Conceptualizing Trauma in Don DeLillo’s Falling Man

Abstract

<jats:p>This paper explores the mapping process which is used to conceptualize trauma in one of the post-9/11 novels, namely DeLillo’s Falling Man. The paper focuses on how the traumatic experiences are represented through metaphors. Although many previous studies have attempted stylistic investigations to DeLillo’s novel, very little research approached its metaphorical language. As far as trauma experience is concerned, most of the previous studies discussed these experiences thematically (Kensiton and Quinn, 2008; Gray, 2012; Pozorski, 2014; Keeble, 2014). This study, therefore, offers a stylistic examination of the metaphors of trauma which are used to communicate the negative mental experiences in this novel. It examines the conceptualization of traumatic experiences encountered by the main characters as they are exposed to disturbing events. The study applies insights from Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson (1980; 2003) to selected metaphors from the novel. The application of conceptual metaphor theory allows better understanding of how the abstract state of trauma is conceptualized and communicated through the course of the novel. The experience of trauma is represented variously in this novel, sometimes it is communicated through idiosyncratic metaphors (Moncef, 2016) and sometimes it is represented through using conventional metaphors. The study also examines the mapping process to see how conceptual structures are selected from different source domains and mapped onto the domain of the abstract state of trauma to convey the effects of these distressing experiences.</jats:p>

Metaphors and the Politics of Nationhood in Bhutto’s If I Am Assassinated

“…According to Lakoff and Johnsen's (2003) categorization of metaphors, ontological metaphors project physical entities from source to target domains. In this case, in combatting poverty, 'poverty' is objectified as an enemy (Qasim & Yasir, 2020) using the cognitive quality of poverty in terms of a corporeal adversary.…”

“…In the case of structural metaphor, the source domain (tissues of lies) provides rich knowledge for the target domain (White Papers). The target domain is comprehended by the structures that are transferred from the source domain (Qasim & Yasir, 2020). Bhutto uses such a metaphor to show the dishonesty of the military regime.…”

Alicia Berenson’s Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Alex Michaelides’ The Silent Patient

“…From the four meanings above psychology of literature, the researchers focus on studying the type and psychological laws applied in literary works. According to Carlson and Ruzek (2013), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a specific mental disorder that arises due to a traumatic event that someone often experiences (see also Daly & Chovaz, 2020;Dinnes et al, 2018;Kaplan et al, 2015;Levi, 2017;Miller et al, 2021;Qasim & Yasir, 2020;Qiu et al, 2022;Swan et al, 2017). In addition, someone who often experiences traumatic events will show several symptoms.…”

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