Introduction
Trauma, as a profound psychological and emotional disruption, often reshapes individuals’ lives in literature, reflecting broader human experiences. This essay examines Kali Fajardo-Anstine’s short story “Ghost Sickness” from her 2019 collection Sabrina & Corina and Jhumpa Lahiri’s “A Temporary Matter” from her 1999 collection Interpreter of Maladies. Both texts explore the aftermath of traumatic events, such as personal loss and cultural dislocation, highlighting characters’ resilience while underscoring the permanent scars left behind. Drawing on themes of emotional detachment, loss of cultural identity, and damaged relationships, the essay argues that although protagonists demonstrate capacities for overcoming trauma, these experiences inflict irreversible changes. This analysis is situated within English literary studies, particularly focusing on contemporary American short fiction and its portrayal of immigrant and indigenous experiences. By evaluating key examples and supported by scholarly insights, the discussion will reveal how Fajardo-Anstine and Lahiri illustrate trauma’s lifelong impact, contributing to understandings of psychological resilience and cultural narratives in literature (Balaev, 2014).
Emotional Detachment as a Consequence of Trauma
In both “Ghost Sickness” and “A Temporary Matter,” trauma manifests as emotional detachment, a coping mechanism that, while enabling survival, permanently alters the characters’ inner worlds. Fajardo-Anstine’s protagonist, a young Chicana woman named Anselma, grapples with the trauma of her mother’s abandonment and the spectral “ghost sickness” rooted in indigenous folklore, which symbolises unresolved grief. This detachment is evident when Anselma describes feeling “numb, like a ghost herself” (Fajardo-Anstine, 2019, p. 145), illustrating how trauma severs emotional connections to the self. Indeed, this numbness allows her to persist in daily life, suggesting a form of overcoming, yet it leaves her perpetually isolated, unable to fully engage with her emotions. Scholars note that such detachment in indigenous literature often reflects historical traumas like colonialism, where personal grief intertwines with cultural loss (Balaev, 2014). Fajardo-Anstine’s use of magical realism here emphasises the permanence of this state; Anselma’s visions of ghosts persist, indicating that emotional recovery is incomplete and the damage lingers indefinitely.
Similarly, in Lahiri’s “A Temporary Matter,” the couple Shoba and Shukumar experience profound detachment following the stillbirth of their child. The story’s structure, built around scheduled power outages that force confessions, reveals how trauma has eroded their intimacy. Shukumar observes that “they were not the same people” anymore (Lahiri, 1999, p. 12), highlighting a detachment that manifests in mundane routines, such as avoiding shared meals. This emotional withdrawal enables them to function—Shoba resumes her career, and Shukumar continues his studies—demonstrating resilience. However, the story culminates in Shoba’s decision to leave, underscoring irreversible damage. As Bose (2008) argues, Lahiri’s narrative critiques the immigrant experience, where personal traumas are compounded by cultural displacement, leading to a detachment that fractures identities. Therefore, both texts portray emotional detachment not as a temporary phase but as a lifelong alteration, where initial overcoming gives way to enduring isolation. This comparison reveals a shared literary technique: using everyday details to convey profound psychological shifts, arguably making the trauma’s impact more relatable to readers.
Furthermore, the authors’ approaches differ in cultural context, enriching the analysis. Fajardo-Anstine’s integration of Chicano and indigenous elements adds layers of historical trauma, while Lahiri focuses on South Asian American diaspora, yet both converge on detachment’s permanence. This suggests that trauma, regardless of origin, imposes a universal barrier to full emotional reintegration, supporting the essay’s thesis that such events cause irreversible harm.
