Ways of Coping with the Loss of a Loved One in Women’s Epistolary Narratives

Abstract

This article discusses the results of qualitative research conducted with the intention of analyzing the area of experiences resulting from the death of a loved one, responses to it, and the way of coping with the loss. The research was based on 28 letters written by women aged 21–89 and addressed to the deceased loved ones. More than half of them were women exactly 23 years old. In most cases, the letters were addressed to the authors’ deceased grandmothers. The data was collected using an online platform, and their qualitative analysis was supported by the Atlas.ti.8 program. As a result of the qualitative interpretation of the content of the letters, three dimensions were distinguished referring to the strategy of coping with the death of a loved one: preserving the image of the deceased as they were in life, perceiving the presence of the deceased in the earthly dimension, and imagining his or her eternal life. In the narrators’ accounts, one can see the perspective of recognizing death both on an emotional and intellectual level. They also express the need to recall the memories of the deceased and the desire for their continued presence. A possible goal of each of these mechanisms is to become accustomed to the loss of loved ones, which is essential in the grieving process.