Traumatic Experiencesin Joyce Carol Oates'Rape: A Love Story

Abstract

Present research work explores the tormented state of the characters Bethie and Teena Maguire in the novel Joyce Carol Oates'Rape: A Love Story. Bethie undergoes series ofphysical, mental and emotional torture fromthebeginning to the end of the novel. Similarly, Teena also falls in vicious circle of trauma after she is gang-raped by a group of drunkard men. Almost all the characters of the novel are haunted by the traumatic ghost throughout their livesbecause of their direct personal experience of the corrupting influence of attorney and notorious impact of rape. Though they want to forget their bitter and shady past,their physical and psychologicalwound compelsthem tocope with past which make them traumatic.