What is the significance of the ways writers use presence o f absence in their narrative?

1. 3. Structure- Roseanne Final chapters of the novel Roseanne contributes nothing. Her last description is of the birth with juxtaposes with her fading/ death. Dr.Grene carries on her story in order to provide some revelations- continuing family nature. Her presence of absence shows that she is dying because she is no longer writing to the reader- society and old age has finally overwhelmed her. Makes final chapters of Roseanne’s story clinical as we lose Roseanne’s romantic lexis to Dr.Grene’s logical lexis which mirrors the final part of her life being spent in a hospital. AO2- STRUCTURE 2. Language- Cissy Roseanne’s descriptions of her mother are sparse and lacking great amount of detail. She also lack emotion when she is talking about her mother. ‘She was like a painting with its varnish darkening, obscuring the beauty of the work’ (ch. 6) – Cissy is vague and ‘darkened’ in Roseanne’s life. Shows how Cissy was not a key figure in Roseanne’s life. Beauty is obscured- Roseanne struggle to remember Cissy’s face Metaphor- AO2 LANG Introduction Presence of absence is used to create ambiguity in the novel. Every character has a moment of presence of absence Cissy- Ch. 13 End of novel- Roseanne has presence of absence What is the significance of the ways writers use presence of absence in their narrative? 6. Conclusion Presence of absence is reduced by Dr.Grene. Roseanne’s romanticism means characters as Roseanne remembers them are left out because they don’t fit her ideal and so the memories are blocked. Presence of absence is used as a feature of a post-modern novel as it reduces cathartic release as some characters are only mentioned a few times. 4. Meta-Narrative The novel is finished but the characters are still not present. Dr.Grene can only provide the reader with what he has been told so the truth of the character’s stroy is never known. Limited release with Cissy’s death- ‘Her mother died in her. Did you know that?’- Lack of catharsis and emotion. She is still not seen as important. The presence of absence shows how alienated Roseanne was from some people because they are not important to her. AO2- LANG AND STRUCTURE 4. Thematic Conclusion Belonging Vs. Alienation Romanticism Vs. Rationalism- Roseanne romanticises those with presence of absence- idealistic. Blameless vs. Guilty- presence of absence makes character defenceless so appears more guilty. Roseanne remains blameless as she is present most of the novel.