Trauma-induced Evilness And Extremity: A Tentative Study Of Childhood Trauma And Domestic Abuse In Paula Vogel's Plays

This dissertation is about trauma-induced evilness and extremity based on the analysis of childhood trauma and domestic abuse in Paula Vogel's two plays How I Learned to Drive and Hot ‘N Throbbing.In the first Chapter,a brief introduction of Paula Vogel and her works are presented.A clear definition of the central idea trauma is given and the theoretical studies of trauma-related idea are profoundly analyzed and summarized.The theoretical analysis from Sigmund Freud in his book Beyond the Pleasure Principle will be adopted,such as the pleasure principle and the process of recovery.Also,ideas in Trauma and Recovery by Judith Lewis Herman are presented,including atrocity,hyperarousal,constriction,disconnection and the damaged self.In the second chapter,a profound and brief summary of the negative impacts of individual protagonists is presented,which includes Lil Bit's trauma-induced evilness and disconnection from the family in How I Learned to Drive and Porn Writer Charlene's trauma-induced evilness and disconnection from reality in Hot ‘N Throbbing.In the third chapter,trauma-engendered disordered sexual needs of the protagonists in How I Learned to Drive and Hot ‘N Throbbing will be presented.In the fourth chapter,the analysis has been lifted to a more meaningful level,which is to analyze the healing as well as the positive life transaction of victims in Paula Vogel's play.The fifth chapter is the summary of the analysis in the dissertation.The aim of this dissertation is to yield a more profound understanding of trauma-induced impacts on individuals and to explore possible solutions to offer guidance for victims to recover from trauma.