Final answer:
The speaker exhibits a mix of reverence, criticism, and somber reflection towards the dead. This complex attitude explores themes of respect, divine favor, and the loneliness that death can bring.
Step-by-step explanation:
The attitude expressed by the speaker toward the dead fluctuates between reverence, a sense of duty, and critique, embodying the complex relationship between the living and the deceased. The dead are revered and had initially spared the mother out of respect in spite of her 'unnatural' actions but later admonishes her actions for going against the laws of destiny. In the second excerpt, the dead are discussed within the context of divine favor, questioning if the gods care or show special grace to someone who has committed sacrilegious acts. The passage implies a critical view of those who 'kick against the yoke,' suggesting a disdainful attitude towards certain types of the deceased. Additionally, a melancholic and somber tone is prevalent as the dead house and the desolate state of an old grandmother is depicted, indicating an emotional distance and a reflection on mortality and isolation.