Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Availability

Thesis (UNI Access Only)

Abstract

This collection of short stories explores seven intimate, vulnerable portraits of characters navigating various forms of isolation— from the emotional isolation of strained family dynamics, to the physical loneliness of addiction, and the quiet desolation of suburban boredom. While many of the stories are informed by a working-class experience, the collection portrays a diverse range of characters, showing how universal the feeling of loneliness is across situations and circumstances. The first story is set in the corner booth of a cafe, where the narrator’s observance borders on voyeurism. She imagines what the lives of strangers might be like, romanticising a relationship she has made up as a stand-in for the failing one her parents are in. Next, the title story, “Sunlight through Stained Glass,” follows a woman approaching middle-age who is holding onto the past, afraid to face the reality that she is moving in a different direction than her best and only friend. “Down and Across,” changes course from fear of loneliness to reflection on solitude, as a college-aged boy spends an afternoon traveling home from Chicago by train following a failed attempt to surprise his girlfriend, who has been his support system after the death of his mother. “Zest” and “Silver Spoon” explore two different lives of children with addict parents. The former features a reality in which the child is trapped in her circumstances, while the latter imagines a future in which the child leaves the family behind. “April, Again” tells the story of a young workaholic who finds herself ready for connection at an inopportune time.

Year of Submission

2025

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of Languages and Literatures

First Advisor

Julie Husband

Date Original

5-2025

Object Description

1 PDF (iv, 64 pages)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Download
Off-Campus Download

Comments?

Share

COinS