Trauma, Voice and Psychological Resistance in When I Hit You

Alice Ancy F.

II M. A. English Literature, V. O. Chidambaram College, Thoothukudi, Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India. aliceancyfranklin@gmail.com

Abstract

This paper analyses trauma, voice, and psychological resistance in Meena Kandasamy’s When I Hit You:Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife. The novel depicts the psychological consequences of marital abuse on a young writer whose identity and creativity are systematically suppressed by her husband. The studyinvestigates the effects of trauma on the narrator’s psyche, resulting in fear, fragmentation, and emotional isolation. Silence is employed as a mechanism of patriarchal control, limiting her voice and Self- expression. Nevertheless, the act of narration becomes a form of resistance. Through fragmented storytelling andheightened emotional expression, the protagonist reconstructs memory and reclaims her identity. Writing serves as both a therapeutic and empowering practice, converting personal suffering into political resistance.This paper argues that the novel demonstrates how literature can serve as a medium for psychological survival and feminist assertion. By reclaiming her voice through narration, the protagonist confronts systems of controland emerges as a resilient subject. The study positions the novel within the frameworks of feminist psychology and trauma theory, emphasizing the cathartic and transformative potential of storytelling.

Keywords: Trauma, Voice, Psychological resistance, Feminist psychology, Narrative identity.