MEMORY, SILENCE, AND TRAUMA: A STUDY OF INTERGENERATIONAL MEMORY IN THE ISLAND OF MISSING TREES

Abstract

This study explores the themes of memory, silence, and trauma in The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak, focusing on how historical conflict shapes intergenerational memory and identity. The novel is set against the background of the Cyprus conflict and portrays the emotional and psychological impact of war on individuals and families. It highlights how traumatic experiences are not confined to those who directly witness violence but are also transmitted to later generations through memories, silence, and cultural narratives. The study examines how the characters carry the burden of unresolved past events and how silence within families often becomes a way of coping with painful memories. However, this silence also deepens emotional distance and confusion among younger generations. Through the unique narrative voice of the fig tree, the novel symbolically presents nature as a witness to human suffering and memory. By analyzing the representation of memory and trauma in the text, this research demonstrates how Shafak portrays the lasting effects of political conflict on personal and cultural identity. The paper argues that intergenerational memory plays a significant role in shaping identity, healing, and understanding the past.