Keywords
Foster
Irish literature
Reader-Response Theory
reconciliation
How to Cite
Abstract
This study examines the themes of reconciliation and belonging in Claire Keegan’s novella Foster using Reader-Response Theory, particularly the ideas of Louise Rosenblatt and Wolfgang Iser. The research focuses on how silence and ordinary domestic routines express emotional healing and acceptance. Rather than presenting reconciliation through dramatic events or explicit dialogue, Keegan portrays it through quiet moments, small gestures, and what is left unsaid. The findings reveal that silence functions as a meaningful emotional space where grief and care coexist, while everyday activities such as cooking and shared routines redefine reconciliation as emotional presence rather than spoken forgiveness. Keegan’s minimalist style encourages readers to participate in constructing meaning, making belonging an emotional experience rather than only a biological relationship.
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