Letting the Drawbridge Down: Working Through Trauma in Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl

Abstract

In my thesis, I propose that Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell is a trauma narrative. My aim is to trace the process of working through this childhood trauma, which is fostered by an absent mother, the hardships of being a twin and the debilitating effects of mental illnesses, namely bipolar disorder and social anxiety. I will highlight the different stages of trauma management, starting with its causes, followed by two unsustainable attempts of escapism (fandom and excessive drinking) before reaching viable ways of reconciliation.