Surviving Silence: Trauma and
Healing in Chika Unigwe’s The Middle Daughter
A. Anandhi, Dr. M. Punithapriya
ABSTRACT
The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe
(2023) is an interesting story of trauma, silence, and healing in
the environment of Nigerian patriarchy and cultural norms. This
paper examines the way in which Unigwe illustrates the psychological
and social aspect of gendered suffering through her trauma theory
and feminist ideology perspectives. It is also an exploration of
silence as a symptom of trauma and survival strategy in a
patriarchal world and the role of memory, narratives, and sisterhood
in the process of healing. Based on the works of Judith Herman,
Cathy Caruth, and Bessel van der Kolk, the analysis situates the
story of Unigwe in the context of post-traumatic literature, showing
how the novel transforms the personal trauma into the strength of
the community. Finally, The Middle Daughter makes it clear that
silence breaking is a form of empowerment and a path to healing.
Keywords: Trauma; Resilience; Healing; Silence; Patriarchy;
Recovery; Post-traumatic narrative.
