A Comparative Trauma Analysis of My Bird by Fariba Vafi and The Lowland byJhumpa Lahiri through the Lens of Cathy Caruth”

This paper surveys a comparative analysis of Fariba Vafi's My Bird and Jhumpa Lahiri's TheLowland through the lens of Cathy Caruth's trauma concepts, namely belatedness, repetition,and representation. It examines how these novels vividly portray the profound emotional andpsychological impact of trauma. In The Lowland, the character Gauri embodies the concept ofbelatedness, with the fragmented narrative structure effectively mirroring her haunting anddelayed recollections. On the other hand, My Bird employs repetition as a form of protest,revealing the unconscious reenactment of traumatic experiences. The presence of silence andsubtle forms of protest in both novels underscores the inherent contradictions within the realmof traumatic experiences. This analysis offers valuable insights into the enduring repercussionsof trauma and how individuals navigate the complex terrain of their traumatic pasts.Understanding how trauma is intricately woven into the narrative fabric of these two novelsenriches our comprehension of the enduring impact of such experiences on the human psyche.It sheds light on the diverse ways individuals cope with and make sense of their traumatichistories, emphasizing the importance of exploring these themes within the literary context.

Keywords:

Comparative Analysis , Trauma Concepts , Belatedness , Repetition , Representation