Trauma,Desire,and The Self:An Intersubjective Interpretation Of Margaret Atwood’s Lady Oracle

Lady Oracle is a novel of the coming-of-age genre published in 1976 by Canadian female author Margaret Atwood.The novel is narrated in the first-person perspective and portrays the protagonist Joan’s childhood traumas,fluid desires,and hidden self.The author uses the stream-of-consciousness writing technique,allowing Joan’s consciousness to freely flow between the past and present.Joan’s complicated inner world and emotional collisions with others provide readers with a comprehensive picture of the human psyche.This thesis uses Lacanian theory to explore the themes of trauma,desire,and the Self in the novel,and demonstrates their impact and role in the protagonist’s process of self-growth.This thesis is based on Lacanian theory and explores the themes of trauma,desire,and the Self from an intersubjective perspective.The thesis focuses on the relationship between the Self and others,and the role of trauma and desire in the process of subjectification.The thesis analyzes the three main relationships of the protagonist,fully considering the unreliable narrator identity of Joan,and restoring the discourse power of other characters.Through Lacanian theory,the thesis interprets the complex relationships between Joan and her mother,husband,and lover,exploring how they shape each other’s experiences and understanding of the Self,and how Atwood’s novel depicts these themes of trauma,desire,and the Self.Trauma can be the result of intergenerational transmission,the Self is the fragmented subject by nature,and desire often appears in the name of love.Atwood’s Lady Oracle takes us on a journey through the fragility of the mind,the pathology of the spirit,and the darkness of human nature.The novel meticulously details Joan’s childhood trauma,adolescent setbacks,and adult confusion.Joan goes from a sensitive and vulnerable child,to a split and repressed adolescent,and then to a chaotic and confused adult.She escapes and rescues herself time and time again,only to discover that it only brings her another escape.Joan’s Self,trapped by trauma and desires,navigates between reality and fantasy.Fantasy brings her comfort but also delusion;it helps her escape reality but also leads her astray.The growth of the Self is a tortuous path,where it constantly struggles against the external world but can never find complete fulfillment.