Volume IV Special Issue I January 2024

Name of Author : Leona Merlin Antony

Title of the paper : Exploring Childhood Vulnerability: A Psychoanalytic Critique of Ice Candy Man to Unveil the Impact of Trauma on Children Compared to Adults

Abstract: There were evidently diverse perspectives on the envisioned post-Independence India, leading to the Partition of India and Pakistan—an epiphenomenal event of Independence, marked by the tragic loss of millions of lives. Unfortunately, the homogenized historical narrative of partition has overlooked the stories of the truly oppressed, particularly the profound trauma endured by women and children. The intricacies of this trauma resist homogenization, demanding a nuanced exploration. Children, in particular, bear a unique burden of trauma during such upheavals, distinct from the experiences of adults. Medical research underscores that children exposed to Potentially Traumatic Events PTEs are more susceptible to developing PTSD and depression compared to their adult counterparts facing similar events. The disparity arises from children‘s limited ability to coherently process and respond to traumatic experiences. This paper aims to delve into the profound impact of trauma on children within partition narratives, comparing it to the experiences of adults. The primary text under analysis is Bapsi Sidhwas 1988 novel, Ice Candy Man, set in pre-partition India. The protagonist, 4 year old Lenny Sethi, belongs to the Parsi community. The analysis will focus on pivotal events constituting PTEs and explore the differential impact on Lenny compared to the adults in her vicinity.

Keywords : Partition, trauma, PTE, PTSD, narrative

DOI :

Page Number : 85-88