Trauma and Literature: Derrida, 9/11 and Hart’s The Reconstructionist

Abstract

Is “trauma” a viable category in literary theory? That is, could “trauma” be articulated in such a way that, in addition to its acknowledged diagnostic and therapeutic function in psychology and psychoanalysis, it may be shown to have a distinct hermeneutic function where literary fiction is concerned – regarding the generation of the narrative thread, for example? This article investigates these questions in the light of the meaning of “trauma”, largely in relation to the event of September 11, as formulated by Jacques Derrida. The affinity of Derrida’s conceptualisation with that of Lacanian psychoanalysis is noted, and with that in mind, the narrative complications of Josephine Hart’s The Reconstructionist (2002) are examined with a view to demonstrating the theoretical, heuristic and hermeneutic value of “trauma” at an intratextual level.

Opsomming

Is “trauma” ’n lewensvatbare kategorie vir literêre teorie? Met ander woorde, kan aangetoon word dat “trauma” ’n duidelike hermeneutiese funksie het met betrekking tot literêre fiksie – byvoorbeeld sover dit narratiewe ontwikkeling aangaan – bo en behalwe die erkende diagnostiese en terapeutiese funksie wat dit in psigologie en psigoanalise het? Hierdie artikel ondersoek genoemde vrae in die lig van die betekenis van “trauma”, grootliks met betrekking tot die gebeurtenis van 11 September, soos deur Jacques Derrida geformuleer. Die ooreenkoms tussen Derrida se konseptualisering en die van Lacaniaanse psigoanalise word aangetoon, en die narratiewe komplikasies van Josephine Hart se The Reconstructionist (2002) word ondersoek ten einde die teoretiese, heuristiese en hermeneutiese waarde van “trauma” op ’n intratekstuele vlak te demonstreer.