Double Trauma, Double Infliction: Caruth's Theory and the Paradoxical Entanglement of Pain and Survival in Curfewed Night

Abstract

This qualitative case study examines Peer’s Curfewed Night (2008) through the lens of Caruth’s (1996) theory of double trauma, bringing the Kashmir conflict’s devastating effects on the physical and psychological well-being of the individuals and communities to limelight. The study divulges the two-fold character of trauma maintaining that the moment of catastrophic suffering as well as the process of survival, are equally tragic, provided that the traumatic event corresponds with the healing process and lurks within as the survivor grapples with the repercussions of violence, making the revival fraught with guilt, pain, shame and struggle. Through a close reading of the text this research aims at the nuances of complex and compound trauma, furthering a deeper comprehension of the long-term and detrimental effects of sectarian violence and insurgency on non-combatant victims of war. The investigation yields an understanding of transformative potential of trauma: reshaping the healing trajectory of survivors; and, expanding this literary paradigm (double trauma) in scholarly circles. The study also serves as an implicit warning against wars and insurgent campaigns, showcasing the deep-seated and far-reaching consequences of such operations.