TRAUMATIC PATRIARCHY AND CHILD ABUSE IN ALICE WALKER’S BY THE LIGHT OF MY FATHER’S SMILE

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to read, examine, and survey Alice Walker’s By the Light of My Father’s Smile in the light of the theory of trauma studies by focusing on trauma theory in terms of traumatic patriarchy and traumatic child abuse. To that end, the researcher delves into the turbulent relationship between Robinson and his daughters, showing how child abuse even in the form of child beating can completely destroy the life of his eldest daughter, Magdalena., from the inside out. However, another purpose of this paper is to initiate a textual analysis, so as to record what happens to characters after their experience traumatic events in their lives; Next, seeking to show how such experiences can shape the identity, subjectivity, memory, and their sense of belonging to the wider community. Consequently, the paper address a couple of questions such, what role does trauma play in Walker’s novel?, How significant is trauma as a motif in Walker’s novel? And How traumatic affects influence the characters in Walker’s novel?