Surely one of the most prominent aspects of death is its potential for intense emotional impact on the survivors. The reasons are as numerous as they are obvious. There is the simple but often searing fact of separation from a loved one; the realization that he or she will no longer enjoy the fruits of life; the suddenness with which death strikes. There can be fear for one's own life, and fear of the power of death in general. There may be anger, directed diffusely at the deceased, or at the persons or powers held responsible. Finally, there are various strong reactions to the corpse itself.

The interpretation of emotion presents, however, special problems for the anthropologist, because we are not well equipped to deal with inner states. Even within our own cultures, it is hard to be sure that outward appearances match true feelings. How much harder will it be where the meaning of no posture, or gesture, or tone of voice can be taken for granted? Observers who imagine that they can see plainly into the emotions of people of different cultures are bold indeed. Having learned how diverse and complicated the perceptions of such apparently simple matters as space, time, and color may be, how can we assume a constancy for such complex states as love and hate, sorrow and joy?