The narrative arc of Zach Mulvaney is a essential component inside Joyce Carol Oates’ novel, We Had been the Mulvaneys. His experiences contribute considerably to the general themes of household dysfunction, trauma, and the disintegration of an idealized American household. Zach’s story, interwoven with these of his siblings and oldsters, supplies a lens by which the implications of a single, devastating occasion are explored.
The development of Zach’s life after the pivotal incident at college demonstrates the long-lasting influence of unresolved trauma. His journey is marked by alienation, self-destructive conduct, and a wrestle to search out his place on the earth, each inside and outdoors the fractured household unit. The exploration of those penalties emphasizes the profound and pervasive results of silence and denial on particular person growth and familial relationships.
