TRAUMA AS A CATALYST FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL GROWTH IN THE CHILD CHARACTERS OF SUSAN HILL’S FICTION
TRAUMA AS A CATALYST FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL GROWTH IN THE CHILD CHARACTERS OF SUSAN HILL’S FICTION
Annotatsiya. Abstract: This article examines the role of trauma as a central force in the psychological development of child characters in
Susan Hill’s works. Drawing on her novel I’m the King of the Castle and short stories such as The Boy Who Taught the Beekeeper to
Read, Punishment, Sand, Elizabeth, and The Brooch, the study demonstrates how experiences of fear, loss, and vulnerability act as
transformative stages in children’s mental maturation. Using a literary-psychological approach, the research shows that while trauma
initially produces isolation, anger, or despair, it ultimately generates resilience, responsibility, and empathy. The analysis highlights
how Hill’s narrative strategies emphasize the interplay between environment, inner conflict, and human relationships in shaping
children’s moral and emotional growth.
Kalit so'zlar: Keywords: Susan Hill; child characters; trauma; psychological growth; resilience; literary psychologism