TRAUMA AND DEFENSE MECHANISMS: A PSYCHODYNAMIC STUDY OF THE ISLAND OF MISSING TREES BY ALIF SHAFAK

Abstract

Every person in this world faces many uncertainties. He/she can change his/her personality and behaviour according to experience. This phenomenon is also represented in Elif Shafak’s novel titled The Island of Missing Trees. The study aims to explore the trauma and defense mechanisms of three main characters of the said novel. Through physical actions and dialogues of characters, these aspects could be seen widely. The research study opts for psychodynamic lens to analyze the text. The primary datum of this study is the novel which sheds light on the expressions and explanation related to the trauma and defense mechanism by the characters. The research study concludes that trauma and defense mechanisms are reflected in this novel in the form of denial, silence, depression, gloom, and hopelessness. The reflection of defense mechanisms can be seen in three main characters i.e., Kostas, Defne, and Ada in the form of repression, suppression, and intellectualization. Trauma and Defense mechanisms are reached at with the help of the perspective of psychodynamic theory by Freud.