essay

Essay Three: Stillman

Format and Requirements: 4-5 pages, double-spaced, Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins, no cover page

In Sarah Stillman’s essay “Hiroshima and the Inheritance of Trauma,” Stillman is surprised to learn that “to be a hibakusha...was not an honorific but a source of shame, a secret to be closely held” (444). Not only was Shoji a hibakusha, haunted by this facet of her identity, but her granddaughter Keni was as well.  What are the implications of having a piece of your identity, something outside of your control, be considered shameful? How does familial/ancestral trauma affect an individual’s identity?  

Assignment:

Write an essay in which you take a position on the way(s) that familial history and trauma shape personal identity. Use specific details from Stillman’s article, along with experiences and observations of your own to discuss how the lives of past generations influence us in our present day.

• How does Stillman define shame and trauma?
• How would you define individual identity? Familial identity?
• How might sharing trauma or familial experiences with others influence self-identity?
• Is shared trauma limited to familial connections? Who and what else can influence individual identity?

Note: The questions asked are meant to help you think about the topic as a whole.  You should not attempt to answer each one in your essay.

Remember, in order to have focus and clarity in your essay, you need to think about the topic, the questions asked and then decide what your views are on this issue.  Carefully consider your supporting points and examples.