The Role of Memory and Trauma in The Need by Helen Phillips (2019)

Expanding the Roles:
Helen Phillips’s The Need is a gripping psychological thriller that explores themes of trauma, memory, and the darker sides of human nature. The novel follows Molly, a mother of two young children, who begins to experience unsettling events that challenge her sense of reality. For literature students, this book provides an opportunity to delve into the intersection of psychological horror and deep emotional trauma.

• Trauma and the Disruption of Reality:
  The novel examines how trauma can distort memory and perception, making the protagonist question what is real and what is imagined. Students can explore how Phillips uses unreliable narration to create tension and build psychological depth, offering insight into how literature can represent the fragmented experience of trauma.

• The Psychological Horror Genre and Emotional Depth:
  The Need blurs the lines between psychological horror and emotional exploration. Literature students can analyze how Phillips combines elements of horror to explore deep emotional themes like motherhood, guilt, and the complexity of personal identity in the face of overwhelming psychological stress.

What We Learn:
Through The Need, literature students gain insight into the ways in which authors use psychological horror to explore themes of memory, trauma, and emotional instability. The novel also highlights how unreliable narration can deepen the emotional impact of a story.