The Function of Trauma, Memory, and Healing in Ben Okri’s The Famished Road

Abstract

This paper focuses on the role of memory and the family unit in shaping identity. It explores how personal and collective memories influence character development and narrative structure in The Famished Road. The analysis considers how familial relationships serve as repositories of cultural heritage, enabling the transmission of both trauma and resilience. This chapter also discusses how memory functions as a tool of resistance against historical erasure, positioning the family as a crucial site for negotiating identity.