Disintegrating ipseity: a gerontological exegesis of Alzheimer's disease and relational identity in Alice Munro's fiction.

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer's is a progressive disorder of the brain that gradually affects memory, personality, behaviour, identity, and interpersonal relationships, particularly among older adults. Alice Munro's novella "The Bear Came Over the Mountain" offers a compelling literary framework for exploring these impacts through narrative gerontology, a lens that emphasizes storytelling's role in shaping identity and relational bonds during ageing and illness.

Method: This study applies narrative gerontology to analyze Munro's depiction of Alzheimer's, focusing on the experiences of Fiona and Grant. Through detailed textual analysis, it examines the gerontological concept of "we-narrative" (shared relational identity) to understand how identity, memory loss, and relational dynamics evolve.

Results: Munro portrays Alzheimer's as both a medical condition and a social experience, fragmenting Fiona's sense of self and reshaping the couple's shared identity. Fiona's fading memories unravel her narrative, diminishing her autonomy, while Grant's shift from husband to caregiver redefines their relationship. The novella's disjointed structure reflects the cognitive chaos of Alzheimer's, deepening its emotional impact. The gerontological "we-narrative," representing shared relational identity, reveals the enduring strength of their bond, as Grant's selfless actions highlight a transformed expression of love.

Discussion: Dementia narrative features how caregivers' identity gradually forms through the lived experience of supporting a loved one with cognitive decline. These findings align with narrative gerontology's view that stories help individuals and caregivers navigate identity and loss. Munro's work challenges stereotypes about ageing, emphasizing the emotional complexity of caregiving and the resilience of human connections.

Conclusion: Munro's novella powerfully illustrates Alzheimer's multifaceted effects, using narrative to explore identity, care, and relational adaptation in the context of ageing and illness.