Interpreting the Grief
of Pierre and Marie Curie
Amber, Angie, Emily, John
What is Grief?
“Keen mental suffering or distress over
affliction or loss; sharp sorrow; painful regret.”
How can Marie and Pierre Curie’s experience
of loss be interpreted according to KüblerRoss’ theory of “The Five Stages of Grief” and
Bowlby-Parkes theory of “The Four Stages of
Grief?”
Elizabeth Kübler-Ross
-Based on observation of patients
-Occur simultaneously or out of order
-5 Stages of Grief:
1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance
First Stage- Denial
-Initial response
-Defense mechanism
-Transitional
Second Stage- Anger
-Initial response
-Seeks to blame
someone or something
-Chaotic or Responsive
-Transitional
Third Stage- Bargaining
-Partial acceptance
-Seeks to avoid consequences
-Transitional
-More difficult to recognize
Fourth Stage- Depression
-Tragic event can not be denied
-Sense of loss or emptiness
-Transitional or permanent
Fifth Stage- Acceptance
-Not inherently “happy”
-The person is able to move forward
-Negative feelings still exist
John Bowlby & Colin Murray
Parkes (British Psychiatrist)
4 Stages of Grief:
1. Shock or Numbness
2. Yearning or Pining
3. Disorganization and Despair
4. Recovery
Shock or Numbness
This is the step that is known to cause
emotional and mental instability for the
griever.
Emotions: confusion, resentment, sorrow,
regret.
Example: “ It is impossible for me to
express the profoundness and importance
of the crisis brought into my life by the
loss of the one who had been my closest
companion and best friend. Crushed by
the blow, I did not feel able to face the
future.” - Marie Curie
Yearning and Pining
Yearning, or having a deep longing for
something especially when accompanied
by tenderness or sorrow.
This step is the realization of the
deceased is taken into account. Due to
this immediate awareness people
subconsciously want to fill this newly
created void in order to account for the
absence.
Example: : “I am working in the
laboratory all day long, it is all I can do; I
am better off there than anywhere else.”
Despair and
Disorganization
Where complete awareness of
recent events is present in the
griever.
Emotions: anger, disappointment,
depression, and hate
Pg 106 - “ My pierre, I got up after
having slept rather well, relatively
calm. That was barely a quarter of
an hour ago, and now I want to
howl again --- like a savage beast.”
Reorganization and
Recovery
The slowest step in the 4 steps of
grieving. When the griever may
start to develop an everyday plan
that motivates them to new goals.
Pg 122 - “ Marie had fallen for
Pierre’s former student Physicist
Paul Langevin.”
Pierre’s Responses
Disorganization and dependence- Lived
with his parents until the age of 35
showing dependence on a stable family
unit.
Intellectualization-Buried into his
studies and focused on that to cope
Fear and anxiety- Paranoia and distrust of
love, said “twisted his heartbreak into
suspicion and convinced himself that love
would derail his ambitions
Numbness- Became detached, spent nights
the woods alone with nature
Marie’s Responses
1. Numbness or shock“I have fallen into black melancholy… My existence
strangely resembles that of one of those slugs which
haunt the dirty water of our river.”
2. IntellectualizationMarie “poured herself into her work… and
tried to rebuild a life.”
3. Despair and Disorganization/
Depression
“Marie returned to Paris and collapsed. Heartbroken, physically
and emotionally depleted she was rushed on a stretcher to the
Sisters of the Family of Saint Marie Convent. Over the following
months she seems only to deteriorate further.”
http://www.caregiverslibrary.org/caregivers-resources/grp-end-of-life-issues/hsgrpgrief-and-loss/psychological-responses-to-loss-article.aspx
Buglass, E. "Grief And Bereavement Theories." Nursing Standard 24.41 (2010): 44-47 4p.
CINAHL Complete. Web. 2 Oct. 2015.
Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth. On Death and Dying. New York: Macmillan, 1969. Print.
Gibbson, Garrick. Five Stages of Grief. Digital image. VisiHow. VisiHow. Web. 3 Oct. 2015
: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/grief
Weeping Angel http://www.kirkincikapi.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/angelgrief.jpg