Abstract: »This paper seeks to enquire into the nature of trauma and its manifestation in the pivotal characters in Edwidge Danticat's novel 'Breath, Eyes, Memory". It seeks to delve into a deeper understanding of the physical, psychological and neurobiological effects of Rape Trauma Syndrome (RTS) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ( PTSD). It also talks about how those who have a history of rape and sexual abuse are disproportionately vulnerable to repeated suicidal behaviours. The paper also talks about the difference between narrative memory and traumatic memory and how the traumatic memory re-emerges in a fragmentary, haphazard way when one aspect of the trauma is triggered. The paper also brings to the fore the generational aspect of trauma; how it passes from one generation to the other. It also enquires into the ways in which a child born as a result of rape and sexual abuse goes through feelings of isolation, guilt and unbelongingness and how their quality of life is affected in adverse ways. The paper focuses primarily on the women of the Caco family and the violence they suffer in a politically unstable and violence-torn Haiti.« (Source: The Academic)

Contents:

	Abstract (p. )
	Introduction (p. 84)
	The violence of the act of rape (p. 85)
	Rape Trauma syndrome(RTS): definition and symptoms (p. 85)
	Physical and psychological effects of rape and resultant trauma: how it affects Sophie's mother (p. 86)
	How the trauma of her mother's rape is passed on to Sophie and the effects it has on her life (p. 89)
	Works Cited (p. 91)

Wikipedia: History of the Americas: History of Haiti | Literature: Haitian literature / Edwidge Danticat | Literature: Rape in fiction / Breath, Eyes, Memory | Psychological trauma: Post-traumatic stress disorder / Rape trauma syndrome | Sex and the law: Rape / Sexual violence in Haiti