Perspectives on Loss: A Collection of Short Stories

This thesis contains a collection of four short stories that explore the role of distinct losses in the lives of varied characters—each with a unique narrative and each in a distinct stage of the lifespan. “Emily” is the story of an older woman, living in an assisted living facility in rural Oklahoma, who reflects on the loss of her young son, as she reluctantly adjusts to the newfound challenges of old age and develops a new relationship with her caretaker. “Lisa,” is the story of a middle-aged, retired lawyer in Cornwall who struggles with the reality of his wife’s progressively worsening memory loss. “Ira,” tells the story of a resident physician in Pune, whose complicated relationship with her mother evolves, as her father approaches the final days of his life and is admitted to the hospital where she works. “Philip,” illustrates a day in the life of a high-school student who works at a failing convenience store managed by his father and deals with the implications of his physical injury and loss of childhood dreams. The analytical portion of the thesis attempts to examine the specific psychosocial characteristics of the loss of a child, including associated secondary losses and effects on identity and agency and explore how elements of loss and grief can be mapped onto other notable examples of literature, from which I have drawn inspiration.