TRAUMA, MEMORY, AND RESILIENCE: A PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF LOSS AND ATTACHMENT IN OCEAN VUONG'S THE EMPEROR OF GLADNESS

Abstract

This study examines the representation of trauma, memory, and resilience in Ocean Vuong's The Emperor of Gladness (2025) from a psychological perspective, with particular attention to loss and attachment. The novel portrays the emotional struggles of individuals who experience loneliness, grief, abandonment, social marginalization, and psychological suffering, and this study traces how these struggles shape identity and emotional development across its central relationships. Drawing on Trauma Theory, Postmemory Theory, and Attachment Theory, the analysis examines the effects of loss, the significance of emotional bonds, the role of memory in preserving painful experience, and the capacity of individuals to endure hardship and adapt to difficult circumstances. Using qualitative textual analysis of selected passages, the study shows that Vuong presents trauma as an ongoing psychological condition that shapes identity, relationships, and personal growth, while resilience emerges not as the elimination of pain but through human connection, caregiving, and the ability to find meaning despite adversity. By tracing the interplay of trauma, memory, loss, and attachment, this paper argues that Vuong's novel offers a nuanced literary model of psychological survival grounded in ordinary acts of care.