SUFFERING AND HOPE IN STILL ALICE 73 feelings of despair associated with the pain of human suffering but comes short of offering long-lasting hope or an understanding of the purpose of suffering. As she hides her disease from her family, Alice is forced to reckon with the question “Why are we called to suffer?” Throughout the course of the book, Alice comes to accept her diagnosis and prognosis. She makes a speech on what it is like living with a terminal disease, one that will change her permanently. Alice’s ability to reframe her suffering and see it as something that can be used to stimulate education and compassion, is similar to Christian teaching about the role of suffering. The ability to see suffering as a mechanism to make the Christian more like Christ is the ultimate motivator to remain steadfast in times of trial. Identity One of the most significant losses Alice faces is her inability to continue teaching at Harvard. Alice poured much of her time, energy, and effort into her career, often at the expense of relationships with her family members. Alice recognizes that she will soon be unable to teach, write articles, learn new things, or be called upon as a reliable source of information. Alice faces a major identity crisis as she learns that many aspects of her identity will soon no longer be true of her. This concept is in direct contrast to the truths about identity that are discussed in scripture (Genesis 1:27, Ephesians 1, Isaiah 64:8), which indicate that our value comes from being made in the image of God as opposed to our contribution to society. Alice, as an unbeliever, does not have the ability to rest in the truth that she is made in God’s image and is therefore valuable regardless of her accomplishments or contribution to society. During the early days of her diagnosis, Alice is given an Activities of Daily Living questionnaire for her husband to fill out. Alice describes the questions on the list that represent further progression of the disease as “humiliating,” including needing to be fed, being home or hospital bound, and having no control over bowel or bladder. Alice does not see any value in a life without her mind and makes plans to commit suicide once she reaches a certain level of cognitive decline.
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