Who Caused the Trauma of Emily and Pecola? Childhood Abuse in Olsen’s “I Stand Here Ironing” and Morrison’s The Bluest Eye

Document Type : Original Article

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department of English, college of languages and translation, badr university in Cairo

Abstract

Abstract:
The main aim of this paper is to re-read Olsen’s “I Stand Here Ironing” and Morrison’s The Bluest Eye to investigate the abusive forces (mainly family and society) that led respectively to Emily’s and Pecola’s traumas. Moreover, to discuss their varied trauma symptoms. The paper follows the analytical method of research that examines the two texts , in light of both trauma theory and children trauma theory. The paper concludes that the severity of trauma symptoms echoes abuse intensity . Also, that abuse may sometimes happen unintentionally because of the abuser’s ignorance, lack of experience, harsh economic conditions or because the abuser himself/herself is being a victim of abuse. The rationale behind choosing these texts is that both literary texts deal with two girls as victims of abuse and neglect because of their family and society. It is very crucial to see how this abuse shatters their identities. Also, both works expose different types of abuse (physical, social and psychological). Moreover, the severity of trauma symptoms for both Emily and Pecola is decided according to their abuse intensity. The paper discloses both the sensitivity of the abuse issue and the deliberate intention of many social institutes (as school and marriage ) to hide abusive practices and silence the abused. As Zeinab Monir says, “Traumatic narratives are often silenced and repressed by the social norms that resist any tendencies to disgrace the society” (729).

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