For example, in any bereavement it is seldom clear exactly what is lost.

The loss of a husband, for instance, may or may not mean the loss of a sexual partner, companion, accountant, gardener, baby-minder, audience, bed-warmer, and so on, depending upon the particular roles normally performed by this husband.

Moreover, one loss often brings other secondary losses in its train. The loss of a husband is usually accompanied by a considerable drop in income, and this often means that the widow must sell her house, change her job (if she has one), and move to a strange environment.

Copyright 2000