Remnants of Pain and Threads of Resilience: Trauma and Memory in On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous

Abstract

This paper explores the profound and multifaceted representation of trauma in Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, employing trauma theory to unravel the intricate layers of pain, memory, and healing embedded within the narrative. Centred on the experiences of Little Dog, a queer Vietnamese-American immigrant, the novel is a poignant meditation on the interplay among personal, intergenerational, and historical trauma. Drawing on the theoretical insights of Cathy Caruth and Judith Herman, the paper examines how the Vietnam War’s devastating legacy manifests across generations, shaping the lives of Little Dog and his family. This research delves into the mother-son relationship as a site where the scars of war intersect with the challenges of immigration, revealing how inherited trauma shapes Little Dog’s understanding of self and belonging. By situating the novel within the broader framework of immigrant and diasporic literature, this study highlights the universal resonance of trauma as a means of connection, survival, and, ultimately, transformation. The paper contributes to the evolving discourse on trauma in contemporary literature, emphasising how Vuong redefines the boundaries of narrative form to encapsulate the unspeakable echoes of trauma in a fractured yet profoundly beautiful world.