ENDURING TIES: THE POWER OF FAMILY, MEMORY, AND IDENTITY IN LISA GENOVA'S STILL ALICE

The article explores the significance of family relationships in Lisa Genova’s novel Still Alice, focusing on how the dynamics within Alice’s family evolve in response to her early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The narrative reveals the emotional, psychological, and relational impact of the illness not only on Alice, a renowned cognitive psychology professor, but also on her husband and children. As Alice’s memory and identity begin to deteriorate, her family members react in diverse and deeply human ways ranging from denial and emotional withdrawal to compassion and reconnection. The essay analyzes the shifting roles within the family, highlighting how caregivers adapt and grow through adversity. Special attention is given to Lydia’s transformation into Alice’s most emotionally supportive figure, illustrating how love and empathy endure even as memory fades. By examining the interplay between memory, identity, and emotional connection, this essay argues that Still Alice offers a moving and realistic portrayal of how familial love persists despite the disintegration of the self. Ultimately, it demonstrates that even in the face of irreversible loss, family remains a vital source of meaning, comfort, and resilience.