Q4 in process 2

As humans we follow the circle of life. We’re born and we live our lives and then we die. However, what if we didn’t die, but rather disappeared. What would happen? What would we become? The world around us? In his critically acclaimed novel, The Leftovers, Tom Perrotta writes about what happens in Mapleton when a rapture like event takes place when thousands of people disappear without warning or explanation. Following the Garvey family, Perrotta, weaves together an intricate story of those left behind and their struggle to survive after those that they loved are gone. Throughout Perrotta uncovers each stage of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.

The first thing that I researched was the rapture. Even on the back cover of the book it is mentioned that the event that takes place within the novel is a “rapture like event”. The rapture is a Christian belief that are true believers will be brought to heaven and those that don’t will be left on earth during a “tribulation” period. It is during this period that those left will live for another seven years of persecution ending in death. Although Perrotta's book does not end in death it is much like the rapture theories explained today. In his novel, on October 14th was when the “rapture” happened. Yet, lots of the people that live in the town of Mapleton are in denial of what’s happened. On the front of a newsletter reads “OCTOBER 14TH WAS NOT THE RAPTURE!!!” Although it seems that the event that has taken place is much like it. People of all ages disappeared without warning and haven’t returned. In addition to this there are a lot of religious tones to the book. While there is the clear event that is the main focus of the book the way those that are left act has religious accents.

After the event there are two groups that members of the Garvey family join more religious groups. Laurie, the matriarch of the family joins are group called the Guilty Remnant a group that goes around wearing all white, doesn’t talk, and always smoking a cigarette. There’s something about that group that represents that has religious overtones. White often symbolizes purity and innocence. Also while their name is Guilty Remnant shows that they are trying to show God or Christ that they feel bad that they didn’t believe and as a reminder that they are left behind. Trying to prove that they’ve changed wearing white and not speaking. However, the smoking a cigarette seems less than healthy and to do to show that one feels bad. In addition to Laurie, Tom, the eldest child of the Garvey drops out of college to join the Healing Hug Movement. It is this movement that a man named Mr. Gilchrest who lost his son in the rapture. It is after living life unhappy that he learns that when he hugs people he can take away some of their pain and he can take it. However, again this group seems more questionable as it grows. My. Glichrest turning into more of a celebrity than a speaker that wants to make people feel better. In addition he believes that whichever one of his his wives he impregnates first will be the savior.

While there are religious overtones throughout the book there is also the idea of grief run throughout. It is a well known saying that there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. Each of these stages getting one closer to the feeling of closure. Each of the characters in Perrotta’s novel deals with one of these parts of grief while also trying to make those around them feel better.

Denial seems to not be too big of a factor for those that are left behind. They know that they are the ones that have literally been left behind in this phenomenon and that it is clear that those have left them are not coming back. However, they do seem to be in deny that the event that occurred on October 14th could in fact be the rapture. A lot of the people that are in charge of companies and schools, and even the president eventually say that it’s time to move on. Those that are left need to go back to living their lives, working, going to school, etc. Although for some this is still hard.