A Study Of Trauma In Anil’s Ghost

Michael Ondaatje is one of the most prominent writers in contemporaryCanadian literature, and Anil’s Ghost is one of his representative works. This thesisfocuses on the analysis of the Sri Lankans and the main characters who suffer traumain Anil’s Ghost by means of trauma theory.“Psychological trauma” refers to an eventor disaster which leaves an indelible damage on victims’ psychology, the victims canbe collective or individual. The victims represent a series of typical symptoms aftersuffering trauma. Their living conditions are changed by the civil war. Their traumaticsymptoms include emotional numbness, irritability, repression and silence, avoidanceand fatigue. Although they must to confront with difficulties, the characters in thenovel work through trauma by means of various approaches. Through the analysis, wecan understand the author want to express a desire—he hopes that the civil war willcome to an end as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the author also wants to express hisyearning for love and peace.