Inherited Scars: Exploring the Persistence and Evolution of Trauma in Literature
Authors :Varsha Sharma
Abstract
Abstract: Trauma, as a concept, bridges disciplines, with literature serving as a powerful medium to explore its transmission across generations and its impact on memory and identity. This essay examines how Toni Morrison’s Beloved (1987), Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing (2016), and Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967) depict intergenerational trauma through symbolic elements such as the spectral figure, the stone, and recurring names. By analysing these symbols, the essay explores how trauma manifests cyclically in narratives, shaping identities and legacies while reflecting pain and resilience. Additionally, the research integrates insights from epigenetics, illustrating how inherited trauma mirrors biological markers and narrative memory. This comparative study underscores storytelling’s vital role in understanding, confronting, and transforming inherited pain, framing trauma not just as a shadow of the past but as a dynamic force for recovery and renewal across generations. The theoretical plurality of trauma’s representations, offering
a deeper understanding that transcends conventional notions of trauma as merely neurotic or terrifying. Instead, it reveals the paradoxical pleasure in both telling and witnessing traumatic events, affirming literature’s capacity to engage with pain as a pathway to understanding and resilience.
Keywords: Symbolism, Trauma Narratives, Memory and Storytelling,Intergenerational Trauma, Global Traditions of Trauma Theory, Epigenetics in Literature
