Joan Didion's perspective on society was profoundly shaped by pivotal life events, such as her experiences in California during the counterculture movement. Her witnessing of the chaos in the 1960s and the personal loss of her husband, John Gregory Dunne, deeply influenced her writing and understanding of grief and alienation. Didion's struggle with anxiety also informed her narrative style, which often reflects a deep sense of dislocation. These events instilled a sense of existential questioning that permeates her essays, allowing her to critique societal norms and consumer culture from a deeply personal vantage point.