Going to the Bittersweet Roots vs. New World Blues in Gurnah’s Gravel Heart- A Psychological Analysis

Abstract

This descriptive qualitative paper aims at presenting a close reading of the protagonist Salim’s reminiscences in Abdulrazak Gurnah’s Gravel Heart in terms of an eclectic approach toward representation of trauma. Psychological trauma refers to the unbearable, untreatable, and unspeakable psychological wounds remaining on the subject’s unconsciousness. The most widely used method for studying trauma is based on Freud's, (1995) psychoanalytic study. Alongside with Freud’s theory, Kristal- Andersson’s(2000) and Felititi & etal.,’s (1998) studies are also used to draw the descriptions and explanations of trauma in Sali, the protagonist of Gravel Heart. Also, this study is a clarion call to the authorities at the top to provide a realistic technique and manner of working with immigrants in counseling and provide able and humanitarian assistance- services as the study also found out like many other real heroes, Salim a victim of bitter childhood and as an immigrant.Abdul Razak Gurnah,who was honoured with the Nobel Prize for Literature (2021) for his true and passionate retelling of the woes, longings of immigrants in general, and specifically Africans. in Gravel Heart, one among his evocative oeuvre retells the ties that bind’ as well as ‘the ties that fray.’ (Telegraph) Hence this study would pave way to the emergence of likewise multidisciplinary studies to blend psychological frameworks to investigate the causes of real as well as fictional character’s trauma.