• Spoorthy S. Fernandes
• Dr. Kusum Thantry D Sa

This study uses trauma theories by Cathy Caruth and Shoshana Felman to analyze psychological trauma in Anita Desai's novels Cry, the Peacock (1963), Voices in the City (1965), and Clear Light of Day (1980). The study examines how Desai's characters exhibit trauma through mental breakdown, silence, and withdrawal using a qualitative methodology. According to the study, trauma in Desai's books is not caused by a single, startling incident, but rather by emotional neglect, family issues, and unpleasant memories. Maya in Cry, the Peacock displays signs of psychological breakdown and obsessive thinking, reflecting the lingering effects of unresolved trauma. Monisha uses her diary to express pain that she is unable to discuss, in Voices in the City, while her brother Nirode is unable to write because of emotional numbness. In Clear Light of Day, Bim bears the responsibility of looking after her brother with a disability, illustrating the generational transmission of trauma. Through fragmented storytelling and symbolic language, Desai's writing style mirrors the fractured mental states of her characters. The characters find it difficult to communicate their pain, which is consistent with Cathy Caruth's theory that trauma is difficult to comprehend and Shoshana Felman's belief that sharing one's story is crucial for healing. This study advances our knowledge of trauma in Indian English literature.

Psychological trauma,Anita Desai,Trauma theory,Narrative fragmentation

"Echoes of the unspoken: A Caruth-Felman analysis of trauma in Anita Desai's novels", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 6, page no.h307-h312, June-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2506741.pdf

"Echoes of the unspoken: A Caruth-Felman analysis of trauma in Anita Desai's novels", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 6, page no. pph307-h312, June-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2506741.pdf