“But we have to learn to live again": Moving Beyond Psychological Trauma in The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Matthew Spangler and Nesrin Alrefaai

The intersection of literature and trauma has gained significant attention, notably following the Holocaust, with Cathy Caruth's seminal work, Unclaimed Experience: Trauma, Narrative, and History (1996) serving as a pivotal milestone. The 20th century witnessed a surge in critical literature examining trauma's effects and portrayal in literary works, particularly during the 1990s, and the 21st century. This paper explores the impact of traumatic memories on the central characters in Matthew Spangler and Nesrin Alrefaai's play, The Beekeeper of Aleppo (2023), an adaptation of Christy Lefteri's novel. The play portrays loss, grief, spiritual disintegration, vulnerability, and gradual recovery, offering a compelling portrayal of the characters' struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Michelle Balaev's Pluralistic Model of Trauma is also explored in this paper to take into account external influences, such as historical periods, cultural contexts, and geographical settings, which collectively shape the interpretation and significance of traumatic experiences in literature. Beekeeper masterfully conveys the theme of traumatic loss through adept utilization of Balaev's techniques and other literary devices, underscoring the significance of employing diverse literary tools to effectively convey the central theme of traumatic loss within the play.