This thesis explores the roles of widowhood and sympathy in Henry James's short and long fiction. By the time James established himself as a writer of fiction, the culture of sentiment and its formation of sympathetic identification had become central to American and British writers. Critically, however, sympathy in James's fiction has been overlooked because he chose to write about rich expatriates and European nobility. James's pervasive use of widowed characters in his fiction suggests the he too participated in the same aesthetic agenda as William Dean Howells and George Eliot to evoke sympathy in their readers as a means of promoting class unity. In this thesis I show how James's use of widowed characters places him in the same sympathetic tradition as Howells and Eliot not by eliciting sympathy for themselves, but, rather, by awakening a sympathetic response from his readers for his protagonists seeking love. In chapter one I explore why James may have used so many widowed characters in his fiction. I cite the death of his cousin Minny Temple as a defining moment in his literary career and argue that he may have experienced an "emotional widowhood" after her early death. I also discuss the role of widows in his short fiction, which I suggest, is different from the role of widows in his novels. This chapter is biographical, yet provides important background for understanding why, more than any other author, James's fiction is replete with widowed characters. Chapter two explains the culture of sentiment of which James has been excluded. It explores the theories of David Hume and Adam Smith and their influence on the aesthetic principles defining Howells and Eliot's work. In this chapter I contend that James is indeed part of this sentimental tradition despite his renunciation of sentiment in his fiction because he tried to promote sympathy among his readers through his widowed characters. In chapter three I do close readings of The Portrait of a Lady (1881) and The Wings of the Dove (1902) and argue that these two texts best represent James's attempt at sympathetic writing.

By researching visual traditions of representing widows in relation to a social role, I explore how these may be related to processes of mourning and memory. My study begins with an historical reading and, along with an analysis of Renaissance widow portraiture, I trace the experiences of widows in the Cape of Good Hope. For the purposes of this thesis, I have selected images of widows to investigate memory-work particularly when speaking of loss. I re-view these memory processes through recent historical and art historical discourse with reference to contemporary South African artworks in order to understand how public memory is formed by way of visual documentation. These narratives around widowhood have informed the subject matter for my Master’s exhibition and shed light on my own experience as a widow. The interaction between objects and memory are of particular interest and manifest in my studio art practice.

This thesis re-examines the role of marriage in the golden age of seventeenth-century French comedy. It reconsiders received wisdom on the subject to challenge acceptance of the final promise of marriage as a dénouement complet to comedy. Through an analysis of the themes of discontent, cuckoldry, fertility, non-heteronormative desire and widowhood, it offers an alternative view of what comedy can encompass. Close reading of works by Molière, Quinault, (Thomas) Corneille, (Françoise) Pascal, Ulrich and de Visé establishes that comedy can be both enjoyable and satisfying while incorporating elements that conflict with the marriage ideal. This thesis does not attempt to provide a full socio-historical reading of seventeenth-century attitudes to marriage, although an understanding of contemporary attitudes provides a starting point for close textual analysis. Critical theories, notably gender theory, are used where appropriate to further clarify the role of marriage in comedy. Chapter One presents and problematizes the framework of marriage as the structuring principle of comedy, drawing on themes of compatibility, discontent and desire. The second chapter focuses on anxiety regarding cuckoldry in comedy, relating it to the promise of marriage. An analysis of the desires of older characters in projected comedic marriages, particularly as these desires relate to fertility, is the guiding principle of Chapter Three, which also sets out essential terms of reference for the fourth chapter on widowhood and queer desire. The thesis demonstrates that rather than constituting a satisfying and happy ending, a constant challenge is posed to the promise of marriage by on-stage marriages, fears of cuckoldry, widowhood, and ‘inappropriate' or queer desires. I propose a more nuanced reading, showing that comedy can be fully satisfying and structurally complete without a final promise of marriage, and that, rather, comedy can incorporate significant elements that appear antithetical to the ideal of marriage typically associated with the genre.