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341841

Trauma and the Palestinian Experience in Betty Shamieh’s The Black Eyed (2005)

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Last updated: 25 Dec 2024

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Abstract

           In recent times, there has been a significant surge of interest in the subject of  ‘trauma', which has emerged as a central theme connecting various academic disciplines. Consequently, the psychoanalytic concept of trauma intersects with literature, literary theory, historiography and contemporary culture. The objective of this paper is to apply trauma theory to several historical female figures in Palestine who have endured different traumatic experiences resulting from violence, terrorism, political manipulation, and cultural myths, with a particular focus on Betty Shamieh's play The Black Eyed (2005). This study adopts an interdisciplinary approach that advocates for a more comprehensive conceptualization of trauma theory to better address feminist postcolonial perspectives on history, memory, and culture. In addition, it examines why trauma necessitates testimony and why testimony is one of the viable and vital responses to trauma. The Black Eyed sheds light on the oppression inflicted upon the Palestinian people throughout history, while also challenging prevalent cultural myths surrounding Arab-American women living in the United States, particularly in the aftermath of 9/11. Through the portrayal of complex female characters, Shamieh asserts their individual identities through their traumatic experiences.

DOI

10.21608/ijcws.2023.341841

Keywords

Betty Shamieh, cultural myths, History, Palestinian plight, postcolonial feminism, Trauma

Volume

3

Article Issue

2

Related Issue

41082

Issue Date

2023-12-01

Receive Date

2024-02-17

Publish Date

2023-12-01

Page Start

380

Page End

402

Print ISSN

2682-4361

Online ISSN

2682-437X

Link

https://ijcws.journals.ekb.eg/article_341841.html

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https://ijcws.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=341841

Order

14

Type

Original Article

Type Code

1,246

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

International Journal of Childhood and Women’s Studies

Publication Link

https://ijcws.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Trauma and the Palestinian Experience in Betty Shamieh’s The Black Eyed (2005)

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Type

Article

Created At

25 Dec 2024