ANALYSIS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA: MATERNAL ABUSE AND SELF-HARM IN GILLIAN FLYNN’S “SHARP OBJECTS”

Abstract

Gillian Flynn’s 2006 novel, Sharp Objects, is a psychological thriller exploring trauma, self-harm, and intergenerational abuse through Camille Preaker’s perspective. The novel reveals Camille’s struggles with self-harm, maternal abuse, and childhood trauma using flashbacks, highlighting deep emotional scars. Applying trauma theory and psychoanalytic analysis, the story critiques societal structures that enable women’s suffering and silence. The narrative employs fragmentation and complex characterizations to demonstrate the lasting effects of trauma across generations, emphasizing the need for societal awareness and intervention. The novel also examines themes of self-injury, maternal aggression, gender, mental health, and emotional abuse, shedding light on trauma’s impact and women’s rights.