Norah's Grief Analysis

I agree with this argument completely. This review covers how each character handles their grief. I agree that the losing of Phoebe, Norah was forever changed. An excerpt from the story states, “She kept for this knowledge and for Paul, the rage and lostness in his eyes. For her daughter, never known.. for the multitude of ways in which their love had failed them all, and they, love” (Edwards 304) Which speaks of all the different directions Norah feels pain for. She feels pain for Phoebe as well as Paul. She feels pain for Phoebe because she believes she is dead. She feels pain for Paul because he never grew up with his twin. Also, the story speaks of the grief Norah feels. An except states, “Grief, it seemed, was a physical place.” (Edward …show more content…
She grieved by becoming an alcoholic and then turns to having affairs. She searched for something to fill the whole in her heart, and the loneliness she felt. I agreed that the loss of her daughter lingered throughout the entire novel dictating everything she decided to do. She was depressed and lonely and searched the whole story to fill the emptiness. Norah eventually finds Phoebe at the end, but the author delivers a spin because the author changes the point of view to Paul so the reader can witness the reaction of Norah unbiased. However, the story doesn’t end as a happily ever after because when Norah touches her daughter she pulls away. The story states. “for this story, there were no simple endings” (Edwards 395) and “never the ordinary ease of daily life” (Edwards 395). This discussion is completely right in the amount of grief that Norah feels throughout the novel and there will never be a full conclusion, but they can always work at the relationship they lost when Phoebe was given away at birth. The next discussion is Paul deals with grief. Throughout Paul’s teenage years he decides to turn to music as a depressant. Paul never gets a perfect or supportive …show more content…
If she hadn’t died, would she be like him? Would she like to run? Would she like to sing?” (Edwards 212). Paul lets the readers see his parent’s sorrow through his eyes without having to hear their reasoning behind everything. The reader gets to see how this affects their child they have while they are focused on the child that isn’t present. Paul begins to resent his parents from this lack of attention while he ages. Paul was extremely angry with his father until the end of the book when he is overcome with grief at his death. The next person addressed is Phoebe. Throughout the story the reader witnesses that she is positive and happy. The reader never thinks about the feelings that she hides inside. When she is introduced back to her family she flinches from Norah which is understandable because she is scared of these people she has never met before. Phoebe was always happy with the happy and loving atmosphere Caroline gifted her with her entire life. At the end of the story both Paul and Phoebe join in together to create music together. This shows both twins reunited at their father’s grave by their mutual love of