Your Fault

The prominent scar on Noah’s stomach is a powerful symbol of the indelible nature of past trauma. It serves as a constant, physical manifestation of the psychological wounds inflicted by her abusive father, representing a pain that cannot be hidden or willed away. In private moments, the scar triggers visceral memories of violence, demonstrating how trauma embeds itself in the body as well as the mind. As she prepares for her birthday party, she reflects, “I stroked that place where I would be marked, forever damaged, and I shivered. The sound of the shot that ended my father’s life echoed through my head” (xii). This intimate moment reveals that the scar is not a healed wound but a live conduit to her past, a permanent trigger for her nightmares and fears. Its presence solidifies the novel’s central theme, The Lingering Scars of Past Trauma, by making an abstract concept painfully tangible.

The scar also symbolizes Noah’s vulnerability and the deep-seated damage that complicates her relationships. She actively hides it, viewing it as a mark of being “forever damaged,” which fuels her insecurities and her fear of being a burden to others. When her mother’s eyes “linger for a second on the scar” (95), Noah immediately feels regret, knowing it is a source of shared sadness and guilt.