The Representation of Trauma and Trauma Coping Strategies in Grace Nichols's I is a Long Memoried Woman

Abstract

Using the historical background of the Middle Passage and slavery and drawing on the tools provided by trauma studies, this study carries out a comprehensive analysis of Grace Nichols's I is a Long Memoried Woman (1983). The starting hypothesis explored in this study is that I is a Long Memoried Woman represents traumatic experiences of the Middle Passage and slavery as well as trauma coping strategies adopted by Afro-Caribbean slaves, especially black slave women. Accordingly, this study first delves into four main trauma representation strategies in I is a Long Memoried Woman: repression, haunting, repetition and traumatic pastoral. It then explores the representation of trauma coping strategies adopted by Afro-Caribbean peoples: return to religion and spirituality, dissociation, escape through imagination and revenge fantasies. In doing so, this study demonstrates that there is a possibility for trauma victims such as Afro-Caribbean peoples to heal their wounds and move on as represented in I is a Long Memoried Woman.