A Traumatic Study Of The Three Generations' Sustained Struggle For Recovery In Paul Harding's Tinkers

Paul Harding is one of the most influential American writers in recent years.His debut novel,Tinkers,was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2010.The novel presents George's broken trains of thoughts eight days before his death,which gradually unfolds the sustained efforts his family has made for three generations to defend cruel reality and recover from traumas.This thesis explores the struggle against trauma of the three generations in Tinkers with the trauma theory of Judith Herman,a famous psychological expert of America.According to Herman,trauma recovery includes establishment of safety,remembrance and mourning and reconnection.George's grandfather aspires to be a great minister,but his career has suffered a severe crisis.His attempts to establish safety is frustrated and no one supports him or understands him.Helpless and lonely,he fails to remember and mourn his traumatic experiences.Consequently,he ends up with a mental breakdown.George's father experiences two periods of unhappy family life and the painful recurrence of epileptic seizures.He takes action to create a new environment and build safety which brings him courage to review and mourn the traumatic experiences and establish new relationships.But he is not able to tell his traumatic stories.The third generation,George,steps further.He strives to learn different kinds of skills and has grown a strong man.His success in career helps him remember and mourn trauma bravely.Finally,he gets rid of his family's misfortune and enjoys a successful career and a happy family.By describing the struggles against trauma of the three generations,Paul Harding illustrates the hardships of the world and celebrates the glory of human beings.