The life and death of Peter Handke's mother unfold in A Sorrow Beyond Dreams, a narrative that blurs the lines between biography and fiction. The book serves not only as a recounting of her life but also as a reflection on the author's journey of writing her story. Handke grapples with his need to find meaning amidst the raw facts, fearing his attempt to formulate her life into words might turn into a mere "literary ritual."

The Struggle Between Fact and Fiction

The novel begins with a stark newspaper announcement: "In the village of A. (G. township), a housewife, aged 51, committed suicide on Friday night by taking an overdose of sleeping pills." This impersonal report contrasts sharply with the narrator’s emotional turmoil. His motivation to write stems from a desire to make sense of his mother's death, revive his own spirit, and present her "voluntary death" as a significant case. More than anything, he aims to conquer his "moments of extreme speechlessness" and regain a semblance of control over the emotional chaos that ensues.

A Girl's Aspirations and Societal Constraints

The writer’s mother, born in the early 1920s in a rural Austrian village, faced the limitations of her time. Education was a distant dream for boys and entirely unheard of for girls—a girl’s potential was often dismissed as a joke. Seeking independence, she left home to learn cooking at a resort hotel, a brief period of happiness where she revelled in newfound freedoms. Yet, her life was forever altered when she fell for a married man, a German party member, and became pregnant with her first child, the narrator.

Marriage and the Loss of Self

Her pregnancy marked the end of her pursuit of freedom, leading to a marriage of obligation with an army sergeant from Berlin, whom she did not love. This decision ushered in a life dominated by a lackluster marriage, punctuated by births and secret abortions, and a daily grind devoid of joy or fulfillment.

Post-War Disappointments and a Return to Rural Life

After the war, her husband's inability to keep a job in Berlin led the family back to her natal village. Here, she wielded laughter as a shield against her powerlessness and to crush her husband's aspirations, laughter being her solitary possession. In the city, she had become a "type"; in the village, individuality was impossible, and the concept of being an "individual" was almost taboo. Her efforts were directed towards frugality and mimicking a middle-class lifestyle, yet she felt a persistent void, sensing a richer life existed beyond her reach.

Small Comforts and Deepening Despair

The acquisition of household appliances brought a brief semblance of change. Freed from some daily chores, she took to reading, developed political thoughts, and began to see herself as more than a domestic machine. However, this newfound awareness only heightened her discontent, leading to headaches, a nervous breakdown, and a growing sense of purposelessness. In search of meaning, she aspired to adopt a child, but was thwarted by her husband's tuberculosis, compounding her despair. In a methodical fashion, she penned farewell notes to her family and ensured her final moments were orderly by lining her undergarments with diapers before succumbing to suicide.

Aftermath of a Mother's Death

The story doesn't conclude with her death. Her son travels from Frankfurt to attend the funeral, driven by an urge to process his mother's life through writing. Yet, he laments, "It is not true that writing has helped me," as he is overcome by feelings of decay and horror. In a final, urgent attempt to encapsulate his mother’s life and his own emotions, Handke compiles a series of concise reflections, leaving the narrative with an open-ended promise: "Someday I shall write about all this in greater detail."