In Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," a gravestone in a cemetery near an ancient church features an anchor, an hourglass, and the phrase "In Hope." This imagery evokes a sense of reflection on mortality and the notion of hope that transcends death.
The question arises whether the hope expressed is from the deceased or from the living who mourn them. This highlights the complexity of hope in the face of loss, suggesting a dual perspective that intertwines the dead's legacy and the enduring aspirations of those who remain.