Traumatic Characters in Southern Vietnamese Novels of the Early 20th Century

Truong Thi Linh; Tran Thi My Hien

doi:10.70716/jess.v3i2.845

Authors

Truong Thi Linh Faculty of Education, Thu dau Mot University, Viet Nam
Tran Thi My Hien Faculty of Education, Thu dau Mot University, Viet Nam https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6219-0259

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70716/jess.v3i2.845

Keywords:

orphan characters, genetic trauma, non-genetic trauma, trauma theory, unfortunate characters

Abstract

This article explores how past trauma impacts the behavior, gestures, attitudes, and psychology of characters in the present and future... through several Southern Vietnamese novels from the first half of the 20th century. Using statistical classification and synthesis, the study reveals that each character type makes different choices depending on the type of trauma they experienced in the past. All characters are unfortunate, and the conclusion drawn is that the more types of trauma a character suffers, the more negative their actions become, and vice versa. Furthermore, the application of trauma theory in the study of Southern Vietnamese novels from the first half of the 20th century has been largely neglected in previous studies. Therefore, our research partially fills this research gap, especially regarding inter generational trauma (or genetic trauma).

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Author Biography

Tran Thi My Hien, Faculty of Education, Thu dau Mot University, Viet Nam

Trần Thị Mỹ Hiền researches modern Vietnamese literature. Her interests include literary theory and criticism, psychoanalytic criticism, and modern literary criticism.

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