SITUATING SPACE AND VOICING PAIN: PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC NOTES IN TONI MORRISON’S PARADISE

Abstract

Melancholy and listlessness are common among women who are victims of psychosocial trauma which may lead to substantial clinical consequences. Victims should be provided with appropriate care either by their close relations or at specialized care centers. This work examines what happens when the care is denied at the time of offense, and how the process of escape and taking refuge at a place away from home helps in soothing pain. The complexity of needs of victims and the role played by women-community in healing the invisible wounds of trauma caused by interpersonal violence are studied in detail. I use qualitative method to assess varied methods adopted by nonprofessional women to de-escalate stress and prolonged anger within victimized individuals. The study has shown that psychotherapy is more an ethical endeavor which is grounded in compassion and less a clinical practice which can be practiced by family members and friends, besides experts.