trauma/violence Flashcards
3 arguments topic sentence
BP1 –> The Longest Memory and The 7 stages of grieving relay the experiences of innocent victims of violence who appear to be powerless against the overwhelming forces of racist oppression .
BP2–>Further, the play and the novel also depict powerful societies that are completely submersed in inequality and facilitate violence ,with not all their characters able to sympathise with the innocent lives that are lost .
BP3 –> Although both writers grieve for the institutional racism and violence suffered by minorities throughout history , they also applaud the characters in both texts ,who are able to reject past trauma and overcome their disadvantages to alleviate pressure from oppressive figures.
BP1 LMS (1)
- “he cannot live this way”
2.“whipped to death” - “ first lash ripped a hole in [ his] head”
4.“surrender to that whip” - “glutton” that “gorges
In the novel , Chapel feels that “he cannot live this way” and yearns to live with Lydia as equals. However , his innocence and dreams are tragically doomed as he is “whipped to death” in a ruthless abuse of power by enslavers who wish to turn him into “an example “.
Whitechapel describes the impact of violence on his crumbleson son claiming that his “ first lash ripped a hole in [ his] head” leading Chapel “surrender to that whip”.
D’Aguiar personifies the whip representing it as “glutton” that “gorges “ on the flesh, to depict the acute pain experienced by African slaves in contemporary America.
The morbid nature of imagery establishes the brutal exercise of power by the dominant group and enables the novelist to reveal the injustice suffered by people of color .
BP1: linking sentence
Similarly to this deliberate display of abuse of power on the powerless, The 7 stages of grieving illustrate the immediate impact of violence on an innocent within the community.
BP1 7SG (2)
- “limp body “ “not breathing … and without any pulse”
- “Boonie”
In a scene depicting the death of Daniel Vock , the Woman uses a real-life story of racial profiling and police brutality to illustrate the racism, prejudice, and structural inequality that vulnerable people in her community face on a daily basis.
She describes his “limp body “ taken to the watch-house “not breathing … and without any pulse” on arrival in the same dispassionate tone of the court report .
The Woman finally breaks down, crying out that Yocke was called “Boonie,” a racial slur used against Aboriginal Australians and Pacific Islanders.
Like the oppressors on Southern Plantation , modern day policemen too exercise a disproportionate yet legally legitimate amount of power.
Thus D’Aguiar , Enoch and Maliman illustrate how an abuse of power can easily destroy innocent lives by perpetuating violence .
BP2 TLM (1)
- “ his punishment was just”.
- “gentlemen’s club”……. “ long overdue ‘“…… ‘“feel alive”.
3.“ slavery is a business “
4.“ as a living reminder of that failure [to free himself ]’’ .
Chapels death as a result of Sander’s Junior brutal 200 lash whipping is supported by Mr Whitechapel by his apathetic comment, “ his punishment was just”.
Furthermore , during the conversation between Mr Whitechapel and his peers in the “gentlemen’s club” ,which was built by their fathers and symbolises their institutional and generational wealth , he is applauded for his actions which they see as a “ long overdue ‘“ lesson and believed his instigated brutality would have made him ‘“feel alive”.
The supporting views on institutional racism and violence on the oppressed is further exhibited by a local newspaper editorial column clearly stating that slaves should not be attributed the qualities of humans and that “ slavery is a business “ .
It supported the enslaved Chapel’s physical assault “ as a living reminder of that failure [to free himself ] .
Thus throughout the novel, D’Aguiar incorporates a polyphony of white perspective which seek to justify the institution of buying, selling, and physically abusing other human beings.
BP2 7SG (2)
1. “defiant”’….. “traffic stopper “…….“ get our story told”
In particular, media coverage of Vocke’s march depict it as “defiant”’ and himself as a “traffic stopper “, while the Aboriginal people there feel unable to “ get our story told” .
In this sense the media too abuse their institutional power - failing to sympathise with the First Nations community and perpetuating their discrimination through their narrative of criminality and deviance .
Thus in both texts the institutional status appears unaffected , having gained power and wealth over years by suppressing the vulnerable communities generations after generations .
BP2: Linking sentence
Similarly , in 7 stages of grieving we see a failure to sympathise with communities affected by abuse of power .
BP3 7SG (1)
- ‘Aunty Grace ‘ ….‘Englishman’ …..‘London’…….. ‘peaceful, silent protest march‘
In ‘Aunty Grace ‘ , the Aunty is seen marrying an ‘Englishman’ and moving to ‘London’ , whilst the Woman and the rest of her family participate in a ‘peaceful, silent protest march‘ in the aftermath of the brutal killing of Daniel Vocke in custody.
While Aunty Grace serves as a manifestation of those who burry their trauma by adopting the views of the dominant groups to mask their sufferings , the Woman and her family represents progressive individuals refusing subjugation and insists on telling their stories , symbolising an enduring voice against marginalisation and violence .
BP3 TLM (2)
1.‘300 years of history’ …….‘ a man born and owned by another man , like his father before him’, ……. ‘paradise’…… ‘children will be free’.
Similarly , in The Longest Memory, Whitechapel backed up with ‘300 years of history’ unwaveringly announces that he is ‘ a man born and owned by another man , like his father before him’, whilst his son Chapel quest for ‘paradise’ and dreams that his ‘children will be free’ .
Whitechapel demonstrates survival by quiet acceptance of the traditions of powerful masters to avoid violence and trauma ,whilst his literate son Chapel, empowered by Lydia , is a manifestation of a young individual who is willing to fight and question the very principles of slavery .
Both , the 7 stages of grieving and The Longest Memory juxtapose two varied human responses to the forces of trauma/ violence. Some characters will choose to be silent by accepting the identity of the powerful whereas some will have the courage to rebel against injustice .
CONCLUSION
Ultimately, while the losses of innocent lives are incredibly mournful experiences particularly when resulting from abuse of power , D’Aguiar , Mailman and Enoch challenge us to reevaluate the human cost of submission and the courage required for rebellion.
