GRIEF IN PHILIP RIDLEY'S VINCENT RIVER
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Date
2025-05
Authors
Mustafa, Esma
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Çukurova University
Abstract
Philip Ridley’s Vincent River centers on a personal tragedy while deeply exploring the emotional and social impacts of loss. The play begins with the murder of a young man in a homophobic attack and focuses on his mother Anita’s process of coping with the devastating loss. Ridley uncovers the psychological depth and internal conflicts of his characters while sharply critiquing important issues such as homophobia, discrimination, prejudice, and societal silence. Anita’s initial feelings of denial, anger, and guilt gradually give way to confrontation, understanding, and acceptance. Her unexpected relationship with Davey represents not only personal healing but also a social awakening. Through this powerful connection, Ridley shows how two strangers can form a bond and undergo transformation through shared grief. This study analyzes Anita’s inner journey in Vincent River through a psychoanalytic lens, drawing on Sigmund Freud’s theory of mourning alongside Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s stages of grief. It explores how Ridley intertwines personal grief with broader societal issues, showing how trauma destabilizes identity while opening space for transformation. The play transforms individual mourning into a vehicle for social critique, presenting theatre as a space for confrontation, empathy, and responsibility. By linking personal loss with collective injustice, Ridley urges audiences to reflect on the emotional cost of silence and the urgent need for recognition, healing, and social change.
Description
Ulusal
Keywords
grief , loss , tragedy
Citation
Mustafa, E. (2026). GRIEF IN PHILIP RIDLEY’S VINCENT RIVER. Çukurova University Social Sciences Institute Journal, 35, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.35379/cusosbil.1653643
