In "The Virgin Suicides," Jeffrey Eugenides explores the deep and pervasive nature of tragedy through the lens of the Lisbon sisters' story. The narrative highlights how the impact of their lives and deaths resonates beyond their immediate environment, creating a collective sense of loss that touches the entire community. This diffuse tragedy reveals the interconnectedness of individual and collective grief, making it a shared experience among those who witnessed the sisters' struggles.
The phrase "the tragedy became diffuse and universalized" underscores how the personal anguish of the sisters transcends their own family, affecting the neighborhood and ultimately resonating with a broader audience. This universalization of grief emphasizes the themes of isolation, misunderstanding, and the quest for connection, which pervade the lives of the characters in the book. Eugenides adeptly captures the essence of how personal tragedies can ripple outward, affecting many lives in profound ways.