Krista Smathers on "The Management of Grief"

Even though "The Management of Grief" is narrated by and revolves around one woman and her interpretations, Mukherjee’s indirect characterization of Mrs. Bhave’s friends, family, and neighbors aid the believability of the ending and encourage the reader to sympathize most with the narrator.  The different ways in which the characters finally console themselves varies greatly, and these side-plots keep with the title and urge readers to consider the different possible ways of coping.  Kusum becomes estranged from her daughter whereas Dr. Rangalathan moves back to where his entire family once shared a life.  The unique spirituality of the narrator’s path to resolution includes more emotional language—because of the first person narration—and in the end, somewhat forces the reader to identify with her choice despite it’s rashness.  Her decision to simply go and be is prompted by her husband’s mystical directions and it is justified it in her eyes and appeals to the irrational, but condoned, emotions of the reader.