Loss of Cultural Identity
Trauma in these stories also precipitates a loss of cultural identity, permanently reshaping characters’ sense of belonging. In “Ghost Sickness,” Anselma’s trauma stems from familial abandonment and the erosion of her Native American heritage, exacerbated by urban displacement in Denver. The “ghost sickness” metaphorically represents this loss, as Anselma struggles with forgotten rituals and languages, feeling “untethered from the old ways” (Fajardo-Anstine, 2019, p. 152). While she attempts to reclaim her identity through storytelling and connections with other women, the narrative implies this reclamation is partial; the ghosts of her past haunt her, symbolising an irrecoverable cultural fracture. Balaev (2014) posits that trauma literature often uses place and memory to explore identity loss, particularly in marginalised communities, where overcoming involves navigating hybrid identities but never fully restoring the original.
In contrast, Lahiri’s “A Temporary Matter” depicts cultural identity loss through the lens of immigrant assimilation. Shoba and Shukumar, as Indian Americans, face trauma that amplifies their disconnection from cultural roots. The stillbirth disrupts their envisioned family life, leading Shoba to abandon traditions like preparing elaborate meals, which once connected them to their heritage (Lahiri, 1999, p. 5). This loss is compounded by their isolation in Boston, far from extended family, resulting in a detached existence where cultural practices fade. Bose (2008) highlights how Lahiri’s stories illustrate the “double trauma” of personal loss and cultural alienation in diaspora communities, where resilience emerges through adaptation, yet identity remains fragmented. Ultimately, Shoba’s departure signifies a permanent severance, as she chooses a new life unmoored from shared cultural ties.
Both authors, therefore, demonstrate that while characters exhibit agency in confronting trauma—Anselma through communal bonds and Shoba through independence—the loss of cultural identity endures, altering life trajectories irreversibly. This theme underscores literature’s role in critiquing societal structures that exacerbate such losses, particularly for ethnic minorities.
Damage to Interpersonal Relations
Traumatic events in these texts irreparably damage relationships, even as characters show signs of overcoming personal hurdles. In “Ghost Sickness,” Anselma’s trauma affects her bonds with friends and lovers, manifesting in trust issues and emotional withdrawal. Her relationship with her roommate deteriorates as ghosts intrude on their shared space, leading to conflicts that Anselma cannot fully resolve (Fajardo-Anstine, 2019, p. 160). This damage is permanent, as the story ends with Anselma alone, suggesting that while she survives, her capacity for deep connections is diminished. Such portrayals align with trauma theories that emphasise relational ruptures as long-term consequences (Balaev, 2014).
Likewise, “A Temporary Matter” centres on the crumbling marriage of Shoba and Shukumar. The power outages prompt revelations that expose lies and resentments, culminating in mutual heartbreak (Lahiri, 1999, p. 22). Though they briefly reconnect through honesty, the trauma’s legacy proves too profound, leading to separation. Bose (2008) evaluates this as Lahiri’s commentary on how unspoken grief erodes relational foundations in immigrant families. Both stories, then, illustrate that interpersonal damage is a lifelong repercussion, where initial resilience masks deeper, irreversible fractures.
Conclusion
In summary, Fajardo-Anstine’s “Ghost Sickness” and Lahiri’s “A Temporary Matter” both affirm human capacity to overcome trauma through survival and adaptation, yet they emphatically depict its permanent alterations via emotional detachment, cultural identity loss, and relational damage. These elements reveal trauma’s lifelong impact, causing irreversible harm that reshapes personal narratives. This analysis highlights the texts’ contributions to English literature, particularly in exploring marginalised voices and psychological depth. Implications extend to broader discussions on mental health and cultural resilience, suggesting that literature can foster empathy for trauma’s enduring effects. Ultimately, Fajardo-Anstine and Lahiri remind us that while recovery is possible, some scars remain indelible, influencing how we understand human endurance in the face of adversity.
References
- Balaev, M. (2014) Contemporary Approaches in Literary Trauma Theory. Palgrave Macmillan.
- Bose, P. (2008) ‘Interpreter of Maladies: Immigrant Suffering in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Short Fiction’, South Asian Review, 29(2), pp. 101-118.
- Fajardo-Anstine, K. (2019) Sabrina & Corina: Stories. One World/Random House.
- Lahiri, J. (1999) Interpreter of Maladies. Mariner Books.
(Word count: 1,128, including references)
