Gender Roles In Pat Pat Barker's Regeneration

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"Gender Roles and Hypnosis" Pat Barker's Regeneration explores the internal struggles of WWI soldiers, and their attempts to overcome the trauma of war experiences. One way in which soldiers were treated for psychological trauma was with hypnosis. Hypnosis is introduced to the reader on page 51. In this particular scene, Billy Prior is attempting to convince Dr. Rivers of his specific need for hypnotherapy, in order to recall his repressed memories. By recovering these painful memories through hypnosis, Barker's male patients find themselves able to embrace emotions rather than repress them. Prior is one particular example of the need to alter masculine gender roles in order to embrace emotions and be healed, a theme present in Regeneration. Hypnosis is derived from the…show more content…
We only know that he does want to be healed, and he is prepared to embrace his emotions in order to be healed. The alteration of masculine gender roles allows men to embrace their emotions, which can be seen through hypnosis. One particular example of altering gender roles with hypnotherapy is seen through emotional expression. The soldiers in Regeneration see emotional repression as equal to their manliness, as well as the lack of physical contact for the purpose of comfort. Using hypnosis contradicts this idea because it releases hidden thoughts and feelings. This particular release of thoughts and feelings is shown on page 51, where Prior tells Rivers, "I don't think talking helps. It just churns things up and makes them seem more real." He is not willing to express emotion to Rivers in a fully conscious state, but he is in fact willing to undergo complete physical submission in order to let his true emotions emerge, and face his painful memories. Rivers then wonders if this particular consequence outweighs the benefits of hypnosis. Is a complete emotional breakdown and loss of masculinity really beneficial to these

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