Words of the past console women of the present

A recent project helped women to deal with bereavement and loss by looking at the writings of women in medieval and early modern times. These women wrote down their experiences of mortality, or the death of someone close to them, and it was hoped that these insights into coping with loss would resonate with, and give strength to modern women in the same situation. The workshops were held by professional staff and voluntary care workers, who regularly encounter women affected by loss. They were also held by women who are themselves coming to terms with bereavement (particularly mothers coping with the death of a child), or who face terminal illness. In view of the sensitivity of these situations, the workshops were small-scale and of a personal, supportive nature.

This project emerged from research being carried out at the universities of Bangor and Aberystwyth into the writings about grief and loss by women from the medieval and early modern periods (approximately 1100 – 1700). The writings took a variety of forms, including diaries, letters, advice books, prayers, elegies and meditations, expressing the impact of the loss of the writers’ children, other relatives and friends.

The leader of the project Dr Helen Wilcox said:

‘As we rediscovered these works – whose discussion of dying, death and bereavement are vivid, troubled, heartfelt and inspiring – we realised that the expression of sorrow, anger and loss in these women’s writings could still speak to women in similar situations in our own time.’

‘The management of mortality is one of the major issues facing early twenty-first century society, and we believe that dialogue between the public and those who research the arts and humanities can make an important contribution, complementary to the work of social and medical experts.’

A number of local charitable and social organisations in North and Mid-Wales also collaborated in this project, they included: the Gwynedd Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SAND); the North Wales Chrysalis Trust; Ty Gobaith (Hope House Children’s Hospice); Macmillan Nurses; and The Welsh Baptist Union (Care Homes for the Elderly). These groups were chosen because they are involved at different points on the spectrum of life and death: the loss of children at or before birth; the deaths of family members; the palliative care of young people and adults; and the care of elderly residents in nursing homes who are facing the end of their lives.

Dr Wilcox said:

‘The groups all work with women who are experiencing aspects of bereavement. Though the historical women’s writings with which we are working may seem to come from a distant (and predominantly religious) world, the ideas about loss that they explore – whether advising on preparation for death or responding to the deaths of others – are closely related to many current dilemmas concerning suffering, death, bereavement and consolation.’

‘The women’s emotions and questions in the face of death are recognisable and reassuring; indeed, some aspects of life and death are transhistorical by nature, ensuring that writings of this kind from earlier periods are surprisingly and poignantly relevant.'

It is hoped that this project will not only hope those who are coping with bereavement, but will also benefit the research that is being carried out at Bangor University.

Interesting Links

The North Wales Chrysalis Trust

Macmillan

Hope House

The Baptist's union of Wales