The Occurrence and Purpose of Trauma in Selected Works of Gillian Flynn

Abstract

This paper is focused on the occurrence and purpose of trauma in literature, namely two novels of the genre of psychological thrillers by Gillian Flynn, Sharp Objects and Gone Girl. The central theme of the thesis is the way the author incorporates trauma into her work with regards to the contemporary society and the personality and behaviour of the victims, while also focusing on various events which possess the power to shape the identity of the people influenced by traumatic events. The main goal of this thesis is to analyse the signs and symptoms the characters are enduring following their experience of traumatic events, and the ways the author uses to depict the characters as attempting to cope with the situation. Such coping mechanisms include addiction to substances or self-destructive behaviours. The thesis also aims for the clarification of what actually is the purpose of trauma in these two novels.