"The Death of Justina" goes beyond a mere encounter with mortality to explore how death profoundly alters the protagonist's life and underscores Cheever's knack for comedy. It presents a world where reality seems increasingly disconnected from memory and hope, encapsulating the human experience of feeling adrift from one's aspirations. The protagonist's crisis is humorously absurd yet poignantly significant.

The Challenge of Art in a Chaotic World

The narrator grapples with a philosophical quandary: if fiction is considered an art form, and if art signifies triumph over chaos through choice, then how does one maintain that triumph amidst rapid societal changes? The difficulty is compounded by the blurred lines between aesthetic and moral decisions in modern times. This narrative poses a challenge in constructing a bridge between Coverly Wapshot's "memories and ambitions."

Independent Yet Connected

Though "The Death of Justina" is largely independent from The Wapshot Scandal when considering its setting and character names, it shares significant thematic and structural elements. Central to the story is Moses's quest to understand why, in a land of prosperity, so many individuals are disillusioned. The narrative offers insight into this conundrum through a startling event: the death of his wife's cousin, Justina, in his home. Moses confronts a bizarre reality where his suburban neighborhood is not zoned for death, exemplified by the mayor's insistence on the critical importance of zoning laws. Only Moses's threat to bury the body himself compels the mayor to act outside the law.

A Surreal Vision of Modern Discontent

The storyline takes a surreal twist as Moses dreams of a thousand shoppers, bizarrely dressed, meandering through an eerily lit supermarket. Here, packages hold mysterious contents, and at the checkout, men reveal the unknown goods, only to show disdain and send the ashamed shoppers into a metaphorical sea of lost souls. This dream sequence draws a parallel with Dante’s Inferno, offering a satirical yet empathetic portrayal of modern humanity's misguided attempts to fulfill their deepest desires.

The Interplay of Death, Love, and Alarm

As Moses reflects on burying Justina on the town's outskirts, akin to a dump, he contemplates how a society that refuses to understand death can hope to grasp love. The narrative suggests Moses as the harbinger of this realization. Challenged by his boss to revise a commercial for Elixircol, Moses initially drafts a parody, boldly declaring, "Only Elixircol can save you." Facing the threat of losing his job—a symbolic death—he ultimately transcribes the Twenty-third Psalm. In the dream-like supermarket of the soul, his choice of words, "the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want," resonates with unexpected clarity and reassurance.