A Comparative Study Of Trauma In Falling Man And Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close

Trauma study gradually draws people’s attention in recent years. It has crossed the cultural and social research borders. Cathy Caruth, Judith Herman, Dominick LaCapra, E.Ann Kaplan all propose their own views on trauma.9/11 event is the most serious attack in American history after "Pearl Harbor". It brings huge psychological shadow to Americans.9/11 occupies an important position in the field of literature research. Relevant studies focus on terrorism and trauma narrative.9/11 narration is a reflection of American collective trauma and memory. It has the curing function. As a response to the attack, the American well-known writers Don DeLillo and Jonathan Safran Foer write Falling Man and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close respectively. The works show us the enormous trauma to Americans brought by 9/11 and have great symbolic significance.This thesis will juxtapose Falling Man and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and analyse the characters by summarizing the similarities and differences of their attitudes towards trauma. With Dominick LaCapra’s "acting out" and "working through" theories, methods of the authors’representing and dealing with trauma will be sumed up in details. The relationship between "trauma" and "history" will be further explored. Finally, the enlightenment of trauma narration to humans will be stated. If people unite, understand, and care for each other, friction, barriers, and conflicts will be reduced to some degree. Thus, the traumatic events will probably not happen anymore.