Unhealable Trauma

Kazuo Ishiguro is one of the most renowned contemporary writers in English literature.In The Unconsoled,Ishiguro highlights the profound influence of trauma by depicting the misery after failing to work through trauma.Based on Judith Herman's trauma theory and by exploring the intolerable agony of trauma victims from three aspects: different traumatic experiences,syndromes of trauma and failed struggle to work through trauma,this thesis proposes that The Unconsoled of Kazuo Ishiguro addresses the journey of traumatized people as a method to express his desperate attitude towards urban life.Besides the introduction and the conclusion,this thesis contains three parts.The introduction part provides a general view of Kazuo Ishiguro,his works,the studies on The Unconsoled both at home and abroad,the theoretical perspective and the layout of the thesis.Chapter one analyzes different traumatic experiences.Ryder is a victim of family violence.Hoffman is tortured by unequal marriage and Brodsky is haunted by his physical disability and career failure.Chapter two focuses on trauma syndromes.Ryder manifests insecurity,numbness and amnesia as well and Brodsky exhibits traumatic syndromes such as self-degradation,conceit and depression.Meanwhile,anxiety,inferiority and jealousy are displayed by Hoffman.Chapter three discusses the failed efforts of recovery.They attempt to work through trauma by narrating trauma and reestablishing connections.Moreover,both Ryder and Hoffman intend to reconstruct the sense of security.Unfortunately,these three traumatized characters fail to recover because of the despair in urban cities.The conclusion part offers a brief summary of major arguments and reiterates that The Unconsoled of Kazuo Ishiguro addresses the journey of traumatized people as a method to express his desperate attitude towards urban life.