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:39:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cristiane Corsini Prizanteli.pdf: 286050 bytes, checksum: 9c7474a7842e631bc56bc8c1f4c4f72c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-06-10 / Loss resulting from death is a critical situation, and the death of a spouse often represents one of the greatest losses in life. There is an increased risk of mortality among patients in grief, when compared to those not thrown into mourning, besides an increased use of health services. There have been investigations on individual and/or situational variables which might explain why a significant proportion of people in grief resulting from the death of a spouse have their health affected. Stress seems to be associated to a kind of cardiopathy called Broken Heart Syndrome. Such Syndrome may be considered as metaphor, which take place immediately after a severe physical or psychological stressful episode, to which an individual responds much the same way as to a heart attack. The aim of the present study was to figure out how mourning affected widowhood with presentation cardiac symptoms without physical causes. The study was conducted one year and five months after the death of her spouse. Our results indicated that the widow sustained severe psychological pain, which triggered the cardiac symptoms characterized as the Broken Heart Syndrome. Such severe psychological suffering leads to chest pain that is similar to a heart attack. The subject reported that her health care professionals did not sympathize with her psychological suffering. Furthermore, it was clear that the loss brought about consequences that can be seem in the whole family / A perda por morte é considerada situação de crise e a morte do cônjuge uma das perdas mais significativas da vida. Há aumento no risco de mortalidade em pacientes enlutados, quando comparados a indivíduos não enlutados, além de aumento na utilização dos serviços de saúde. Tem-se investigado variáveis individuais e/ou situacionais que expliquem por que proporção significativa de pessoas enlutadas pela perda do cônjuge têm a saúde afetada. O estresse parece estar associado a um tipo de cardiopatia denominado Síndrome do Coração Partido. Essa Síndrome pode ser considerada como metáfora que tem precedência imediata após um episódio de estresse físico ou psicológico intenso, que pode propiciar ao indivíduo reação semelhante à de um ataque cardíaco. O objetivo do estudo foi compreender o processo do luto por viuvez com apresentação de sintomas cardíacos sem causa orgânica. A pesquisa foi realizada um ano e cinco meses após a morte do cônjuge. Os resultados indicaram que a viúva mostrou dor psicológica intensa, desencadeando sintomas cardíacos caracterizados como Síndrome do Coração Partido. O sofrimento psicológico intenso leva à dor no peito que se assemelha a ataque cardíaco. A participante relata não ter encontrado acolhimento nos profissionais de saúde com relação à sua dor psíquica. Além disso, foi possível observar que a perda trouxe desdobramentos que aparecem em todo o grupo familiar

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:38:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marta Nascimento Moreira.pdf: 1449567 bytes, checksum: 8a785051f950b8c370f6c49955b9acd7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-03 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Post-Mortem Assisted Reproduction is a subject that belongs to the contemporary world, brought to reality with the biotechnology development and reproduction medicine field progress, which made possible the conception after an individual s death. This subject brings many ethic, political, religious and economic issues that are discussed worldwid, including questions about parenthood, family, life and death. This qualitative research aimed at understanding the meanings given by a widow to her decision about what to do with the deceased husband s cryopreserved genetic material and also to analyze the relation between this decision and the bereavement process. This discussion includes two human relationship domains: the making and the breaking of an affective bond. Therefore, Attachment Theory and the Dual Process Model of Grief were used as background of this research, giving support to its analysis. A widow has willingly accepted to contribute for this study. By means of a semi-structured interview, it was possible to understand her relation with the deceased, the context in which the sperm was collected, the husband s death story and the widow s decision on what to do with the semen. Three important experiences affected her decision: her husband s struggle against cancer; after the husband s death; living a new loving relationship. The widow s decision was taken along with the bereavement process, during her husband s illness and death, and were understood as indicators of the bereavement process. Meanings attached to her bereavement process were identified, such as a possibility even with the partner s death, the product of a built loving relation and failure in accomplish the parental project / A Reprodução Assistida Post-Mortem é um