JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE
Vol 8, No 2: November 2026 (In Progress)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Andrea Jeftanovic's Theatre of War: A Literary Psychology Study

Arifah Pertiwi br Kembaren (Universitas islam Sumatera Utara)
Devi Pratiwy (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
10 Nov 2026

Abstract

This study examines the portrayal of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the character of Tamara in Andrea Jeftanovic's novel Theatre of War. Using a literary psychology perspective, this qualitative descriptive research aims to identify the trigger factors of Tamara's PTSD and analyze its impact on her social relationships. The primary data consists of the novel's narrative and dialogue, analyzed through close textual reading with reference to the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD. The analysis reveals three major categories of triggering factors. First, psychological factors include lack of emotional support from family, traumatic parental conflicts, and maternal amnesia that causes identity loss. Second, social factors encompass economic inequality, physical and verbal violence, cultural differences, and sexual harassment. Third, genetic factors involve the inheritance of war trauma from her father, manifesting through intergenerational trauma and behavioral mimicry. The impact of PTSD on Tamara's social relationships is evident in her difficulty building trust, feelings of alienation from family and peers, dissociative behavior, and social withdrawal. Her decision to run away to find her father reflects both a traumatic response and deep loneliness. This study concludes that PTSD in children is a complex condition influenced by the interaction of psychological, social, and genetic factors, and that literature serves as a powerful medium for understanding the multidimensional nature of trauma and its effects on social relationships.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

journaloflanguage

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Social Sciences

Description

Journal of Language (JoL) is an open access and a peer reviewed scientific journal covering research reports in linguistics, literature or language teaching, and critical evaluations of books on the related areas published by Faculty of Literature, Islamic University of North Sumatra (UISU), Medan, ...