On Trauma And Self-salvation—A Thematic Study Of Home

Due to the unceasing disastrous events around the world and their not inconsiderable collateral damages, themes of trauma and salvation have grabbed the attention of scholars in various fields of study. Novelists, who are notably sensitive to great happenings around the world, keep on focusing on and writing about them. The Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison is of no exception. Despite the kaleidoscope of her characters, the themes of trauma and salvation can always be found. Home, Morrison’s latest work, pictures the living state of African Americans during 1950 s with the exquisite style, profound insight as well as Morrison’s typical humanistic care through the life of an African American—Frank, who was tortured by the trauma caused by childhood suffering, war and racism.This thesis analyzes the traumatic experiences and process of self-salvation of the protagonist in Home with the theories concerning trauma and salvation. How we can better confront with trauma, trudge through trauma and walk out of trauma gets explored.This thesis consists of three parts apart from the introduction and conclusion. The first chapter displays some basic concepts of the trauma theory and discusses the different views of salvation in Christianity and Toni Morrison’s view of it. Chapter Two focuses on the causes and impacts of Frank’s multiple traumas. The next chapter explores how Frank achieved self-salvation and finally got out of the quagmire of trauma through analyzing two events—returning to hometown Lotus and saving his sister from the white doctor respectively. The conclusion points out that among the various ways of overcoming trauma, the real power lies in victims themselves. Frank is a convincing example of successful self-salvation. By facing and dealing with trauma bravely, Frank not only gained rebirth but also miraculously saved others during the process of self-salvation. Trauma is not insurmountable; what makes trauma insurmountable is the loss of faith and courage. And as long as we hold to the unswerving belief in the power of self-salvation, the trauma will be defeated.