Ausência de rituais fúnebres e suas repercussões na experiência de luto

Abstract

This work aims to investigate the possible repercussions of the absence of burial on the mourning experience. To this end, we adopted the perspective of phenomenology-hermeneutics, seeking to get closer to the expression of this phenomenon in its most original character. The research path is structured in three stages: initially, we carried out a narrative review of the literature, addressing the absence of funeral rituals and closely analyzing studies on the subject of death and mourning, essential elements for understanding the phenomenon in contemporary times. Next, we turn to the ancient Greeks to analyze this phenomenon through the Sophoclean tragedy Antigone and the epic poem Iliad, allowing us to highlight the epochal character present in the repercussions of this phenomenon. Finally, by approaching the experience reports of bereaved people, especially during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to understand this phenomenon in its epochal character, manifested in the unique expressions of these people. Considering the elements discussed throughout this research, we make a critical reflection on the approach present in current conjectures about the absence of funeral rituals. We observed inconsistencies and limitations in these approaches, which tend to advocate generalizing and even psychopathologizing theories about this phenomenon intrinsic to human existence and, therefore, imponderable.