The Echoes of Loss and Absence : Exploring Developmental Trauma in Anuradha Roy's All The Lives We Never Lived

This article examines the notion of developmental trauma through the character of Myshkin in All the Lives We Never Lived. Developmental trauma occurs when a child goes through serious difficulties during their growing years. At the age of nine, Myshkin experiences significant distress when his mother leaves him to seek personal freedom, which profoundly impacts his emotional development. Three main types of trauma emerge from this event: attachment trauma, characterized by emotional disconnection and difficulty in trusting others; separation trauma, leading to feelings of isolation and confusion about his identity; and grief and loss trauma, as he longs for his mother throughout his life and struggles with life's challenges. By analyzing these traumas, the article highlights how they shape Myshkin's psychological growth and continue to influence him as he reflects on his childhood in later years.