Easter - 2025

In 'The Denial of Death', Ernest Becker discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of how people and cultures react to the concept of death. He argues that human civilization is a defense mechanism against the knowledge of our mortality, and that this denial is a necessary component of functioning in the world. Becker's work challenges traditional Freudian thought by positing that the primary repression is not sexuality, but rather the awareness of death. He also explores how this fear of death leads to the creation of 'hero systems' and symbols that help individuals transcend their mortality, and how this can result in violence and conflict when different immortality projects clash[2][5][4].

The novel follows William Waters, a young man who escapes his troubled past through a basketball scholarship, and Julia Padavano, the eldest of four close-knit sisters. As William becomes part of the Padavano family, he experiences a loving and chaotic household. However, when darkness from William’s past surfaces, it jeopardizes the family's future and tests the unshakeable loyalty among the sisters. The story spans over 50 years, exploring themes of family dynamics, mental illness, and the complexities of human relationships[1][4][5].