"Narrating the Unnarratable": The Portrayal of Trauma and its Effects in Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life

Abstract

Centered around a group of New York-based friends, Hanya Yanagihara’s 2015 novel A Little Life is a complex tale of intimacy, abuse and the persistence of trauma. As the novel focuses in on its eventual protagonist, Jude St. Francis, it begins to glide between descriptions of Jude’s life in the present and meticulous recounts of the horrific abuse he endured as a child. Yanagihara’s depiction of trauma and pain is intricate and extensive in detail, and the unrelenting nature of her work has afforded the novel a controversial reputation among critics. Given Yanagihara’s goal of demonstrating the pervasiveness and irreparability of trauma on its victims, a study of the novel’s features which considers these intentions can aid in a better understanding and determination of A Little Life’s merit. Analysis reveals how attributes like the novel’s narrative structure, match to trauma theory and profoundly formidable characterization contribute to extensive praise for Yanagihara’s work. Each of these features advance her message regarding trauma’s invasive nature and are heavily cited by fans and critics alike to showcase her literary genius. However, a deeper examination displays how Yanagihara’s unfounded critique of talk therapy, sensationalist tendencies and highly graphic descriptions ultimately harm the novel. These features make up the bulk of criticism of A Little Life and account for its controversial reception despite its positive qualities. While I argue the novel may still be worth reading to select audiences which are able to handle its extremism, it’s evident that the beauty and tenderness in A Little Life are ultimately overshadowed both by its commentary on psychology and graphic sensationalism.No embargoAcademic Major: EnglishAcademic Major: Psycholog