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A WRECKED SELF: A PSYCHOANALYTICAL READING OF RAPE 

VICTIM IN ATTA'S EVERYTHING GOOD WILL COME 

 

Dr. Mbanefo S. Ogene 

Department of English Language & Literature 

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka 

Email: sm.ogene@unizik.edu.ng 

& 

Nneoma Onyinye Ezeonyi 

Department of English Language & Literature 

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka 

Email: ezeonyi.nneoma@gmail.com 

 

 

Abstract 

This research is an investigation of Wrecked Self: A Psychoanalytical Reading 

of Rape Victim in Atta's Everything Good Will Come. This work fills the 

scholarly gap of bringing to light, the traumatic experience female rape victims 

endure and the psychological dent this experience leaves on their mental health 

forever. This study applies Freud’s psychoanalysis and Burgess & Holmstrom's 

rape trauma syndrome theory in exploring the excruciating pain Atta’s rape 

victim endured. The psychological damage she suffers as a result of many 

horrifying experience and debasement pushes her to adopt repression as a 

defence coping mechanism. This study not only explores the evil of rape; it goes 

further to enlighten rape victims and the society on the dangers of rape on the 

human person; the phases of rape trauma and its coping mechanisms. It also 

explores the essence of debunking rape myths and possibly avoids the factors 

that constitute to rape increase in the society. It urges the readers to insist on the 

need to hear the voices of those that are powerless and victimized. 

 

Keywords: Rape, Psychoanalysis, Trauma, Burgess & Holmstrom's Rape 

trauma Syndrome Theory 

 

Introduction 
Rape is invasive; it is the violation of the victim’s privacy, and threatening the 

victim’s sense of control as well as undermining the victim’s self-worth. There 

are fast growing incidences of rape in our society today and there are 

misconceptions concerning rape including the belief that it is the victim’s fault. 

African writers write to refute those beliefs and emphasize to the society, rather 

than apportioning blame on the victim, the destabilization and dehumanization 

on the victim should be recognized instead. They engage in debunking rape 

myths, revealing the factors that are linked to rape, rapist attitude towards the 

victim and most importantly, the negative impact of rape on the victim; how it 

alters, destroys and dehumanizes the victim. Simply put, rape is a forceful 



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penetration of vaginal, oral and anal sex on another without consent Bourke in 

Rape Work: Victims, Gender and Emotions in Organizations and Community 

Context describes rape as “a felony in which a person is forced to have sexual 

intercourse without giving consent” (90).  

 

In Nigeria, there are no accurate statistics for rape case; but this can be excused 

as even economic policies are drafted without correct statistics.  This does not 

take away the fact that rape is endemic in the country. Can anyone give an 

account of the number of house maids that are regularly raped by their 

employers? The number of male children being raped by their care-givers? Or 

the students raped in universities? Or the daughters that are raped by their step-

fathers? Rape may be seen as part of Nigeria culture because of the 

government’s negligence in effectively punishing such crimes as a warning to 

the culprits perpetrating the evil. Abadamosi, Hakeem published in Nigerian 

Tribune Online media in 2018 on how Ondo Police arrested a 50 year old 

carpenter for allegedly raping Autism challenged girl in Ondo 

state(www.tribuneonlineng.com). Olowolagba in February 8, 2019, published 

rape cases in Daily Post media which include a rape case of a 65 year old man 

arrested for raping and impregnating a minor- 11 year old girl who happens to 

be a hawker in Unguwar Gawo Village, in Babura Local Government, Jigawa 

state (February 8, 2019. www.dailypostng.com). IOL an online media house in  

January 4, 2019, updated an article, “Lavender Hill Rocked by Eight Rape 

Cases on New Year’s Day Cape Times,” exposing the number of rape cases 

already on the desk. According to the article, Lucinda Evans, who started an 

anti youth and gender based violence campaign called ‘Save Our Vaginas’ the 

previous year, took to her Facebook page to ask why rape is a culture that is 

still allowed in our communities? That it is 11:00am of a new year but 8 rape 

survivors approached her organization for help after their ordeals. Most rape 

victims rarely open up due to the humiliation and stigmatization that go with it 

(January 4, 2019, www.I’ll.co.za). 

 

More so, following the careless commentaries of peoples on social media 

platforms like: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and so on, rape is often 

misinterpreted to be the fault of the victim for: wearing clothes exposing some 

of her body parts, walking alone in lonely places at an ungodly hour, drinking 

in the company of men, clubbing, visiting a male friend and so on.  Some as 

well believe that women should be weary of the danger that is part of their 

everyday life. The society still plays the blame-game on rape victims. It is 

typical to ask the rape victim, especially a woman, if she tried to resist while 

she was being raped. Rape is a traumatic and life-threatening experience that 

cannot be easily forgotten. It may leave a survivor full of fear, doubt and anger. 

