Collective Woundedness: Exploring intergenerational trauma and healing in Barbara Boswell’s Grace, Mohale Mashigo’s The Yearning and Kopano Matlwa’s Period Pain

When apartheid concluded, South Africa demonstrated foresight in recognising the importance of healing and coming to terms with the country’s violent past. This was done through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and entailed victims detailing their traumatic experiences. It was an opportunity for the country and indeed the world, to bear witness to the victims’ trauma inflicted by the oppressive system of apartheid. However not all stories were heard at the TRC. In this study, I explore intergenerational trauma and reflections on healing in three contemporary novels, namely Grace (2019) by Barbara Boswell, The Yearning (2017) by Mohale Mashigo, and Period Pain (2016) by Kopano Matlwa. These texts all reckon with the wounds of the past, and the different ways in which one can arrive at a form of healing. In Grace, the protagonist reconciles with her traumatic past, after realising that she had begun repeating her parents’ mistakes. In The Yearning, the protagonist answers the Calling to become a traditional healer. African spirituality is offered as a way in which one can arrive at a form of healing. In Period Pain, the very act of writing becomes a healing pathway. The novel is presented as undated diary entries, and the protagonist wrestles with the Christian God to find life’s meaning within an unhealed post democratic South Africa. These fictional texts are examined within a theoretical framework that draws on trauma theory, narrative theory and literary criticism. I consider the traditional trauma model from theorists Cathy Caruth and Judith Herman but extend it by providing a historical context for each primary text and where it is situated. In my examination of the three fictional texts, I consider the limitations levelled against the traditional trauma model, that it does cater to the experiences of those who have experienced and still experience insidious trauma. Therefore, the traditional trauma model is extended by providing historical context for each text. I consider historical trauma and individual trauma, and the ways in which these traumatic experiences are transferred to future generations.

Grantor dc:publisher

Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Cele, Andile Judith

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Steiner, Tina

Language dc:language.iso

en

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135673

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135673