assunto que pertence ao mundo contemporâneo, sendo real a partir do desenvolvimento das biotecnologias e avanços no campo da medicina reprodutiva, que tornaram possível a concepção de um filho após a morte de um indivíduo. O tema proporciona questionamentos éticos, jurídicos, políticos, religiosos, econômicos e envolve valores acerca da parentalidade, família, da vida e da morte. Esta pesquisa qualitativa teve por objetivo compreender os significados atribuídos pela viúva à sua decisão sobre o que fazer com o material genético criopreservado do cônjuge falecido e analisar a relação desta decisão com o processo de luto. Esta discussão abrange dois domínios das relações humanas: a formação de um vínculo e seu rompimento. A Teoria do Apego e a perspectiva do Modelo Dual do Luto fundamentaram teoricamente esta pesquisa, oferecendo respaldo para a análise. Participou desta pesquisa uma viúva, residente do estado da região sul do Brasil, que participou voluntariamente da pesquisa. Foi realizada uma entrevista semi-estruturada sendo possível compreender a relação com o falecido, o contexto em que o sêmen foi coletado e criopreservado, a história da morte do cônjuge e a decisão da viúva sobre o que fazer com o sêmen. A decisão da viúva perpassou três contextos importantes: o enfrentamento do câncer do cônjuge; após a morte do cônjuge; a vivência de outra relação amorosa. A decisão da viúva ocorreu de maneira processual, acompanhando o processo de luto vivenciado pelo adoecimento e morte do cônjuge, funcionando como indicadores do processo de luto. Foram identificados significados como vida, em meio a possibilidade de morte do cônjuge, fruto de uma relação construída e fracasso pela não realização do projeto parental

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-03-17Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:05:33Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 gazetta_mlb_dr_fran.pdf: 6153857 bytes, checksum: c5e737868772285c61e0dc8a453f78e3 (MD5) / Os estudos sobre envelhecimento efetuados nas últimas décadas têm desvelado diferentes aspectos desse ciclo de vida, dentre eles, a prevalência da sobrevida das mulheres e a condição de estar só. A viuvez é apontada como uma das principais causas dessa condição, portanto a idosa viúva é, e será parcela significativa da população envelhecida das próximas décadas. Conhecer como a mulher no processo de envelhecimento após tomar-se viúva desenvolveu sua sociabilidade foi o objetivo dessa pesquisa, realizada com 8 viúvas acima de sessenta anos que freqüentavam programas de Terceira Idade da cidade mineira de Passos. A viuvez, ao longo da história, tem sido um fator adicional de restrições à mulher, favorecendo práticas sociais excludentes, ampliando as desigualdades de gênero existente nas diferentes sociedades. Por meio das entrevistas semi-estruturadas e posterior análise de conteúdo, percebeu-se que as mulheres sujeitos desse estudo foram influenciadas pelas mudanças de comportamento e mentalidades do século XX, no entanto ainda vivenciam preconceitos sociais referentes a condição de viúva. Essas idosas na reorganização do seu cotidiano, após o período de luto que determinaram para si, sentem-se livres para praticar suas escolhas, intensificar a participação social, por meio de atividades religiosas e sociais diversificadas, assumindo ou ampliando papéis, independentemente da qualidade da relação conjugal, familiar e social anteriormente existente. Há valorização das relações familiares interpessoais, afetivas e expectativa de equidade nas relações gênero. / The studies on aging made in the last decades have been revealing different aspects of that life cycle, among them, the prevalence of the women’s survival and the condition of being alone. The widowhood is pointed as one of the main causes of that condition, therefore the aged widow is, and will be, the significant parcel of the aged population of next decades. To know as the woman in the aging process after turning widow developed her sociability was the objective of that research, accomplished with 8 widows above sixty years that frequented programs of Third Age of Passos’ mining city. The widowhood along the history has been an additional factor of restrictions to the woman, favoring excluding social practices, enlarging the inequalities of gender existent in the different societies. Through the semi-structured interviews and subsequent content analysis, it was noticed that the women subject of that study were influenced by the changes of behavior and mentalities of the century XX, however they still live social prejudices regarding widow's condition. Those elderly ones in the reorganization of her everyday, after the mourning period that determined for itself, feel free to practice their choices, to intensify the social participation, through religious and social activities diversified, assuming or enlarging papers, independently of the quality of the relationship matrimonial, family and social previously existent. There are valorization of the interpersonal family, affective relationships and expectation of justness in the gender relationships.

