Trauma Study In Keri Hulme’s The Bone People

Keri Hulme (1947-) is a New Zealand writer, born in Christchurch. By2007, she haswritten two novels—The Bone People (1983), her first and most successful novel, and Bait(2006), several collections of poems, including Lost Possessions (1985) and Srands (1992),and two short story collections, The Kaihau/The Windeater (1986) and Stonefish (2004).This thesis presents an interpretation of The Bone People from the perspective of traumatheory.This thesis is composed of five chapters. The first chapter offers an introduction toKeri Hulme, her novel The Bone People, literature review on this novel both at home andabroad, and trauma theory as well (focusing on the definition, traumatic symptoms,traumatic effect on the traumatized and the recovery from the trauma).Chapter Two explores the traumatic symptoms in the protagonists—avoidance thetrigger of trauma and the return of the repressed. And there are many traumatic effectsappearing in them, including inability to love people around.Chapter Three concentrates on the trauma in the Maori and the Pakeha by probinginto the history and culture of New Zealand. The thesis elucidates the existing problemsbetween the Maori and the Pakeha, and the identity and culture crisis they have gonethrough.Chapter Four mainly deals with the recovery of Kerewin, Joe and Simon by analyzingtheir recovery processes according to Judith Herman’s theory. The traumatized in the novelend up being healed by supernatural power, which is a part of Maori culture. Their reunionat the end has great significance on subliming the theme of the novel, that is, thereconciliation of the Maori and the Pakeha.Chapter Five is the conclusion which analyzes the significance of the novel. Theauthor’s ideal is to achieve the reconciliation between the two races. Although the processbrings much trauma to people, the happy ending of the novel offers us hope.