Art, Memory, and Aftermath: Post-Traumatic Growth in Ishiguro’s Wartime Japan

Abstract

Kazuo Ishiguro’s An Artist of the Floating World (1986) explores war's psychological and societal repercussions, particularly through the lens of memory, guilt, and emotional detachment. This study examines the novel using the framework of Post-Traumatic Growth Theory (PTG), which suggests that individuals can experience positive psychological transformation following adversity. The protagonist, Mesuji Ono, a former propagandist painter in wartime Japan, undergoes an introspective journey of self-reckoning, illustrating the complexity of trauma, regret, and identity reconstruction in a post-war society. His internal conflict, stemming from his past actions and their consequences, highlights the moral dilemmas the older generation manipulated in the name of patriotism faces. The novel further reflects on the intergenerational transmission of trauma, showing how war’s effects extend beyond the battlefield to shape the cultural and psychological fabric of society. By applying PTG, this paper argues that despite the lingering shadows of war, Ishiguro’s narrative suggests a path toward growth, self-awareness, and reconciliation. An Artist of the Floating Worldoffers insight into the possibility of psychological resilience, adaptation, and meaning-making in the aftermath of trauma.