What is the symbolism behind the young people making out in the cemetery?

Question

The Netflix show House of Cards is replete with symbolism throughout. While some symbolic events are more obvious (Claire observing an older woman similar to a colleague she fired struggling at a cafe job comes to mind), others are less so.

Near the end of the third episode ("Chapter 3"), Claire notices some young people making out in the cemetery. She pauses and smiles, but we get no further reaction. In a show laden with symbolism, and an episode reaching it's conclusion, this event surely means something.

What do the young people making out in the cemetery symbolize?

Answer 1

Earlier in the episode, Claire was running through the cemetery when she was berated by a woman, who said, "You shouldn't run here, it's disgraceful. Have you no respect?"

Knowing the character, Claire's pride would have been dented by having been spoken down to in public in that way. She's a person used to getting her own way. My understanding of the scene with the couple making out is that it pleased Claire to see people misusing the cemetery in a way that she knew would be even more abhorent to the woman who berated her than simply running through it.

Put simply: it's one in the eye for the woman who dared to criticise Claire.