The aim of this piece of work is to complete an analysis and interpretation of Bridget Keehan's short story “Sorry for the Loss", centering on Keehan's use of narrative techniques and the contrasts presented to the reader in the story. Keehan wrote the short story "Sorry for the Loss", originally for a short story competition it became part of the anthology gathering said short stories in 2008.
The story takes place in a prison supposedly in Great Britain. Here, the reader encounter Chaplain Evie, whom will have to go tell a lad named Victor, that his Nan has passed. Evie is a teeny bit fearful towards the task as delivering bad news to prisoners have a habit of ending badly. The reader is following her down the prison as she makes her way to cell 22A in the E wing and during her walk there, the narrative paints the picture of a well functioning prison. Evie a chaplain and therefore has to deliver the news of passing and such to other Catholics, like Victor.
As Evie reaches the E wing, she is allowed in by a guard the size of a defensive football player. She is allowed to enter Victor's cell. She studies his face and the reader learns of her discoveries: Sparkly eyes, olive skin, a welcoming grin.
After Evie addresses him they first misunderstand each other. Victor believes she is there to tell him whether or not he got in to a course and ask her if he had gotten a spot on the course. She replies with “sorry”, which so happens to be the name of the course he wishes to attend. They go back and forth a bit, before Evie returns to the subject matter at hand. The dead Nan.
As she tells Victor the news, he inhales sharply through his nose and peers out the cell's window, where a pigeon sat and cooed. He recites a line of poetry to Evie, who recognize it to be Shakespeare. King Lear, says Victor and goes about the extract he and the book club guy, Ron, is putting together. He mentions his role, who is a female, which in return