TRACES OF TRAUMA: MEMORY, VIOLENCE, AND HAUNTING IN A CURSE ON DOSTOEVSKY

Atiq Rahimi’s A Curse on Dostoevsky (2011) critically interweaves themes of trauma, violence and memory within the socio-political background of war-torn Afghanistan. The book is about Rassoul, a guy who is extremely affected by Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment as he fights with the psychological properties of violence and the moral heaviness of his deeds. Through Rassoul’s journey, Rahimi learns about reminiscence and how previous trauma can have a robust effect on people. This study analyses the formation of trauma in the novel, manipulating the protagonist’s mind and shifting his vision of reality. This study exploits Cathy Caruth’s trauma theory and Judith Herman’s understandings on post-traumatic stress to analyse how narrative fragmentation, silence, and repetition contributes to the symbol of trauma. The novel’s twisty narrative and Rassoul’s internal fights illustrate the lasting consequences of violence and moral uncertainty.