A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara tells the heartbreaking story of Jude, a boy who suffered through years of unrelenting abuse and cruelty at the hands of gruesome perpetrators that make one question humanity. Unfortunately, the abuses detailed within this story – rape and sexual abuse – occur frequently, and Yanagihara does a brilliant job outlining the impacts that such developmental trauma has on a boy who has suffered through the unimaginable. This article will contain several spoilers and traumatizing triggers. The events that will be detailed are not going to be easy to read nor will they be easy to fathom. As such, this is a disclaimer. The article will detail various themes that popped out throughout the book, with a focus on friendship and support, as well as the clear behaviors seen, which indicate the resonating effects of trauma.
Plot Summary
The story begins in a very light manner, outlining the lives of four friends, each of which are struggling to make ends meet and have different experiences and aspirations within their life. The book begins with two of them, Willem and Jude, trying to find an affordable apartment to live in. They have completed their graduate school but still have not found sustainable jobs that pay well. While all of them have been friends since college, we come to see that Jude and Willem are closer to each other than the rest of the group. The book essentially brings into perspective the different issues that each of the characters suffer through regarding their careers, but then goes on to focus primarily on Jude and his trauma.
We see Jude progressing with his life, yet he conceals what he has gone through because of his shame regarding what has occurred. With this secrecy, we are also made aware of other things Jude keeps secretive, such as his coping mechanism of self-harm. Over the course of the book, we are made aware just how damaged Jude is as a consequence of what he has gone through and what he has left untreated for so long. Despite his support system, he still has trouble talking about what happened to him and showcasing vulnerability. From a very young age, Jude is exposed to several horrible conditions and incidents. Even as an adult, he struggled with an abusive relationship. Many other events occur throughout the book, yet one resonating theme throughout the entire story is that of hopelessness and how Jude really may never be able to get over his trauma.
Friendship & Support
The emphasis of friendship and support is showcased throughout the book. Yet, it seems that it may not be strong enough to help Jude overcome his past. Even with Willem being by his side and others helping him, it does not seem to be enough for Jude. With the many people he knows he can count on, he does not talk about what he has gone through. Even though Jude is warned about the consequences he could suffer if he does not talk about what happened to him, he still finds it hard to speak of his experiences. Jude, despite being surrounded with a great support system and trustworthy people, finds it excruciatingly hard to cope with what happened and cannot find it within himself to speak about his traumas. So, he further isolates himself and hides his true feelings and emotions away. As such, he continues his dysfunctional coping mechanism and self-harms as a way to release his anxiety and negative emotions.
Resonating Effects of Trauma
There are several resonating effects of trauma that are seen prominently within his character. Many of these aspects manifest into PTSD such as flashbacks, being on constant alert, having certain cognitive misconceptions about oneself, and the like. A main aspect seen throughout the novel is the fact that Jude cannot, under any circumstances, ask for help. He is unable to do so, because he believes that he would be burdening others with this form of vulnerability. Furthermore, he does not deem himself worthy to even seek the necessary help. The fact that he barely showcases his pain showcases that it is a normalized process within his psyche. This is understandable considering the different abuses that he was subjected to and how he was not even allowed to speak about his pain or control his circumstances in the past. He has a low self-value and worth as an adult – this is seen not only in the fact that he fails to ask for help and in the abusive relationship he got into and was not able to get out of immediately. The abusive relationship he entered was familiar territory, and he lived through his trauma all over again throughout the relationship.