Death

The author uses the deaths of Rachel, Manie, Astrid, and Anton Swart in order to explore the ways in which death impacts the individual's understanding of herself and the world around her. In the opening section, "Ma," Rachel Swart's death grants the Swart family an opportunity to connect through loss and grief. However, over the course of the section, Rachel's death proves to be a source of division rather than connection, ultimately amplifying the family members' preexisting differences. In "Pa," Manie's death gives the Swart siblings the chance to reconnect after almost 10 years apart. Yet because the siblings have not worked on their relationships over the years, Manie's passing widens the chasm between them. In much the same way, when Astrid and Anton die in the final two sections of the novel, the remaining members of the family, and all those connected to them, must reevaluate...