Trauma and resilience congolese women in Lynm Nottage's Ruined

Abstract

This research paper aims to explore the lasting impact of trauma in Lynn Nottage’s Ruined. This paper depicts the reality that sexual violence during the war has a severe impact on Congolese women. The women in the play who have been assaulted carry a heavy burden of emotional pain. Although the violence itself is in the past, it has a lasting impact on the survivor’s life and psyche. The trauma the female characters have experienced continues to haunt their daily lives. Yet, they have the power of resilience, which helps them to continue their lives despite all the atrocities. This research paper studies the traumatic condition of the female characters and their resilience to continue their lives. This research paper shows their affirmation of life despite being ruined mentally and physically, and they are able to bring hope amid hopelessness. They start feeling safe, aware, hopeful, and loved through female bonding and with the help of working through the process, reading novels, music, and songs.They also prove they are not merely victims but survivors who survive the atrocities of brutal war played on their bodies. This paper, in connection with gender trauma, attempts to explore the reality that sexual violence continues its assault throughout a person's life.However, this research paper focuses on the female characters in the play who are not only locked up within this gender trauma but rather try to cope with it in their own possible way and try to escape from it. They accept the fact that they are ruined, although, in the beginning, they accuse themselves of the tragic incident that happened to them. The present research paper aims to set new ground through the analysis of this drama in light of gender trauma. Key Words: Gender Trauma, Lasting Impact, Rape, Ruined, Resilience