Loss and Grief

Where it surfaces

• Soldier

  The epigraph directly references Grief as a 'tideless golden sea,' emphasizing the pervasive sorrow surrounding the soldier's return.

• III

  Margaret mourns her husband Dick, feeling tricked by fate, and anticipates Donald Mahon's impending death.

• I

  The rector's ritualistic handling of Donald's belongings and his 'ruined dream' of his son embody deep grief.

• III

  Margaret mourns her first husband Dick while navigating her duty to Donald; Emmy grieves the loss of Donald's former appearance.

• VI

  Emmy grieves the loss of Donald's recognition and her own hopes, while her past losses (mother's death, father's abuse) compound her present despair.

• VII

  Margaret and Emmy bond over their shared loss of husbands in the war, highlighting the pervasive grief among women.

• IV

  Mrs. Burney's profound mourning for her son and Margaret's empathetic presence highlight the pervasive and isolating nature of grief in a post-war world.

• IV

  Margaret grieves the loss of her husband Dick, though their relationship was complicated; she carries guilt over her intended letter.

• Chapter VI

  Emmy tastes the bitter ashes of an old sorrow as she comforts Donald.

• III

  Madden experiences the death of a comrade and the loss of a photograph symbolizing a lost relationship, underscoring themes of grief.

• IV

  Mrs. Burney's unhealed sorrow for her son Dewey and Margaret's haunting memories of Dick.

• V

  Mrs. Burney's unresolved grief for her son Dewey, expressed through bitterness and a need for reassurance.

• XIV

  Mrs. Powers is recognized as Powers' widow, and the memory of his death haunts the scene, especially in Madden's final reflections.

• V

  Mrs. Burney's raw grief over her son's death in the war contrasts with her intrusive curiosity about Donald's survival and marriage.

• VII: Voices

  Mrs. Burney mourns Dewey, Margaret Powers says goodbye to Dick, and the town voices reflect on death and loss.

• I

  Emmy's intense, frozen grief over Donald's death and her inability to cry until she breaks down.

• II

  The boy's uncontrollable weeping and need for comfort indicate an unspoken grief or loss.

• Chapter III

  The rector's bottomless, grateful anguish and Margaret's silent care embody the shared weight of loss and the difficulty of moving forward.

• V

  Margaret reflects on Donald's death and the peace he has found, while also grappling with her own losses and the fear of burying another husband.

• VII

  Margaret's letter communicates the death of her husband, underscoring the personal toll of war.