Intergenerational Trauma In The Break By Katherena Vermette
Ms. Kralj ENG3UI-03 30 January 2023 Final Summative Essay As the sun sets on the streets of North End, Winnipeg, a community is left to grapple with the aftermath of a devastating event that shatters the lives of those involved. In “The Break,” author Katherena Vermette masterfully explores the impact of intergenerational trauma on a family and community by looking at those directly affected. After Emily, one of the younger members of the family gets brutally assaulted, the family comes together and confronts their shared pain. Through the novel’s intricate web of characters and their interconnected stories, Vermette paints a poignant and powerful picture of the resilience and strength of those who have been broken but refuse to be broken further. …show more content…
This is demonstrated through the characters who struggle with unresolved trauma, precisely because they lack the support and emotional connection provided by familial relationships. These characters serve as a contrast to those who are able to overcome their trauma through the support of family members, further emphasizing the importance of familial connections in the healing process. Stella, the first character introduced in the story, struggles with trauma following the death of her mother. Quotes from the text reveal that she appears "pretty rough, like depressed, or postpartum" (Vermette 246), indicating that her mother's death is still fresh and causing her pain. This is attributed to her lack of connection with her family members, as she admits that “It has been months since she's seen her family” (Vermette 87). This serves as an example of how a lack of familial ties can prevent an individual from overcoming intergenerational trauma. The relationship between Phoenix and her mother Elsie is portrayed as distant and estranged. This is exemplified in a scene where Phoenix is going to prison and Elsie attempts to reach out to her, but she rejects the gesture by moving away and refusing to touch her mother. Phoenix also expressed disdain for her mother's weakness, “she does not want to look at her, does not want to see Elsie groveling in her Elsie way, being weak. She does not want to feel sorry for her, or feel anything for her” (Vermette 323). Finally, Phoenix has trouble recalling the last time she met her mother “Phoenix tries to remember the last time she saw her mother. A year, no, fourteen months ago” (Vermette 314). These examples demonstrate the lack of a strong familial bond between Phoenix and Elsie, highlighting the impact of intergenerational trauma on the characters' relationships. It also becomes
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562 Words | 3 PagesA person experiences trauma when they are faced with an event or incident that is traumatic or dangerous and results in long-term negative effects. In the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda, a victim of sexual assault, attempts to overcome the trauma she has experienced. Melinda has adapted both positive and negative coping mechanisms to cope with the hardships she has experienced. Melinda uses healthy and unhealthy coping strategies to help heal the trauma she faced. Firstly, one of Melinda's negative coping mechanisms is cutting her wrist.
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Sexual Assault In 'The Break And Where The Blood Mixes'
1123 Words | 5 PagesIn The Break, Elsie’s daughter, Phoenix looked at her mom who had come to visit her in prison, “... and now she’s thinking about a hit. Elsie’s always been like this. Even when Elsie’s clean, she’s still so sad. When Phoenix was really young, Elsie got clean for a long while but still just cried all the time.” (Vermette 321)
Examples Of Resilience In The Break
1162 Words | 5 PagesStella had not visited her family since she and her husband moved houses across town because her husband was not comfortable with Stella going to what he considered a sketchier part of town. Stella recognizes that she can make her own decisions though, and that family is a huge part of her life she had been missing so despite what her husband says, she goes to visit her family. Once she arrives she calls her husband and tells him, “Jeff, I’m at Kookoo’s and we’re going to stay here” (Vermette 207). Stella finally recognizes and allows herself to do what is best for her, being with and taking care of her family, and she finally regains her self-worth.
The Break By Katherena Vermette: Portrayal Of Trauma
1329 Words | 6 Pages(Vermette 267). Stella’s anxious thoughts arise as she wrestles with a sense of personal responsibility for the situation as feels she could have intervened and prevented the situation further than with the police alone. Stella's increased worry pervades her being, as the realization that she made the wrong decision, despite it being the best option at the time for her own protection, heightens her guilt. As a result, Emily's trauma has a far-reaching impact on others, demonstrating its domineering implications. In conclusion, although the family was distant during the physical events of the situation they still took on
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584 Words | 3 PagesShe is an elderly, poor, and physically limited woman who lives in a rural area. Despite her age and physical limitations, she is a determined and independent woman who is deeply devoted to her grandson. Throughout the story, Phoenix’s character is revealed through her thoughts and actions, as she makes her way along the path to the city. One of the most notable aspects of Phoenix’s character is her love for her grandson.
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1180 Words | 5 PagesStella is resentful and angry. She does not try to escape the reality she is faced with but allows it to negatively affect her attitude towards her sister and her mother. For example Ozick explains “Then Stella took the shawl away and made Magda die. Afterward Stella said: ”I was cold.” And Afterward she was always cold, always.
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