The application of Toni Morrison’s Beloved as a lens through which one can analyze intergenerational trauma on an individual and communal level results in a blueprint towards a remedial process. The characters and their experiences in her novel are representative of a myriad of ways in which trauma is manifested. I have broken down the concept of intergenerational trauma into the idea that it can be seen as the state where one is both simultaneously “falling” and “fallen” at the same time. Used here, the term “falling” refers to the consistent, individual trauma that one is experiencing. On the other hand, the term “fallen” refers to the trauma that a community as a whole has experienced and internalized. This framework that I establish based off of Beloved is a launching point for the conversation surrounding the topic of remedial actions in relation to intergenerational trauma that resulted from slavery. Using it as a basis of knowledge allows one to truly gather the weight of the situation regarding trauma postbellum. Considering the current climate surrounding any meaningful dialogue, knowledge is one of the most important aspects. Along with the concepts of “falling”/”fallen,” I also coined the term productive memory, which refers to the act of confrontation as well as the remembering of intergenerational trauma. The use of productive memory is imperative in addressing the prior ideas presented regarding intergenerational trauma and the possible pathways to move forward.

This project includes an outline of a prospective fantasy novel whose story is described through chapter summaries, a bit of sample writing, and an accompanying explanatory essay that acts as the novel's afterword. It follows the story of Hikari Hinata, a princess of a fictional nation in which gods and fate rule the lives of mortals. Her tale is a representative one--it seeks to call to mind the experiences of second-generation Asian Americans through its characterization, plot, and background inspirations. Two key concepts it focuses on are intergenerational trauma and combining that with ancient world mythologies, in a way that breathes new life into past narratives and explores modern-age experiences.