Grief and Coping With Tragedy

The author explores the theme of grief and coping with tragedy in Part II of the novel as the protagonist contends with her niece's medical condition and subsequent death. Her sister's baby is diagnosed with Proteus syndrome, a condition that causes malformation and overgrowth of the limbs and organs. The doctors are uncertain as to whether she will survive birth, but she does, and manages to live for six months. Over the course of this experience, the protagonist is depicted exhibiting several common emotions related to grief, particularly anger and sadness. Her anger is primarily targeted at her father, who is anti-abortion. The protagonist believes this political and religious ideology could be limiting her sister's medical care while she is still pregnant and a patient at a Catholic hospital in a conservative state. The protagonist is also depicted weeping in her bedroom...