Representation Of Terror And Trauma In Falling Man

Don DeLillo is regarded as one of the four modern literary masters. After its publication in 2007, Falling Man was acclaimed as "the first major 9/11 novel." But on today’s American literary scene it has received a mixture of criticism. This thesis is concerned with how DeLillo represents the terror and trauma of the 9/11 events.The thesis is based upon the theories on trauma, ekphrasis and text analysis and analyses the representation of terror and trauma, means of representation and purpose of representation. The unprecedented, pervasive and psychological terror is represented in the novel through the victims’ reactions instead of the horrifying scenes such as the collapse of towers under the impact of crashed planes. DeLillo’s humanitarian concerns for those who create terror underlies his representation of a terrorist named Hammad. Besides, DeLillo’s representation of the victims’ terror-induced trauma reveals his contemplation on history, memory and identity.The integration of counternarrative and multidimensional narrative in relation to fragments and ruptures with the artistic media of photo, painting and performance art contributes to DeLillo’s uniqueness in 9/11 narrative. This is a thought-provoking literary text written for the post-9/11 world to think about how to mourn 9/11 as an unprecedented event in American history and thereafter seek spiritual redemption.