HAUNTED HANDS: TRAUMA, ETHICS AND THE MORAL LABYRINTH OF THE WAR DOCTOR IN DANIEL MASONS THE WINTER SOLDIER

The paper examines the psychological impact of war on combat doctors through the lens of Daniel Masons The Winter Soldier. Stepping outside typical trauma stories featuring soldiers or refugees, the research is centered around the special role of medical doctors working in war zones. Using Glenn E. Richardsons Metatheory of Resilience and Resiliency and theories of trauma by Cathy Caruth, Charles Figley, Judith Herman, Dori Laub, Bessel van der Kolk, and Dominick lacapra, the paper examines how trauma interferes with homeostasis and how people cope with reintegration. By examining the figure of Lucius Krzelewski, a young student of medicine and the other major characters in the novel who are forced into the reality of World War I, the study explores the deep ethical, psychological, and affective demands of caregiving in war. The research demonstrates that resilience is not linear or predetermined. It is profoundly influenced by interpersonal relationships, institutional limitations, and the persistent shadow of trauma. Finally, the paper aims to widen the horizon of trauma literature by situating medical caregivers as healers and sufferers alike as depicted in the chosen novel of Mason.