Trauma And Healing:The Trauma Narrative In Ravelstein

As one of the most influential Jewish American writers in the world,Saul Bellow(1915-2005)was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1976.As Bellow’s last novel in his later years,Ravelstein(2000)directly discusses the survival of Jewish Americans.This thesis,employing Herman’s trauma and recovery theory,devotes itself to revealing the abundant racial discrimination and silent trauma hidden behind the Jewish identity of Ravelstein and Chick.This thesis analyzes the causes,symptoms and healing methods of the protagonists’ trauma,and further reveals the author’s attempt to treat trauma by writing in the real world,hoping to arouse the sympathy with American Jews suffering from trauma silently.This thesis consists of five parts.The introduction mainly introduces Bellow’s life experience and achievements,the outline of the novel,and the international and domestic studies upon the novel.Besides,Herman’s theory of trauma and recovery and the significance of this thesis are also introduced.Chapter One discusses the causes and symptoms of unforgettable historical trauma,and it further analyzes the alleviation of trauma by writing out stories.Chapter Two analyzes the causes of racial trauma and Chick’s symptoms of constriction state under its influence,and it further discusses his way of healing.Chapter Three explores the causes of psychological trauma in the abnormal American society and the trauma symptoms of Chick and Ravelstein under its influence,and it further analyzes how to work through trauma.In conclusion,the thesis claims that traumatic interpretation of the novel not only provides a feasible way for the traumatized Jewish group to alleviate their trauma and shoulder their national mission,but also provides a reference for the majority of traumatized people.