Discuss the ending of the story and the story’s theme.

"The Management of Grief" explores issues of identify, isolation, grief, and racism. Shaila has lost her husband and sons to a tragic event. Her country fails to provide her with the aid she needs. She finds herself feeling alienated and lost. This reflects Bharati Mukherjee’s real life response to the bombing. She openly criticized the Canadian government for calling the bombing a cultural struggle between Indians, when in fact the majority of the the passengers were...

"The Management of Grief" explores issues of identify, isolation, grief, and racism. Shaila has lost her husband and sons to a tragic event. Her country fails to provide her with the aid she needs. She finds herself feeling alienated and lost. This reflects Bharati Mukherjee’s real life response to the bombing. She openly criticized the Canadian government for calling the bombing a cultural struggle between Indians, when in fact the majority of the the passengers were Canadian citizens. She viewed the bombing as an act of terrorism and not some "cultural conflict" outside of the sphere of so-called normal Canadian culture.

These disagreements mirror the actions of some of the white Canadians in the story, who at first seem sympathetic, but cannot (or will not) provide the support or sympathy Shaila needs. A perfect example of this is Judith, the social worker who displays an obvious misunderstanding of Indian culture and mourning practices. She keeps bringing a cold textbook approach to grief and her frequent mentions of the Indian community suggest that she believes this is a uniquely Indian tragedy. 

The story ends in a tragic place. Shaila is living alone in an apartment with little company. She continues to hear the voices of her family, encouraging her to be brave and continue on. This highlights the stark isolation that comes with the loss of loved ones and also the daily experience of marginalized peoples. In the story's final moments, she mentions that she is beginning a new journey, one whose ending she cannot see. This shows that she is perhaps starting to let go of some of her grief. She has decided to be brave and keep fighting. Her struggle at the end of the story and her frequent communications with the dead symbolize the multigenerational struggles of marginalized groups. She must continue what her family has started.