On the Theme of Trauma in Wonderland

【Abstract】This paper analyzes the causes of trauma suffered by Jesse and people who stayed around him. The causes of trauma mainly divide into two aspects：domestic abuse and social turmoil. Then the paper presents different roles suffered different traumatic effects. The fourth part explores several kinds of methods which possibly reduce or cure trauma. By explaining effectively the causes of suffering trauma and Jesses painful destiny， this paper tries to analyze characters inner world fully， and promulgated the social condition then.

【Key words】Oates； theme； Wonderland； trauma

1. Introduction

“The word ‘trauma first used in the 17th century， trauma and mental illness are first investigated by the neurologist Jean Martin Charcot who is a French physician during the late 19th century， he studies hysteria with symptoms of sudden paralysis， sensory loss， amnesia and convulsions.” He is the first man who recognized the symptoms are originated from psychology. The latest 20th century was marked and defined by historical catastrophe such as world wars， ethnic wars which shaped American modes of viewing the word.

2. The Origin of Trauma in Wonderland

The fathers brutal mastery is one of the reasons that lead to childrens family problems， and it causes characters trauma in this novel. Father figures in Wonderland all have a common feature - despotism. Their desire of mastery is very strong in their family. Oates describes more in the feelings and conditions of a sufferer， than detail mastery actions of father figures. In order to show the results of father figures wrong behaviors directly.

Who greatly influence and even determine the life of Jesse is his father—Willard Harte. He contributes to the family disaster and lets Jesse suffered from trauma in his childhood. Before that， he is considered by Jesse as a good father. Jesse appreciates his humor and vitality of life. However， it is the “appreciating father” who kills the whole family as a method of getting away from the predicament of life. Thus he is the last father that Jesse wants to follow. Then Jesse is adopted by Dr. Pederson， a famous doctor in the city of Lockport. He poured some of his sense of values to Jesse. He has a fatal control of his family. Everyday， there is a ritual of dinner as a clear right of him. At dinner， each family member must report their activities during the daytime and commented by Pedersen. He is the only judge of this test. Mrs. Pedersen has no right to interfere this process. Because of she is also an examinee. He thinks that his patience is his own property. He has the rights to decide their lives.endprint

3. The Effects on Characters in Wonderland

Jesses dream reflects the traumatic effects on him. Traumatized people dont want to sleep because of the terrible dream.But he doesnt want to figure out the meaning of the dream. The corpse in the dream represents Jesses fear of death and the memory of his familys disaster. He cant forget the terrible scene in his house. His beloved families were lying in the blood and dead. In daily life He cant understand his wife. He thinks the woman is mystery. All of these types of dreams make Jesse out of control and feel sick.The nightmare haunts Jesse all the time.

Due to he is directed by his adoptive father， he loses his ability to bear witness. The testimony to him proves that the story of the hidden truth of life， with which he struggles constantly in order to stay true to himself”. That is why Jesse can not know how to develop these story plots and put them in later life just as fragments.

4. The Ways of Healing Trauma

Traumatized victim would not be anxious and afraid， even dare to face trauma and realized the traumatic event has already past.The survivor suffers trauma because he can not integrated the past memory into present life.Through expression， the painful experience can be turned into a life story.Enhanced relationship with others is an effective way to decrease traumatic effects.

5. Conclusion

This passage provides a new perspective on the comprehensive reading of this novel. And it has some realistic and social meaning in helping people understand trauma and know how to deal with traumatic effects.

References：

[1]Oates，Joyce Carol，（1971）.Wonderland[M].New York：The Vanguard Press，pp.1-512.

[2]Oates，Joyce Carol，（1973）.Wonderland[M].New York：The Fawcett Press，pp.532-533.

[3]Bradbury，Malcolm，（1983）.The Modern American Novel[M].New York：Oxford University Press，pp.79-80.

[4]Caruth，Cathy，（1995）.Trauma：Explorations in Memory.Baltimore：The Johns Hopkins University Press.

作者簡介：苑晓敏（1993-），女，汉族，黑龙江穆棱人，哈尔滨师范大学西语学院2016硕士，研究方向：外国语言学及应用语言学。endprint