Wounds that Speak: Exploring Social Trauma and Reconciliation with Self in Knoll’s Luckiest Girl Alive

Abstract

Trauma is not merely an incident that leaves its deep scars on the psyche of victims, but it often acts as a driving force in shaping their identities and perceptions as well. The present study aims to explore the facet of social trauma in one of the mystery fictions Knoll’s Luckiest Girl Alive (2015). It is aimed to highlight that trauma not merely influences the mental, physical, and emotional state of victims, but it can also affect their social affairs and deteriorate their identity. The sociocultural responses of people coerce them to suppress their traumas, detach themselves from their surroundings, avoid indulging in a challenging social situation, and adapt certain behaviors to conform the sociocultural standards. The current study utilizes the concept of trauma proposed by Vickroy (2014) to precisely demonstrate the agonizing experiences of Ani (protagonist) within a sociocultural backdrop. The findings show that the restrictive sociocultural environment enforces Ani to camouflage her past and exhibit her assured personality to the world, leading to potentially disrupt her identity. Moreover, she faces several challenges on multiple levels such as experiencing extreme anxiety, maintaining her professional and personal affairs, conforming to the sociocultural norms to survive in the world, and recognizing her inner being.

Keywords: Social trauma, restoring identity, complexities, inner-self, sociocultural environment