Interpretation Of The Characters' Trauma In Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close From The Perspective Of Trauma Theory

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close(2005)is one of the works written by Jonathan Safran Foer,who is a significant Jewish American writer in the field of contemporary American literature.It was published in the aftermath of 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001.As a post-9/11 novel,it discloses various traumatic experiences in different times.Some critics both abroad and in China have taken great interests in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and made researches from different angles,such as 9/11 narrative techniques,Foer's writing style and language,children's perspective and interactive mosaics of narrative and poetics.Nevertheless,up till now only a few academic papers have applied trauma theory to the analysis of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.Initially originating from psychology,in the 1990 s trauma theory reached a prosperous period of its own development and extended its realm to sociology and literature.Its rising shifts people's attention to how the traumatic event has happened.It has also made effect on individuals by providing a new perspective of conceptualizing trauma.Through adopting trauma theory,this thesis intends to expose the devastating effects on Schell family by analyzing these traumatic events and their different ways of overcoming these traumatic events to reach reconciliation.Besides,it provides a new approach to the analysis of Foer's works in China.This thesis consists of four chapters.Introduction is mainly about Foer's achievements,the general information of trauma theory,its early and current development as well as a general literature review on Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.Chapter two emphasizes Oskar,his mother and grandparents' traumatic symptoms,including Oskar's repetition compulsion,affective disorder,his mother's pain inside,his grandfather's aphasia and grandmother's self-denial,etc.Besides,the causes of traumas have also been mentioned in this chapter.Chapter three explores Oskar,his mother and grandparent's efforts to walk out of psychological shadows and shows the successful recovery of Oskar and his mother as well as the unsuccessful recovery of Oskar's grandparents.There are different methods taken by them to reach reconciliation,including narration about trauma,reestablishment of the family relationships,etc.The last part points out the destructiveness that traumatic experience intends to impose on victims and draws the conclusion that once trauma happens inevitably,it would not fade away with time passing by,thus the best way is to confront and release it.