52 pages • 1-hour read
We Are All the Same in the Dark
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Themes
The Lasting Effects of Unresolved Trauma
Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses abuse and sexual violence.
We Are All the Same in the Dark examines the lingering impacts of unresolved trauma by exploring how such trauma shapes the lives of characters long after the traumatic events have occurred. This theme is central to the story, with each character grappling with both physical and emotional reminders of past pain, highlighting the difficulty of healing when trauma remains unresolved.
One of the clearest ways trauma manifests in the novel is through physical reminders of the characters’ painful pasts. For Wyatt, the trauma he endured as a child is embodied in his “spook bone,” the arm that his abusive father broke when Wyatt was young. The physical injury, and Wyatt’s belief that it warns him of impending danger, serves as a constant, tangible reminder of his father’s violence and the lasting effects of his childhood abuse. Similarly, Odette’s missing leg is a permanent reminder of her traumatic accident, which occurred the same night Trumanell disappeared. This amputation thus not only recalls Odette’s personal loss but also ties her to the disappearance, motivating her to devote herself to solving the case. Angel also carries the scars of her past—her missing eye is both a reminder of the trauma of witnessing her mother’s death and the ongoing danger she faces from her father. These physical injuries highlight how trauma profoundly shapes the characters’ present-day lives and influences their emotional and mental states.
The emotional and psychological toll of trauma on the characters is equally significant. Wyatt, for example, continues to believe Trumanell is still present in the house and communicates with him. This belief turns the Branson house into his personal “purgatory,” keeping him tethered to his traumatic past and the grief and guilt associated with it. His unresolved trauma makes him reclusive and withdrawn, which further alienates him from the community and draws suspicion to him, despite his innocence. The trauma that Wyatt endures complicates his character—innocent yet burdened by emotional scars that trap and isolate him.
Ironically, the same trauma that drives a wedge between Wyatt and the rest of the town is one that the other characters share. Odette is consumed by Trumanell’s case and the lack of closure surrounding her disappearance. Her obsession with solving the case takes a toll on her personal life and marriage; Maggie notes that Odette has “spent ten years of [her] life being suffocated by this” (168). In fact, Trumanell’s disappearance haunts the entire community. The town, left unnamed over the course of the novel and defined only by its dark history, becomes a reflection of the impact of unresolved trauma—it is stuck in the past, unable to heal or progress.
The Public’s Involvement in Criminal Cases
We Are All the Same in the Dark explores the complex role of public involvement and input in criminal cases, particularly through the lens of true crime media. In this, the novel engages in a broader ethical debate about the true crime genre’s impact on justice, the investigative process, and the lives of the real people involved.
One of the major criticisms of true crime, as depicted in We Are All the Same in the Dark, is its potential to cause harm by exploiting tragic events for entertainment’s sake. The public’s fascination with the “lost girl” trope, which centers around young women and cold cases, exacerbates this by reducing real-life tragedies to a narrative that is more about spectacle and entertainment than truth. Thus, a documentary about Trumanell’s disappearance brings national attention to the small Texas town, but it also fuels sensationalism and conspiracy theories. The documentary, which ranges from exaggerating details to spreading outright lies, exemplifies how public involvement and speculation can distort facts. All of this, Heaberlin suggests, risks trivializing traumatic events.
The public’s eagerness to see justice served can also cause unintended harm. As Heaberlin shows, well-meaning citizens can disrupt investigative efforts by damaging crime scenes or spreading unfounded theories. For example, people eager to help find Trumanell—“marauders,” as Odette calls them—end up ruining crime scenes. Additionally, public speculation fuels harmful rumors about Wyatt and isolates him from the community. This underscores the concern that true crime can turn human suffering into entertainment, distorting the gravity of the situation and re-traumatizing those involved.
However, the novel acknowledges that public interest in criminal cases brings with it benefits as well as risks. True crime has been lauded for bringing attention to cases that the public may otherwise have forgotten or overlooked. In the novel, Angel remarks how true crime—in this case, the blogger Trudette—“keeps these cases alive” (200). Despite its sensationalist aspects, Trudette’s website dedicated to Trumanell’s and Odette’s disappearances aids Angel in uncovering the truth. The idea that the involvement of regular citizens can sometimes assist in solving cases gains further traction with Angel’s investigation itself, which successfully unravels the mystery of Trumanell’s death and Odette’s murder.
We Are All the Same in the Dark thus illustrates the tension between the public’s fascination with crime and the impact of this fascination on criminal investigations and the real people involved. Ultimately, Heaberlin suggests that while sensationalism and speculation can harm both victims and the justice process, true crime also has the power to bring attention to overlooked cases and even aid in solving them.
Resilience in the Face of Trauma and Adversity
While We Are All the Same in the Dark examines trauma and its lasting effects, it also honors how people can draw on their struggles as a source of empathy. The characters’ ability to rise above their pasts and turn their experiences to positive action is a key aspect of the novel, demonstrating the power of resilience and resourcefulness.
Odette’s journey provides one of the clearest examples of resilience. After the loss of her leg, Odette learns not to let her amputation define her. Instead, she channels her determination into becoming a police officer and maintaining peak physical strength, even using her prosthetic leg to her advantage in her work; as she says, “No one expects my agility, an advantage as a cop. Nine times out of ten, the bad guys aim for my prosthetic leg. It is my good leg they should be thinking about if they really want to hurt me” (56). This reveals how Odette refuses to let her trauma limit her potential, instead transforming it into a source of empowerment. She draws strength from her experiences, using them as fuel to persist in a career that demands both physical and emotional resilience.
Angel, drawing on Odette’s example, also demonstrates this resilience. Despite enduring traumatic experiences both at the hands of her father and later in the group home, she develops resourceful tactics to keep herself safe and forms strong bonds with other girls. These relationships, particularly with her friend Mary, support her and lend her courage, helping her to excel in school, pursue a scholarship, and ultimately repay Odette for her care by uncovering the truth behind her disappearance. Angel’s ability to overcome adversity and build a life for herself illustrates the ability of survivors to turn traumatic circumstances into strength.
This theme of resilience and strength is also illustrated by the ways in which trauma connects characters and motivates them to help one another. Odette’s own trauma sparks a deep connection between her and Angel. Odette feels driven to help Angel, despite the risks involved, because of their shared sense of loss as “whole human beings existing the best [they] can without a part” (43). In turn, Angel’s bond with Odette fuels her to seek justice for her, just as Odette’s past inspired her to help others. This mutual understanding highlights how shared or similar traumatic experiences can forge strong bonds that lead to positive change.
The theme extends beyond the novel’s central characters. Odette remarks on how Maggie, who has faced her own hardships, weathers them with grace and channels her efforts into protecting other girls, further emphasizing how difficult experiences can foster deep empathy. Another example is the ocularist, whose eye accident led him to craft beautiful prosthetic eyes for others; his own physical trauma has manifested into a way to help others navigate their own pain.
We Are All the Same in the Dark illustrates how trauma can be a catalyst for resilience and empathy. The characters in the novel, despite the difficult circumstances they face, use their experiences not only to heal themselves but to offer support and strength to others.
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