Paradox, Ambiguity, and the Re‐Creation of Self: Reflections on a Narrative from Nepal

Abstract

At the core of this article is an account of a woman in Nepal whose life was shattered and who renounced the world and re‐created a sense of self that was rich with meaning, although not fully free of the pain of living. In examining her narrative, and a ritual that in some ways runs parallel to it, I raise questions about the value of paradox and ambiguity in the construction of selves.