The finale of season 7 of Seinfeld ended with
the death of Susan Ross. At the time,
television viewers were surprised at both her death and the callous way the
main characters dealt with the event.
Retroactively, her death and the main characters’ reactions can be
appreciated for the brilliant application of satire. The episode’s ending is dark—another landmark
for Seinfeld for pushing the envelope (so to speak) at what a sitcom
could be.
In the episode, “The Invitations,” Susan’s death seems
like a shock. However, throughout the
episode there are many hints that actually foreshadow her death. In this article, I’d like to point out a few.
Beginnings and Endings
In the first scene, George and Susan go to “Melody
Stationers” to choose wedding invitations.
The associate helping them brings out a giant tome of invitations
“arranged by the order of price.”
George, a well-known cheap shake, flips to the back of the book. This is the first indication of Susan’s
upcoming death as the ridiculously large book is shown at its end. The invitations George selects are the ones
that lead to Susan’s death.
While the beginning of a book is the beginning of
life, the end of a look is the end of life.
N.B. Also notice the backwards “open” sign. It may just be a coincidence. But Susan’s life is soon to be closed.
Les Fleurs du mal
After selecting the fatal invitations, Susan and
George run into Kramer. Although he has
met Susan several times, Kramer misremembers her name as “Lilly.”
The flower most commonly associated with funerals is….
you guessed it—a lily. N.B. Also notice
the sign for “Two Great Beers” with three people in front of it.
Very Sharp Objects
The next scene shows some powerful subliminal images. First, Jerry is seen twirling scissors.
There is no reason for Jerry to be holding these
scissors.
Also, there is a VERY noticeable knife block next to
pink napkins. Again, like the scissors,
knives are another symbol of cutting.
The pink napkins indicate feminineness.
If someone is going to die-the episode suggests-it will be a woman.
Later in the scene, George imagines running away to
Staten Island to escape marrying Susan.
He wonders how he will get his clothes.
His silly dilemma is that he neither can go back for his clothes (for
fear of facing Susan) nor start a new wardrobe (because he’s too old). Jerry responds, “Look, freedom and no clothes
is a lot better than no freedom with clothes.”
It’s ridiculous—but it is reference to “you can’t take it with you.” You need to savor life today because you
can’t take money with you to Heaven.
George says he’d rather die in a plane crash than marry Susan.
Balancing the Scale
In the next scene, Jerry tells Elaine that he feels
depressed about George’s wedding. While
envisioning his future life, Jerry almost gets hit by a car, but a mysterious
woman saves his life.
But now the scale is uneven:
And in Seinfeld, everything must even out.
First Attempt
Meanwhile, George attempts to end his engagement by
disgusting Susan with his smoking habit.
She
doesn’t like it-but George can’t keep up the ruse because the cigarettes make him
sick! His first attempt to end his
engagement has failed.
Second Attempt
Kramer suggests that George try a prenup
strategy. If George asks Susan to sign a
prenuptial agreement, she’ll feel insulted and won’t want to marry him. However, Susan laughs at the idea as she
makes more money than George does.
George’s second attempt at ending the engagement fails.
Third Times a Charm: The Invitations
The invitations are delivered to George’s
apartment. Let’s take a look at Susan’s
final outfit.
The first detail is the handkerchief wrapped around
her neck. Ribbons and handkerchief worn
around the neck became fashionable after the Revolution in France and
England. It symbolized the neck being
chopped off from the guillotine. Short
hair was also in style as women had their hair chopped off before they were
executed. A very morbid fashion choice
that was adopted in later folk tales.
Do you remember this story from In a Dark Dark Room
and Other Scary Stories? Do you know
why Jenny always wore a green ribbon around her neck?
The second small detail is that Susan’s sweater
contains visible “X” marks. In American
tradition, that “X” symbolizes future death.
X’s famously displayed in The Departed
Subtle X’s in Saltburn
Bank Interlude
Kramer goes to the bank to collect his $100. While waiting, he talks to the bank manager
about his desk. He asks if the desk is
made of oak and the manager thinks it is pine.
Oak and pine are two very common woods…..for coffins.
The Ending
While the smoking and the prenup didn’t work, the poison envelopes did. George shakes the hand of the confused doctor
after receiving the news of Susan’s expiration.
Moral of the Story
There isn’t one—it’s Seinfeld. However,
it is interesting to note that George’s apartment is number 609.
It’s beginning closes in on itself with nothing in the middle. George learns nothing from his entire
relationship with Susan. He doesn’t grow
as a person-and remains, with respect, Costanza, Lord of the Idiots.
