on the coolin' board and then roasted in hellfire.\" The \"congregation\" shivered with delight, as if they were hearing a deliciously scary ghost story. The corpse opened one eye to see how his mourners were taking this blast; he sighed contentedly at their palpitations; wriggled right leg where a fly was tickling; adjusted grubby hands more comfortably across chest. Creed then grasped his right ear with his right hand and spat. Only there wasn't enough to make the stream impressive. So preacher paused, working his mouth vigorously, trying to collect more spit. Another pucker and heave. Ah! Better! Sermon now resumed: \"Friends and neighbors, we air lookin' on Brother Holcombe's face for the last time.\" (Impressive pause.). \"Praise the Lord! We ain't never goin' see him again in this life.\" (Impressive pause.). \"Praise the Lord!\" Small preacher was now really getting warmed up. He remembered something he must have heard at the last real funeral. Hearty spit first, more pulling of ear: \"You air enjoyin' life now, folks. Me, I used to git pleasured and enjoy life too. But now that I've got religion, I don't enjoy life no more.\" At this point I retreated behind the door lest I betray my presence by laughing aloud.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Catherine Marshall" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/i-soon-saw-however-that-creed-s-obsession-with-death-was-typical-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Class clown" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/i-soon-saw-however-that-creed-s-obsession-with-death-was-typical-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/catherine-marshall-11762_class-clown_i-soon-saw-however-that-creed-s-obsessio_6825.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/catherine-marshall-11762_class-clown_i-soon-saw-however-that-creed-s-obsessio_6825.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf1/catherine-marshall-11762_class-clown_i-soon-saw-however-that-creed-s-obsessio_6825.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I soon saw, however, that Creed's obsession with death was typical of most of the children. 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