Not only does it affect the survivor, the pain ripples through her family and 

friends if the survivor chooses to tell them. Emecheta states in one of her works, 

The Rape of Shavi that “rape ages and humiliates any woman, young or old” 

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/
http://www.dailypostng.com/
http://www.i’ll.co.za/


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(98). The memory of being raped and the fear experienced during and after the 

occurrence may never vanish completely which may leave some of the victims 

severely traumatized throughout their life time. 

 

It is important to note that rape has escalated in our present day society due to 

lack of interest in knowing the excruciating pain rape victims undergo. How 

does a rape victim feel after being raped? Does it have a long or short term 

effect on the victim? How does the society at large perceive rape issue through 

the representation of characters by African writers? Why do most people 

neglect the dehumanization and psychological trauma on rape victim? To them, 

is it the victim’s fault; or connected to male dominance; Rape Myths; 

Psychological factors? The concept of the trauma associated with rape is 

neglected by the majority of the people of the society particularly in African. 

This is because people still make careless commentary on rape victims like, 

how can a victim take her life because of mere rape; how can rape turn one into 

prostitute; so, mere rape makes a victim to lose focus in life? significantly, this 

study is carried out in order to reveal the psychological damage as well as the 

near-death traumatic experience a rape victim is compelled to endure; with the 

intention to educate the public on the importance of being supportive to a rape 

victim instead of prejudicing; and to also understand the depth of the 

psychological damage it causes and help cub rape in the society. 

 

Psychoanalysis and Rape Trauma Syndrome Theory as Theoretical Tools 

There are many theories which may be applied to this study; but this study 

adopts Freud’s Psychoanalysis and Rape Trauma Syndrome Theory. The later 

theory is described by psychiatrist, Ann Wolbert Burgess and sociologist, 

Lynda Lytle Holmstrom in 1974. These theories help in reading and interpreting 

the mind of the character under study relating the consequences of the rape 

incident to the character's later life choices. In examining Freud’s 

psychoanalysis, Freud explores the three persons “Id”, ‘ego”, and “superego”. 

Freud believes that his structured model of the mind (id, ego, and superego) 

could be in conflict at anytime since they perform different functions. 

Therefore, a person's ego adopts one or more defence mechanisms to protect 

him or her when he or she could not cope with the stress of the conflict. The 

defence mechanisms include: repression, denial, projection, displacement, 

regression and sublimation (Eagleton 132-134 qtd. in Odinye 2019). Repression 

is an unconscious defence whereby the ego pushes disturbing feelings, ideas or 

thoughts out of consciousness. Eagleton argues that "that what has dominated 

human history to date is the need to labour and for Freud, that harsh necessity 

means that we must repress some of our tendencies to pleasure and gratification. 

In essence, every human being has to undergo this repression of Freud named 

the 'pleasure principle' by the reality principle'....If too much is demanded of us, 

we are likely to fall sick" (Freud 131qtd. in Odinye 2019). This form of 

"sickness is known as neurosis" (Eagleton 132qtd. in Odinye 2019). 



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In 'Denial' as a defence mechanism, the ego blocks the traumatic experiences 

from consciousness causing the individual to disbelieve the reality of the 

experiences.Psychoanalysis as a therapy is based on the observation that 

individuals are often unaware of many factors that determine their emotions and 

behaviour. Therefore, it is important to note that Freud built much of 

Psychoanalysis on his patients' trauma; thus trauma theory also becomes very 

relevant in exploring the experiences of the rape victim in this study. Ifeoma 

Ezinne Odinye (2019) in “Violence and the Girl-Child in Selected Novels of 

Buchi Emechara, Yvonne Vera, Nuruddin Farah and Ikechukwu Asika” 

summarizes that: 

Basically, psychoanalysis as a theory finds connections amongan 

individual's unconscious mental processes. This connection is linked to 

an emotional wound resulting to psychological injury or distress that 

leads to trauma. Trauma theory is an extension of Psychoanalysis. (51) 

 

Judith Herman in “Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence – from 

Domestic Abuse to Political Terror” asserts that “to study psychological trauma 

is to come face to face both with human vulnerability and with the capacity for 

evil in human nature” (8). Herman further stresses that the “study of 

psychological trauma means bearing witness to horrible events” (8). Meek 

supports Herman's view by emphasizing the “role psychological theories of 

trauma play in explaining how life-threatening situations or physical violent 

experiences can cause individuals to suffer behavioural and memory disorders 

over extended periods of time” (5).(Herman qtd. In Odinye 2019, 51). 

