| This thesis presents a sociological analysis of death. Within the theoretical framework of Pierre Bourdieu's reflexive sociology, this thesis explores the personal impact and experience of death, particularly as it relates to the family. Central to the analysis are Bourdieu's concepts of habitus, field and capital, as well as the overarching ontological debate of the relationship between the individual and society.;Literature review and secondary data are provided to support the view that the experience and perception of death are affected by one's position within the structured system of relations comprising the field. This experience can be understood in terms of distinction between public and private life. With respect to public life, an historical analysis of transformations in attitudes and practice toward death demonstrates the way in which the fields of religion, science and medicine, and economy have served to shape social perceptions and practices. With respect to private experience, the family, as a field, is identified as the primary locus for the impact of death. This impact, as demonstrated in grief, is understood as the result of the disruption of the system of relations which comprise this field. |
