The Ballad of Buster Scruggs: The Mortal Remains -- an analysis (Spoilers)

If you have not seen the marvelous Ballad of Buster Scruggs on Netflix, I highly suggest checking it out when you get a chance. It is a 6-story anthology written and directed by Ethan and Joel Coen.

It seems to me that the sixth and final story has caused the most consternation if you must know what the story means. It is titled "The Mortal Remains" and 90% of it occurs inside of a stagecoach -- period unknown, but I think we can safely assume it takes place in the 1850-1900s or so. Someone with more time on their hands could probably dial this in closer based on the songs, wardrobe, and other set details.

The Mortal Remains has 6 and a half characters:

1) The Coachman
2) The Trapper
3) The Lady
4) The Englishman
5) The Irishman
6) The Frenchman

Most of the story takes place in a stagecoach piloted by the Coachman. Inside of the coach, The Trapper, the Lady, and the Englishman sit on one side of the coach, while the Irishman and Englishman occupy the opposite. Oh, and the half character is the dead body stowed on the roof.

The Coachman only stops at the Hotel destination. Upon arriving, briefly going inside, he leaves again. This is all we know about him.

During the course of the journey a discussion begins about the nature of man.

The Trapper is insistent that "ferrets and man are the same!" -- Nature is the Measure!

The Lady, whose first few lines include the worlds "Holy Bible," insists on a godly life -- God is the Measure!

The Englishman, through a story about playing someone else's poker deck, declares that he can not know any man's hand, only his own hand -- Man is the Measure!

While this is happening, the two occupants on the opposite side of the coach have sung a couple songs (whose lyrics need a closer examination) and it becomes apparent that they are a team of bounty hunters. One, the Frecnhman, distracts the wanted man with his silver tongue, while the other, the Irishman, "thumps" him to death. Such was the fate of the half-character stowed on the roof.

This leads me to believe that the Frenchman is the devil, and the Irishman is God. One tempts them to lay down their guard, while the other enacts worldly punishment.

If we can accept this interpretation, some other parts of the story come into focus. The stagecoach suddenly becomes a microcosm of all earth, and the Coachman becomes time.

When the stagecoach finally arrives at its destination -- a rather foreboding hotel that seems to have no staff -- I think we can prudently assume that the hotel is purgatory.

"God" and "Satan" are seen dragging the dead body (from the top of the coach) up the stairs, while the others enter. The doors to the "hotel" close, and the story is over.