In The Midst Of Winter By Isabel Allende-Reflection Of Power And Violence And Traumatic Experiences Faced By The Characters
Introduction
In Isabell Allende’s novel, a car accident and a snowstorm bring three people together on an unexpected journey, which transforms their lives. She was able to reflect on power and violence by taking us from Brooklyn to Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Guatemala while bringing the unique histories of the three characters to light. The characters Lucia Maraz, Richard Bowmaster, and Evelyn Ortega are linked in many ways, including the struggles and trauma that they go through. The three characters have been changed and shaped by witnessing various tragedies in the United States and their countries. Their lives are intertwined throughout the story. Following the development of the characters throughout the novel, their experiences are the key factor in highlighting the violence and power through the lens of trauma, which haunts them all through.
Reflection of trauma and traumatic experiences
The
American psychiatric association defines the term “Psychological trauma” as the damage caused by a horrific event that affects the ability of a person to cope with stressors. These horrific events usually referred to as traumatic experiences. “Trauma” usually occurs as one is exposed to situations in which the person witnesses or experiences events that may involve serious injury or threatened death, a threat to other’s physical well-being, or a threat to self. (American Psychiatric Association, 2000).
From the beginning of the story, Evelyn seems to be haunted by her past as she turns up at Richard’s apartment after the crash later that night, unintelligible, distraught, and can’t speak proper Spanglish. Can it be that her Spanglish was broken due to trauma? By the novel, Evelyn developed the stammer after suffering a brutal assault by gangway before she came to the U.S. from her native home in Guatemala. The theme of violence can clearly be seen as violence must have been rampant back in Guatemala, making Evelyn a victim. Such an experience that she went through must be haunting her even when she was in the U.S. Then, Richard calls Lucia, saying, “A hysterical Latin American woman has invaded my house, and I don’t know what to do with her. Maybe you could help.” The burning question is, why do Richard and Lucia eventually decide to help a total stranger? Which got me thinking, can it be justified by their immigrant stories? It might be the reason.
From the novel, Allende says, “How important was it to share one’s pain and discover that others too had their fair share of it too, that lives are often alike and feelings similar.” This can be seen in the novel as the three characters come together to share their tragic stories, which have near similar traumatic experiences. The experiences include: Richard’s father escaped the Nazis, and he often hears his father’s voice in his head, reminding him to help those who are persecuted and his failed marriage back in Brazil. On the other hand, Lucia has memories of her family being fractured back in Chile, which keeps haunting her. From their stories, political injustices and violence are the sure cause of the trauma that the three are experiencing at the moment.
Richard was also disturbed by the life he used to live before in Brazil of drugs, sex, and alcohol, which in turn led to his late wife’s depression and suicide. This depicts the life of many people who are stuck to their wrongdoings of the past and live with the guilt that they have built for themselves. Political upheaval leading to trauma can be seen in Lucia’s story, who was caught in a political saga back in Chile. Lucia’s brother was labeled as a political opponent, since he was known for his “incendiary diatribes,” and suspected to be a guerrilla fighter. After being ordered to turn himself in, he was probably tortured and murdered, and Lucia had to flee since she was labeled as her brother’s sympathizer. Trauma can be seen as also her mother insinuated that she would not be able to form lasting relationships due to her absent father.
Conclusion
Allende painted a clear picture of trauma and traumatic experiences and how they affect people’s mental health and awareness. All three characters reveal the traumatizing experiences or events that left them wounded internally and have haunted them for an extended period. Just as the traumatic experiences brought these three together, the same can be seen as people in different countries are experiencing traumatic experiences due to the recent pandemic that has led to many deaths. The wide field of traumatic stress should address the pressing needs now and those that will emerge in the future due to this COVID-19 pandemic (A.D.; 2019). ). Witnessing countries helping each other to curb the virus and the stress people are going through has helped me understand Allende’s thoughts more deeply. It clearly shows why the three characters were brought together by a minor accident and how the body’s disposal was an adventure of healing to the three characters.
Allende’s
Works Cited
A.D.;, Horesh D;Brown. “Traumatic Stress in the Age of COVID-19: A Call to Close Critical Gaps and Adapt to New Realities.” Psychological Trauma : Theory, Research, Practice and Policy, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32271070/.
“American Psychiatric Association, 2000.” Bartleby, www.bartleby.com/essay/American-Psychiatric-Association-2000-FKZ8JGPFEJJP.