Trauma Narrative and Healing: A Post-traumatic Exploration of Toni Morrison’s Home

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran. b.pourgharib@umz.ac.ir https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6162-7312

2 M.A. in English Language and Literature, Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran

3 Assistant Professor of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran

Abstract

This s tudy explores traumatic effects and healing in Toni Morrison’s Home based on Cathy Caruth’s theory of trauma. By analyzing the novel’s portrayal of trauma, it inves tigates the manifes tations of trauma, the mechanisms of healing, and the interconnectedness between literary representations and academic trauma theory. The s tudy enhances the unders tanding of the memories of war and s truggles with feelings of guilt and shame. Reviewing exis ting literature, it identifies gaps in the application of Caruth’s concepts in analyzing the novel, emphasizing the need for a more in-depth exploration. The methodology involves applying Caruth’s theories to Morrison’s narrative s trategies, examining fragmentation, belatedness, and repetition related to characters’ traumatic memories and healing. The research ques tions address how Morrison depicts the healing process, the narrative techniques employed to convey trauma effects, and the contribution of literary devices like flashbacks to trauma representation. By bridging trauma theory with literary analysis, the s tudy concluded Morrison’s novel Home indicates the traumatic experiences of Frank Money’s Korean War and racial violence, which not only trigger personal traumas but also reflect his torical traumas affecting African American experiences.

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References

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History

  • Receive Date: 21 December 2023
  • Revise Date: 11 February 2024
  • Accept Date: 25 May 2024

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