The Adverse Effects of War Trauma on Reintegration

90 Pages·2017·0.55 MB·English

Faculty of Arts and Philosophy

Frederik Broucke

The Adverse Effects of War Trauma on
Reintegration

A comparative study of Testament of Youth, The Return of
the Soldier and Mrs. Dalloway

Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
“Master in de Taal- en Letterkunde: Engels”
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Marysa Demoor
30 May 2017

Faculty of Arts and Philosophy

Frederik Broucke

The Adverse Effects of War Trauma on
Reintegration

A comparative study of Testament of Youth, The Return of
the Soldier and Mrs. Dalloway

Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
“Master in de Taal- en Letterkunde: Engels”
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Marysa Demoor
30 May 2017

Preface & Acknowledgements
Ever since I was young, I have always taken an interest in history. And yet, I had never devoted
much time to the era of the First World War. However, the anniversary of the Great War and the
initiatives it sparked piqued my interest. Dr. Birgit Van Puymbroeck’s course on First World War
literature then introduced me to the wide variety of texts the war produced, and granted me a
glimpse of their depth. When the time came to decide on a topic for my Master’s dissertation, the
choice was an easy one. Not entirely contrary to my expectations, the process of developing my
thesis was not an easy one, and I struggled with myself as much as I did with the project. In the end,
the writing process became a cathartic experience for me, much like it once was for the authors
whose texts I discuss. Therefore, a few acknowledgements are in order.
First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to my parents, who were always there to support me
and help me with proofreading, to listen to my ideas and discuss them with me, and to believe in me
and give me the confidence I needed to successfully complete this endeavour.
Secondly, I would like to thank my brother and close friends for helping me to take a step back and
take some time to relax when I became too involved, and for lifting my spirits when I needed it
most.
Finally, I would like to give thanks to my supervisor, professor Marysa Demoor, for providing me
with wisdom and advice when I was at a loss, and for always having faith in my capabilities.

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Table of Contents
Abstract I................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Abstract II ................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................. 7
Testament of Youth – Vera Brittain (1933) .................................................................................................. 11
The Return of the Soldier – Rebecca West (1918) ......................................................................................... 12
Mrs. Dalloway – Virginia Woolf (1925) ........................................................................................................ 13
Chapter 1 Analysis of the Secondary Literature ........................................................................... 15
Men’s Lives in Pre-War Britain ................................................................................................................... 15
Shell Shock: Definition and Discussion ..................................................................................................... 17
Shell Shock as a Medical Phenomenon ..................................................................................................... 18
Shell Shock as the Essence of the First World War ................................................................................. 19
The Return: Regular Veterans Versus Shell-shocked Cases .................................................................. 20
The Return to One’s Family and Community ........................................................................................... 21
Strained Relationships with Damaged Men ............................................................................................. 22
A Shift in the Domestic Configuration ...................................................................................................... 24
Employment Issues after Military Service ............................................................................................... 24
Chapter 2 Vera Brittain’s Testament of Youth ................................................................................ 27
Vera and Roland: The Gap in Experience ................................................................................................. 28
Brittain as Returnee: Alienation and Underappreciation ...................................................................... 30
Underappreciation of Returnees in General ............................................................................................ 31
Brittain’s Problematic Reintegration at Oxford ...................................................................................... 33
A Nurse’s Shell Shock: Brittain’s Psychological and Emotional Damage ............................................. 36
Deception and Disillusionment ....................................................................................................... 36
Survivor Guilt and Emotional Numbness ...................................................................................... 36
Lack of Drive and Direction ............................................................................................................. 37
An Uneasy Mind: Happiness Found and Lost? .............................................................................. 38
Nightmares and Illusions ................................................................................................................. 39
Rise from the Shadows: Revival Through Winifred Holtby ........................................................ 41
Chapter 3 Rebecca West’s The Return of the Soldier ....................................................................... 43
Captain Christopher Baldry: The Once and Future Soldier ................................................................... 44
Three Women, Three Spouses: A Range of Reintegration Scenarios ................................................... 47
Kitty: The Forgotten Wife ................................................................................................................ 47
Jenny: The Kind but Ignorant Cousin ............................................................................................. 49
Margaret: The Summer Sweetheart Turned Mother ................................................................... 50
Chapter 4 Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway ...................................................................................... 53
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Trauma in the Writing of Virginia Woolf ................................................................................................. 54
The Trauma of Septimus, the Soldier Who Did Not Return: Origin, Symptoms and
Resolution ........................................................................................................................................... 55
Septimus and Rezia: An Emotional Disconnect ....................................................................................... 58
Holmes and Bradshaw as Representations of the Public Opinion: Neglect and Judgement ............ 61
Woolf’s Social Criticism: Condemning Society’s Lack of Appreciation and Critical Thinking ......... 63
Chapter 5 Comparison .................................................................................................................... 65
Themes Without a Significant Presence ................................................................................................... 65
The Cult of Heroism and Lack of Sympathy from Society ..................................................................... 66
Not-Belonging in Society and Existential Issues ..................................................................................... 67
Feelings of Guilt ............................................................................................................................................ 68
Lack of Empathy from Doctors ................................................................................................................... 69
Strained Interpersonal Relationships ....................................................................................................... 69
Breaking the Barrier: The Importance of Social Support ...................................................................... 71
Communication: The Instrument of Recovery ........................................................................................ 72
Narrative Form, Date of Publication and Author Intention .................................................................. 73
Conclusion 77
Works Cited 81

Word count: 29,579

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