Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die

Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die is an expression that becomes Rachel Elliot’s private refrain as she responds to a sudden episode of anxiety. In the scene, its invitation to seek pleasure turns thought into action: she gets dressed, puts on makeup, and heads for the hotel bar in search of a drink and company.

Appearance in the Scene

After waking in darkness with fear thudding in her chest, Rachel finds that she cannot attach her anxiety to a particular problem. Images of rain, rushes, and mothering fail to give it shape; instead, it remains bound to growing older, uncertainty, and loneliness. The attack fades, leaving her exhausted. As she dresses, the expression begins to sing in her mind, accompanying the small, deliberate gestures of dabbing colour onto her face and applying blue eyeshadow.

Meaning and Immediate Effect

The refrain offers no solution to the fear Rachel has just experienced. Rather, it redirects her toward the hotel bar: she tells herself that a drink and company are what she needs, then slams the door and walks toward the sound of merriment. The movement from an unnameable inner crisis to a public gathering gives the expression an immediate practical force. Its thought of mortality accompanies an effort to escape isolation, even if only through drink and other people’s company.