Narrating the Future in Old Age

What is it about?

We often think of old age as the end of a life and thus the end of a story. This paper argues that human beings consider the future beyond their own existence and thus may construct stories as they approach death that connect with others who will continue to live on into an unknown future.

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Why is it important?

The elderly are often stigmatized in society, making them vulnerable to abuse and neglect. This is partly due to the view that their lives lack a future and are thus less meaningful and economically useful than the lives of the young. This paper helps to show how the elderly continue to value the future and participate willingly and importantly in society.