Digital Object Identifier
Art is a medium that reflects the unspeakable and unheard emotions of the people. Artists channelise their traumatic experience through their skills, be it writing, painting, or performance. The present study examines Anita Nair’s Mistress” through the lens of Trauma theory. It explores the unspeakability of suppressed emotions, which is constrained by society’s prescribed values. Methodologically, the study draws on the Caruthian concepts of ‘belatedness’ and ‘unspeakability’ and examines how they interrelate with the character’s everyday events. Neglected and silenced feelings should be confronted to maintain a stress-free, healthy life. In Art, Kathakali becomes a medium for expressing suppressed emotions. The narrative of traumatic emotion is exposed through the nine faces of the heart. Each face aligns with the character’s emotional journey towards healing. As Caruth’s delayed response to the events shows, ruptures in relationships leave a scar and haunt people now and then. The study highlights the mental Trauma of the characters and how they navigate and reconcile with themselves to cope with their life. The study concludes that people should connect with Art and engage with it, which can help them express their suppressed feelings. As failing to confront the buried feelings can lead to mental illness, the necessary steps should be taken to channelise the muted emotions.
Ms. Bavya V, Dr. R. Indumathy. “Art as a Mirror of Suppressive Emotion: A Traumatic Study of Anita Nair’s Mistress.” The Criterion: An International Journal in English, vol. 17, no. 4, August 2026, pp. 261-272. DOI, https://doi.org/10.66376/criterion.v17.n4.14.
Open Access · CC BY 4.0 · Crossref DOI ·
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