The Exploration of Childhood Trauma and Social Alienation in Individuals’ Dysfunction:

Abstract

The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan (1978) turns around the life of four siblings who are socially distanced. In the novel, the children’s loss to their mother due to a mysterious disease after the father’s death because of a heart attack stands as a turning point in their lives. The traumatized children decide to bury the mother secretly in the house basement out of fear from the unknown scary society. Their purpose is to protect themselves from being taking to care and losing their home. This thesis reveals all kinds of children’s deviations and dysfunction which Ian McEwan wants to transmit through his work. The children’s trauma, loneliness, depression, and living without parental authority along with the lack of knowledge are all the pre-requisites of the non-accepted social behaviors. Without exception, all the characters behave in socially wrong manners. The most notable dangerous one is the developed incestuous relationship between the two older siblings. The sailings shocking action demonstrates the possible deviations that the alienated and traumatized children may fall in.