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Vertigo by Amanda Lohrey

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Vertigo by Amanda Lohrey

The loss of Luke and Anna’s stillborn is the primary driving force behind the novel. Regardless of their motivation, the choice of relocating is blurred by the grief they experience after losing their son. Anna is heavily devastated. Although Luke comprehended that the time was right to move to another country, he could not just sit there and watch Anna devastated. He felt as if the love of his life was being eaten up alive. Throughout the novel, the visions of the stillbirth continue to appear. In the process, some of the issues that happen along the way make Anna and Luke forget and move on. Regardless of what happens in an individual’s life, the only best alternative is how they react. Anna ad Luke exemplifies examples of Epictetus quote that the most important thing is not the circumstances one faces, but rather how they respond to it. In other words, the primary driving force in the element is how human beings experience loss or grief and the various ways they can respond to it.

Despite showing loss or grief as a disorienting, decisive, and collective experience, there is an extensive emphasis on the various ways human beings can address such issues and overcome them. Luke and Anna are struggling to pursue this initiative as they attempt to relocate to another city to leave their past behind. Considering that Anna and Luke were doing well economically, they need to relocate to another city and leave their privileges behind is evidence of the devastating nature of their son’s loss (Lohrey 2008). Their actions are evidence of what a loss or grief causes to human beings. The author of this novel reinforces the importance of Epictetus quote by using different reactions to the loss. Anna and Luke respond or react to the grief differently. Luke blocks out all the emotions, whereas Anna seems devastated and destroyed by the situation. Anna sees the vision of her son every night. She even gets worried when she fails to see them for three weeks. She starts wondering whether the son has forgotten about them. Besides, she becomes angry with her husband’s overly unconcerned way. Luke, on the other hand, has overcome the effect of the loss. As such, by using these different but comprehensive ways of expressing grief, Lohrey shows diverse ways in which human beings can respond to devastating situations (Lohrey 2008). The author also provides a brief overview of how Gil, their neighbor, copes with her grandson in Afghanistan. Gil keeps quiet and seems disinterested in talking about it since he does not want something devastating to happen to the boy. Based on the additional insight, it is evident that Lohryey supports the assertions of Epictus Quote since the reader has various ways in which they can cope with different situations. In other words, the reader can understand the diversity of human experience and unique coping mechanisms.

Luke and Anna are also experiencing challenges dealing with their environment and issues surrounding their existence. The environment plays a crucial role in transforming their perspectives and view about them. Regardless of the form in which the challenges appear, they change the notion of the characters about their worldviews and identities. The primary element here is the transformation process caused by an environmental stimulus. Relocating to the rural area is another environmental challenge that Both Anna and Luke need to cope with. However, addressing or coping with any difficulties that the rural areas cause makes them feel welcomed and reconfigure their image and feelings (Lohrey 2008). Lohrey uses this experience to show that the process of reforming and readjusting to the demands of the environment is part and parcel of the human experience. How an individual cope with such environmental changes plays a crucial role in learning, developing, or growing. As the novel commences, the main characters are presented as town dwellers. However, as the novel progresses, they adapt to the challenges they face while living in the rural areas until the bush they initially despised and feared becomes part and parcel of their lives.

Another environmental situation that the couple experiences are the fire mentioned in chapter 3. They experience a near-death experience. Although it was frightening, it assists Anna and Luke to realize their mortality. It also plays a crucial role in changing their mindset and moving on from their son's death. When the fire ripples Luke’s jacket, he gets frightened and decides to hide his emotions by concealing in the bush. However, he realizes how important the jacket was because it saved the house. The author uses the sweater to symbolize the meager memories surrounding the boy. Nonetheless, as the fire consumes it saving the house, the sweater symbolizes hope, preservation, and a protector of life. The fire plays a crucial role in transforming the couple’s devastating memories into a leash of fresh air. In the process, they forget about their grief and loss. The realization Anna experiences in the chapter is also a true testament to how different individuals react to devastating implications. “She thinks she might go off the pill soon, that she is ready to try again” (Lohrey 2008).  The quote indicates that the fire has acted as a reminder of human experiences' ephemeral nature, hence

In conclusion, Epictetus's quote about how different individuals react to different situations is supported by Amanda Lohryey in her book Vertigo. Lohrey uses the primary protagonist of the novel, Anna and Luke, to showcase the diverse ways the couple responds to the loss of their son. The author also backs this idea by showing how Gil responded when his military grandson was sent to Afghanistan. Regardless of the nature of an incident, there are diverse ways human experiences shape an individual’s reactions.

References

Lohrey, A. (2008). Vertigo: A Pastoral. Black Inc..