Unveiling The Echoes: The Lingering Impact Of Childhood T

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Angelina Violi Bucci English 102 12 May 2024 Unveiling the Echoes: The Lingering Impact of Childhood Trauma in The Silent Patient The Silent Patient, a psychological thriller by Alex Michaelides, explores the enduring effects of childhood trauma. Throughout the novel, Michaelides analyzes the devastating outcomes that early traumatic experiences can have on an individual’s mental health and relationships. With the help of his characters, specifically Alicia Berenson and Theo Faber, the author incorporates a story of obsessive love, violence, and mental health struggles all stemming from their past experiences. The characters in the book are presented through an in-depth journey, revealing how the past can shape the present and affect the readers’ …show more content…

Theo and Alicia’s past emotional trauma leads to mental health issues, isolating them further and continuing their pain. In The Silent Patient, violence is a continuous topic throughout the story, reminding the reader of the literal, deadly power of unresolved trauma. Alicia’s murder of her husband, Gabriel, is one of the devastating consequences Alicia endures due to her inability to process the emotional neglect and abuse she experienced in her childhood. With Gabriel, Alicia is unable to express any of her true thoughts, practically suffocating herself, which leads to her lashing out in a moment where she is overwhelmed and unable to control her emotions. Theo is also vulnerable in the same way as Alicia, as his obsession with her case leads to him acting recklessly. His relentless pursuit of the truth, in not only Alicia’s case but in figuring out how Kathy betrayed him, puts him in a bad position as he uncovers the truth of human nature. While blinded by his fixation on “helping” Alicia, he commits many crimes and violates the ethical policies of being a therapist in the psychiatric

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