Conquering shame Trauma and Identity in Eva Hoffman’s "Lost in Translation"

The article examines the impact of trauma on the identity of Eva Hoffman, whose Lost in Translation sheds light on the process of adapting identity to a new culture. However, the Holocaust trauma, which is more obscure, also shapes her path. Drawing on dialogic philosophy and the notion of posttraumatic identity, the text argues that conquering shame is crucial for the development of a subjectivity and reclaiming agency. However, avoiding shame at any cost may hinder relationships, leading to isolation of the “I.”