LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 26:3 March 2026
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Selvi M. Bunce, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate
         Nathan Mulder Bunce, M.A., Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Honorary Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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Living With Absence: The Psychological Effects of Disappearance in Then She Was Gone

Ms. M. Suriyaa and
Dr. R. Kumara Sethupathi

Abstract

This article examines the psychological effects of disappearance in Lisa Jewell's Then She Was Gone. Although the novel is structured as a psychological thriller, its central focus lies in the long-term emotional trauma experienced by families of missing persons. Through the character of Laurel Mack, Jewell explores ambiguous loss, unresolved grief, guilt, and the gradual fragmentation of family relationships. Drawing on trauma theory and psychological studies of grief, this article argues that the novel portrays disappearance not as a single tragic event but as an ongoing psychological condition that destabilizes identity, memory, and interpersonal relationships. Ultimately, the narrative suggests that confronting painful truths and accepting reality are necessary steps toward emotional healing.

Keywords: Ambiguous loss, disappearance, psychological trauma, grief, family fragmentation

Introduction

Lisa Jewell's Then She Was Gone (2018) moves beyond the conventional boundaries of psychological thrillers by emphasizing the emotional and psychological devastation caused by a person's disappearance. While the novel revolves around the mystery surrounding Ellie Mack's disappearance, its deeper concern lies in exploring the enduring psychological effects of unresolved loss.

Ellie Mack, a bright and promising teenager, suddenly vanishes, leaving her family in a state of uncertainty and emotional turmoil. Her mother, Laurel Mack, becomes the emotional center of the narrative. Laurel remains trapped in psychological limbo because she cannot determine whether her daughter is alive or dead. The absence of closure keeps her suspended between hope and despair, illustrating how unresolved grief can obstruct the process of healing.

Ambiguous Loss and the Psychology of Disappearance

One of the most significant psychological dimensions of the novel is its portrayal of ambiguous loss. Psychologists define ambiguous loss as a situation in which a loved one is physically absent but psychologically present. Unlike death, which allows for ritualized mourning and emotional closure, disappearance leaves survivors in a state of unresolved grief.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Ms. M. Suriyaa
Postgraduate Student in English
Department of English
PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore
&
Dr. R. Kumara Sethupathi
Assistant Professor
Department of English
PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore

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