Models of Post-Traumatic Memory in the Discourse of Feminine Narrative

Abstract

More than three decades have passed since the Russian-ba­c­ked Georgian-Abkhazian war, yet Georgian-Abkhazian relations remain a focal point of discussion, not only for politicians and sociologists but also for writers. Numerous authors have sought to reflect the dramatic events of 1992-1993, employing both dominant and alternative narratives. This article exa­mi­nes the works of Georgian and Abkhazian female authors from the 1980s-1990s generation who did not witness the war firsthand. Their narratives act as a counterforce to the suppression of traumatic memory, resisting the im­pu­l­se to forget. These authors highlight the ambivalent na­tu­re of the war’s participants by revisiting and reevaluating the past. The analysis is based on „Meeting“ (2023), a collection of stories by four Georgian and four Abk­ha­zian authors.

In the book’s preface, the project’s creators emphasize that while war is rarely depicted directly in these stories, it is ever-present, looming as a destructive force that shaped the authors’ world-views for years to come. In­deed, the collection’s contributors share common themes, a unified conceptual approach to war and trau­ma­tic memory, and stylistic elements characteristic of feminine writing, such as nonlinear narratives, streams of consciousness, open endings, and autobiographical or subjective perspectives to convey pe­r­sonal experiences. However, the above do not homogenize their stylistic characteristics. On the contrary, the Georgian and Abkhaz female authors pre­sent issues of war trauma through distinct styles and pe­r­s­pe­ctives, enriching the discourse with their diverse approaches.