Citation

Bai L. Interdisciplinary Studies of Literature 2018; 2(3): 437-445.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

This essay explores contemporary Chinese American writer Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told You from the perspective of trauma theory. It argues that every character in the novel suffers different traumas and mental predicament. Father James Lee suffers racialism and white masculinity supremacy; Mother Marilyn is confronted with fetters and shackles from patriarchal society; their daughter Lydia is overwhelmed by traumatic childhood and finally commits suicide. Ng's writing of the traumas examines the causes of their psychic traumas and highlights ethical responsibility and telling which are effective ways to healing. Having double identity of Chinese American and female writer, Celeste Ng attempts to remove individual and collective traumas, construct ethical space for the continuation and renewal of life through traumatic narrative. © Knowledge Hub Publishing Company Limited (Hong Kong).

Language: zh

Keywords

Celeste ng; Everythinglnever told you; Trauma writing