Grief, Self, and Narrative

TY - JOUR

T1 - Grief, Self, and Narrative

AU - Ratcliffe, Matthew James

AU - Byrne, Eleanor

N1 - © 2022 The Author(s)

PY - 2022/5/11

Y1 - 2022/5/11

N2 - Various claims have been made concerning the role of narrative in grief. In this paper, we emphasize the need for a discerning approach, which acknowledges that narratives of different kinds relate to grief in different ways. We focus specifically on the positive contributions that narrative can make to sustaining, restoring, and revising a sense of who one is. We argue that, although it right to suggest that narratives provide structure and coherence, they also play a complementary role in disrupting established structure and opening up new possibilities. We add that both of these roles point to the importance of interpersonal, social, and cultural factors in shaping the trajectory of grief. We conclude by briefly considering the implications for distinguishing between typical and pathological forms of grief.

AB - Various claims have been made concerning the role of narrative in grief. In this paper, we emphasize the need for a discerning approach, which acknowledges that narratives of different kinds relate to grief in different ways. We focus specifically on the positive contributions that narrative can make to sustaining, restoring, and revising a sense of who one is. We argue that, although it right to suggest that narratives provide structure and coherence, they also play a complementary role in disrupting established structure and opening up new possibilities. We add that both of these roles point to the importance of interpersonal, social, and cultural factors in shaping the trajectory of grief. We conclude by briefly considering the implications for distinguishing between typical and pathological forms of grief.

U2 - 10.1080/13869795.2022.2070241

DO - 10.1080/13869795.2022.2070241

M3 - Article

SN - 1741-5918

VL - 25

SP - 319

EP - 337

JO - Philosophical Explorations

JF - Philosophical Explorations

IS - 3

ER -