Volume V Special Issue III August 2025

Name of Author : Swathi G, Dr. S. Barathi

Title of the paper : Restoring the Self Trauma, Memory, and the Pursuit of Peace in Stephen Kings Holly 2023

Abstract: Stephen King, a prolific writer, has contributed to the themes of horror, psychological thrillers, and speculative fiction, often dealing with the complexities of human fear, memory, and moral choices. While his narratives foreground terror and trauma, they also illuminate the resilience and reconstructive capacities of the human spirit. This paper explores how Stephen Kings envisions peace in the novel Holly 2023, not merely as the absence of violence but as a profound process of healing and selfrestoration, thereby reinforcing the enduring importance of peace in traumatised lives by applying Carl Jungs theory of psychological peace, which emphasises individuation the integration of conscious and unconscious elements of the psyche to achieve wholeness the study examines how unresolved trauma disrupts this inner integration and how confronting painful memories fosters emotional healing. Hollys character arc is analysed through the lens of Jungian psychology. It situates the narrative within its post pandemic, digitally connected context to investigate how external realities interact with inner psychological processes. The analysis reveals that Holly Gibneys psychological struggles reflect emotional disconnection within familial spaces, where her repressed trauma and shadow aspects hinder her journey towards individuation and inner peace. However, the findings demonstrate that through conscious confrontation of her painful memories, Gibney begins integrating her fragmented self, thereby restoring psychological balance and achieving a sense of peace consistent with Jungs notion of wholeness. The study argues that Holly 2023 portrays peace as a state of psychological integration, attainable through an individuals willingness to engage in self reflection, confront repressed trauma, and embrace the unconscious dimensions of their personality. Integrating Jungs theory highlights how cultivating peace requires conscious effort, emotional resilience, and the courage to face ones shadow to attain individuation and rebuild meaningful human connections. Thus, the novel not only depicts psychological turmoil but also illustrates a transformative journey towards authentic inner peace.

Keywords : Trauma, Memory, Resilience, Disconnection, Mental peace, Post Pandemic, Digital Era

DOI :

Page Number : 265-271