The Trauma of Loss

Through the character of Jules, the author demonstrates how loss can be enduring despite the passage of time or changes in life. Some characters are able to reckon gradually with their loss and find ways to heal, while others find it difficult to process their trauma. For someone like Jules, the endurance of his pain over Stephane and Lena's death becomes an important part of his life, as the grief ends up defining not only a significant number of years, but also comes to define who he is as a person. Yet, as the years pass, Jules shows an emotional growth that is aided by people like Marty and Elena, along with his marriage growth with Alva, that allows him to find a higher purpose than grieving.

Prior to his parents' death, Jules was growing into a boy full of confidence, someone who...