Demand Quote by Kobo Abe
“Now that you are dead, you are splendid. Photographs of people who have just died are worth twenty percent more, and for suicides there is an additional five percent. Now that you are dead you are much in demand.”
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Death of a Man” by Kobo Abe, 1970
Society commodifies death, turning it into a marketable spectacle that devalues human life.
In simple terms: Death is treated as a commodity.
Key Takeaway
Question the value placed on mortality.
Themes
mortality
commercialism
ethics
alienation
Mood
critical
somber
Type
philosophical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- media coverage
- advertising
- art installations
- policy debates
Key Concepts
philosophy
social critique
literature
Questions to Reflect On
- How does commodifying death affect empathy?
- What alternatives respect dignity?
A Different Perspective
Might overlook individual grief.
