Grieving is a grueling process

   Death is a very hard topic to speak about. Whether it is where the dead go or how we should live life after a loved one has passed, it is quite difficult to think about. Even though there are individuals that can move on with their life, as if nothing ever happened. It takes time to fully accept that a loved one has passed away, because not everyone mourns the same way. Some people take longer than others and mourning is the expression of deep sorrow for someone who has died, typically involving following certain conventions such as wearing black clothes.    

    In the novel "Lincoln in the Bardo" it shows how grieving is a grueling process. In chapter nineteen, Lincoln realizes that the death of his son, Willie is irreversible. He now accepts the fact that his son has died. Lincoln coped with the death by taking his son out of his "sick-box" and cradling him for ten minutes straight.   

   It takes time to fully accept that a loved one has passed away. Even though there are individuals that can move on with their life, as if nothing ever happened. If mourning was not as hard as it is, it would be easier to accept death. Death should be normalized and not seen as a taboo. When things seem normal, it much easier to accept. 

Comments

  1. GideonJanuary 17, 2019 at 5:33 AM

    I concur with most of the ideas above. Death is a complicated topic, and no matter what we believe individually as what happens after death, we're all not entirely right. Some people cannot move on in life, or accept the death of a loved one, because they may have believed to have more time with them. Also, they do not accept the fact that each one of us will die, and that how we move on is what matters. "Lincoln in the Bardo" shows how long it takes for the brave Lincoln to accept the death of his son.
    Every individual must mourn their dead how they see fit. We cannot assume normalizing death will make mourning easier. Normalizing death only gives one a rational reason as to why they shouldn't mourn for long. People want to mourn, and we cannot try to save or help them by encouraging them that we all die. All we can do as they mourn in that time, is be by their side.

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  2. CurbeeJanuary 22, 2019 at 6:06 PM

    Although it does take time to fully accept death of a loved one, there are many who will not accept it at all. It isn't healthy, but it does happen. Some people live without acceptance. Is it okay to live like that? To go on in life without accepting the death of your loved on? What are the disadvantages of not accepting it? Yes, it is unhealthy and painful to do, but they may move on without accepting it. Just like accepting something, but not moving on from it.
    Death should be viewed as normal. I think the fact that we are used to mourning very long over a death (which is by all means okay and acceptable) makes it harder for us as a society to change the view of death, funerals, how we should react to both.

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