Orientador: Noêmia Pereira Neves / Banca: Maria Apparecida Motta / Banca: Maria Zita Figueiredo Gera / Banca: Iris Fenner Bertani / Banca: Claudia Regina Haponczuk de Lemos. / Resumo: Os estudos sobre envelhecimento efetuados nas últimas décadas têm desvelado diferentes aspectos desse ciclo de vida, dentre eles, a prevalência da sobrevida das mulheres e a condição de estar só. A viuvez é apontada como uma das principais causas dessa condição, portanto a idosa viúva é, e será parcela significativa da população envelhecida das próximas décadas. Conhecer como a mulher no processo de envelhecimento após tomar-se viúva desenvolveu sua sociabilidade foi o objetivo dessa pesquisa, realizada com 8 viúvas acima de sessenta anos que freqüentavam programas de Terceira Idade da cidade mineira de Passos. A viuvez, ao longo da história, tem sido um fator adicional de restrições à mulher, favorecendo práticas sociais excludentes, ampliando as desigualdades de gênero existente nas diferentes sociedades. Por meio das entrevistas semi-estruturadas e posterior análise de conteúdo, percebeu-se que as mulheres sujeitos desse estudo foram influenciadas pelas mudanças de comportamento e mentalidades do século XX, no entanto ainda vivenciam preconceitos sociais referentes a condição de viúva. Essas idosas na reorganização do seu cotidiano, após o período de "luto" que determinaram para si, sentem-se "livres" para praticar suas escolhas, intensificar a participação social, por meio de atividades religiosas e sociais diversificadas, assumindo ou ampliando papéis, independentemente da qualidade da relação conjugal, familiar e social anteriormente existente. Há valorização das relações familiares interpessoais, afetivas e expectativa de equidade nas relações gênero. / Abstract: The studies on aging made in the last decades have been revealing different aspects of that life cycle, among them, the prevalence of the women's survival and the condition of being alone. The widowhood is pointed as one of the main causes of that condition, therefore the aged widow is, and will be, the significant parcel of the aged population of next decades. To know as the woman in the aging process after turning widow developed her sociability was the objective of that research, accomplished with 8 widows above sixty years that frequented programs of Third Age of Passos' mining city. The widowhood along the history has been an additional factor of restrictions to the woman, favoring excluding social practices, enlarging the inequalities of gender existent in the different societies. Through the semi-structured interviews and subsequent content analysis, it was noticed that the women subject of that study were influenced by the changes of behavior and mentalities of the century XX, however they still live social prejudices regarding widow's condition. Those elderly ones in the reorganization of her everyday, after the "mourning" period that determined for itself, feel "free" to practice their choices, to intensify the social participation, through religious and social activities diversified, assuming or enlarging papers, independently of the quality of the relationship matrimonial, family and social previously existent. There are valorization of the interpersonal family, affective relationships and expectation of justness in the gender relationships. / Doutor

Death is a drastic event in one’s life. Through grief, mourning and bereavement, people heal the hurt of their loss of a loved one. Little research exists on bereavement in Black transitional societies of South Africa. As such, the objective of this study was to explore how widows in South African transitional societies, whose husbands have died of terminal illnesses, experience bereavement, and how they cognitively process and cope with the loss. The Participants’ bereavement process was defined as starting when they become aware of their husbands’ anticipated death (anticipatory bereavement). Unstructured and structured interviews were conducted with 10 widows from the community under study and a thematic analysis was performed on the data. Five themes emerged concerning the Participants’ personal characteristics, their challenges and how they dealt with them, their experiences of stressors, and coping. Although the Participants responded to the news of the deaths of their husbands in a similar manner, there were differences in other responses, reflecting individual differences in coping strategies. Some Participants seemed more adaptive, with greater openness and flexibility in social cognition and greater problem-focused coping, while others showed more negative emotions in social interaction, greater loneliness, and expressed relatively closed and inflexible social cognition. However, positive or negative responses and coping did not necessarily determine whether bereavement would be functional or dysfunctional. It was found that the Participants’ anticipatory bereavement did not ease or shorten their sense or period of bereavement after their husband’s death. A model of the cognitive-affective-motivational-behavioural network of bereavement was developed, taking into account the role of culture and how each Participant’s cognition, affect, and the kind of attachment to their husbands motivated their behaviours in particular ways in coping effectively or ineffectively with their bereavement. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Psychology / unrestricted

