A Study Of Childhood Trauma Writing In J. D. Salinger’s Works

Jerome David Salinger was a Jewish American writer who gained much attention from American scholars and readers after World War II.Salinger often had a sustained interest in the exploration of the spiritual dilemmas of characters in his novels.In his short and long works which have been published,there are a series of protagonists who are spiritually perplexed and show abnormal behavior.Based on the theory of trauma and trauma recovery,this paper uses a combination of theoretical interpretation and textual analysis to explore the representation,causes,and recovery methods of childhood trauma embodied in Salinger’s works.The first chapter provides a brief introduction to Salinger’s life and major works,a review of Salinger’s research,and trauma theory.The second chapter discusses the manifestations of childhood trauma in Salinger’s work,including self-identity crisis,abnormality of personality,and self-disconnection with the society.The third chapter combines the society and family in the novels to explore the reasons that lead to the protagonists’ childhood trauma.The social root is mainly due to the indifference of interpersonal relationships under the material society and the racial discrimination in society,the family factor is reflected in the unhealthy parent-child relationship,and the protagonist’s discord with himself is also an important reason.The fourth chapter explores ways of trauma recovery based on Judith Herman’s theory,including establishing a sense of security,resuming the connection with the society,and seeking spiritual relief and comfort from beliefs.Healing through inner beliefs is also an important treatment for subjective adjustment after traumatic experiences.Through the above analysis,this paper believes that Salinger’s writing about childhood trauma has profound social and educational significance,and his novels show the spiritual problems that children may encounter in society and family.At the same time,they also show the survival dilemmas faced by children in the American society at that time.It reflects Salinger’s concern for individuals in society and expressing his vision for a better future for humanity without trauma.