The rapture that mysteriously disappeared millions of people on October 14 and is the basis for The Leftovers’ plot is a form of uncontrollable absence. The characters were not prepared for the occurrence and must figure out different methods of coping, grief, and acceptance after the event. The novel presents a conflicting notion of absence in the characters of Laurie and Tom, who consciously chose to absent themselves from the lives of their family members in the aftermath of the event, rather than being taken from them. The Garvey family itself becomes a microcosm of this theme in the novel, as mother-son and father-daughter pairs each deal with absence in conflicting ways.

Without explanation or warning, the rapture disappears a seemingly random assortment of people around the globe. For the Garvey family, who did not lose anyone intimate in the event, this type of uncontrolled absence mimics the unexpectedness of deaths that occur without warning. Laurie dedicates herself to helping her best friend try to cope with the sudden absence of her daughter; in so doing, she begins to believe that any attempt at normalcy following such widespread, uncontrollable death is merely an illusion. By joining the Guilty Remnant, Laurie embodies an uncertain surrender that parallels the rapture’s unpredictability as an event beyond individuals’ control: She relinquishes agency, control, and emotion to the Guilty Remnant, allowing its rules to determine her actions.