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The current situation around widowhood sexuality is unspeakably painful. It has been established through literature review in this study that widows are the most neglected group in many societies. In Zimbabwe the unprecedented rise in the number of widows has been caused by the proliferation socio-economic, political climate coupled with the devastating effects of HIV and AIDS pandemic. HIV and AIDS pandemic has caused unimaginable suffering among all segments of society in Zimbabwe but impacts more on women and girls. HIV has increased the number of young widows in the country. This is the group which is still sexual active and they are in the church in quest to find meaning in God. The study also explored how the patriarchal society and religious norms control and manipulate women‟s sexuality. The church and the community views sex and sexuality issues as private matters. Hence, the dilemmas of widowhood sexuality are created by widows‟ failure to publicly and or share their challenges with church leadership. However, it was made clear during the study that the quest for sexual meaning becomes a challenge due to the complexities caused by HIV and AIDS pandemic. The challenge shown in this study was how to do theology and be a church where we accept that all theological formulations and institutional designs are influenced by their context. Therefore, could it be moral for the church to teach that widows embrace other sexual alternatives that are less risk to contract or transmit HIV; such as masturbation, use of sex toys and vibrators? Can these help widows reduce their sexual tension and evoke pleasure? If such or more suitable means are availed by the church how should widows be enriched to live meaningful in their faith in God? For the church to teach widows to say “no” to sexual intimacy outside marriage sound irresponsible and unrealistic to prevailing statistics of widows and their ages in church. However, the dilemma is for them to engage in sexual intimacy without creating other existential issues leading them to live in guilt- feelings and in the process lose their meaning in their God. Is the church willing to look closely to widowhood sexuality in this era of HIV and AIDS pandemic? The HIV and AIDS pandemic challenges the church to formulate policies and reframe pastoral theology in a way that is relevant to allow widows discover a God who can be compassionate and trusted to give meaning in suffering. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die huidige situasie in verband met weduweeskap en seksualiteit is onbeskryflik pynlik. Dit het duidelik geword uit die literatuuroorsig in hierdie studie dat weduwees die mees afgeskeepte groep in baie gemeenskappe is. In Zimbabwe is die ongehoorde styging in die aantal weduwees te wyte aan die groei in die slegte sosio-ekonomiese en politiese klimaat tesame met die verwoestende gevolge van die MIV en VIGS pandemie. Die MIV en VIGS pandemie het ondenkbare lyding veroorsaak in alle areas van die gemeenskap in Zimbabwe, maar dit het 'n groter invloed op vroue en jong meisies. MIV het veroorsaak dat die getal jong weduwees in hierdie land gestyg het. Dit is ook die groep wat steeds seksueel aktief is en hulle kom na die kerk in 'n soeke om betekenis te vind in God. Hierdie studie ondersoek ook hoe die patriargale gemeenskap en sy godsdienstige norme vroue se seksualiteitbeheer en manipuleer. Die kerk en die gemeenskap beskou seks en seksualiteit as 'n private aangeleentheid. Die gevolg is dat die dilemma van weduweeskap en seksualiteit geskep word deur die weduwee se versuim om haar uitdagings in die openbaar of by die kerkleiers bekend te maak. Dit het egter gedurende hierdie studie duidelik geraak dat die soeke na seksuele betekenis 'n groot uitdaging is as gevolg van die kompleksiteite wat veroorsaak word deur die MIV en VIGS pandemie. Die uitdaging wat met hierdie studie beklemtoon word, is hoe om teologie toe te pas en 'n kerk te wees wat aanvaar dat alle teologiese formulering en institusionele ontwerpe ook deur hul konteks beïnvloed word. Is dit derhalwe 'n morele probleem vir die kerk om vir weduwees aan te beveel om seksuele alternatiewe te ondersoek wat minder risiko's inhou vir die opdoen of oordra van MIV; soos masturbasie, die gebruik van seksspeelgoed en vibrators? Kan hierdie alternatiewe metodes weduwees help om hul seksuele spanning te verminder en seksuele genot te ervaar? Indien hierdie, of ander geskikte metodes, deur die kerk benut word, hoe kan weduwees verryk word deur betekenisvol tot hul geloof in God te leef? Vir die kerk om weduwees te leer om “nee” te sê vir seksuele intimiteit buite die huwelik klink onverantwoordelik en onrealisties as die heersende getal weduwees in die kerk en hul ouderdomme in ag geneem word. Die dilemma is egter vir hulle om seksuele intimiteit te beleef sonder om ander eksistensiële vraagstukke te skep, wat hulle dwing om saam te leef met skuldgevoelens en in die proses betekenis in hul God verloor. Is die kerk bereid om noukeurig te kyk na weduweeskap en seksualiteit in hierdie era van die MIV en VIGS pandemie? Die MIV en VIGS pandemie daag die kerk uit om beleide te formuleer en pastorale teologie te herdefinieer op 'n manier wat relevant is tot die ontdekking van 'n God wat medelydend en betroubaar is en wat betekenis kan gee aan lyding.