 

According to Burgess and HolmstrominRapeTrauma Syndrometheory, Rape 

Trauma Syndrome (RTS) is "the psychological trauma experienced by a rape 

victim that includes disruptions of normal physical, emotional, cognitive, and 

interpersonal behavior"(981). Tewksbury (2007) states that “both male and 

female victims of rape exhibit RTS symptoms. RTS paved the way for 

consideration of complex post-traumatic stress disorder” (27). Sandoval (2002) 

opines that RTS is “a cluster of psychological and physical signs, symptoms 

and reactions common to most rape victims immediately following a rape, but 

which can also occur for months or years afterwards” (1). Burgess and 

Holmstrom identifyy the three stages of RTS thus:  

The acute stage, the outer adjustment/disorganization stage, and the 

long term reorganization stage, though some researchers and therapists 

discovered another phase known as underground phase. The acute stage 

occurs during the rape, or days or weeks after a rape. The immediate 

symptoms may last a few days to a few weeks and may overlap with the 

outward adjustment stage. (981-986) 

 



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According to (Scarse 1997,) Male on Male Rape: The Toll of Stigma and 

Shamethere is no typical response amongst rape victims. However, the United 

State's Rape Abuse and Incest National Network, (RAINN) asserts that; 

In most cases, a rape victim's acute stage can be classified as one of 

three responses: expressed- he or she may appear agitated or hysterical, 

and may suffer from crying spells or anxiety attacks; ccontrolled- the 

survivor appears to be without emotion and acts as if 'nothing happened 

and everything is fine; and shock/disbelief- the survivor reacts with a 

strong sense of disorientation. They may have difficulty concentrating, 

making decisions, or doing everyday tasks. They may also have poor 

recall of the assault. (98)  

 

Though, Sandovalin Handbook of Crises Counselling, Intervention and 

Preventions in the Schools asserts that:“not all rape survivors show their 

emotions outwardly. Some may appear calm and unaffected by the assault” (1). 

While Desirée (1992)in What is Rape Trauma Syndrome? opines that:  

Behaviors present in the acute stage can include: Diminished alertness; 

Numbness; Dulled sensory, affective and memory functions; 

Disorganized thought content, Vomiting; Nausea; Paralyzing anxiety; 

Pronounced internal tremor; Obsession to wash or clean themselves; 

Hysteria, confusion and crying; Bewilderment; Acute sensitivity to the 

reaction of other people. (92) 

 

According to Burgess and Holmstrom, they note thatin the Outward 

Adjustment/ Disorganization Stage (OADS), the survivors in this stage seem to 

have resumed their normal lifestyle; but that all but 1 of their 92 subjects 

exhibited maladaptive coping mechanisms after a rape (986).  Burnamet al. in 

“Sexual Assault and Mental Disorders in a Community Population” reveals: 

Other coping mechanisms that may appear during the outward 

adjustment phase which include: sense of helplessness; hypervigilance; 

extreme anger and hostility (more typical of male victims); sleep 

disturbances such as vivid dreams and recurring nightmares; insomnia, 

wakefulness, night terrors; flashbacks; dissociation (feeling like one is 

not attached to one's body); panic attacks; reliance on coping 

mechanisms, some of which may be beneficial (e.g., philosophy and 

family support), and others that may ultimately be counterproductive 

(e.g.self harm, drug, or alcohol abuse). (843-850)  

 

In this vain, Herman points out that: 

Complete amnesia known as dissociative states may occur…. 

Dissociation can be so severe that a fragmentation of the personality can 

result in the emergence of alter personalities. Victims attempt to return 

to their lives as if nothing happened. May block thoughts of the assault 

from their minds and may not want to talk about the incident or any of 



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the related issues. Victims may have difficulty in concentrating and 

some depression. This phase may last for years and the victim seems as 

though they are over it, despite the fact the emotional issues are not 

resolved. (84) 

 

Lastly is the Re-organization or Recovery stage. Here, Burgess and Holmstrom 

emphasizes on the importance of family, friends and institutions reactions 

towards the victim. They opine that:“in this stage, rape victims survivor 

integrate the sexual Assault into their lives; the rape is no longer the central 

focus of their lives; negative feelings such as guilt and shame are resolved; and 

they no longer blame themselves for the attack. They have come to terms with 

their past” (981-986).The major ongoing critique against this ideology 

according to the critic, Stefan (1993) in “Protection Rackets: Rape Trauma 

Syndrome” explains that:“the literature on RTS constructs rape survivors as 

passive, disordered victims, even though much of the behavior that serves as 

the basis for RTS could be considered the product of strength. Words like "fear" 

are replaced with words like "phobia", with its connotations of irrationality” 

(88). 

 

Summarily, the criticism is rational, but it is worthy of note that the theory of 

RTS is relevant in this research as well as Psychoanalysis because theynot only 

specifydefence mechanisms for mentaland emotional assaults, they 

alsoencompass behavioural and psychological reactions along with 

recuperation common to victims of rape; they equally help in understanding the 

mind of the victim. RTS theory describes the stages of response and recovery 

that victims of rape experience. Conclusively, the RTS theory testimonieshelp 

to educate the jury about the psychological consequences surrounding rape; 

persuading them to dispel rape myths by explaining counterintuitive post-rape 

behavior. Especially in cases in which prosecutors have introduced RTS 

testimony, defendants have also sometimes proffered RTS evidence, a practice 

that has been criticized as undermining core values embodied in rape shield 

laws, since it can involve subjecting victims to compelled psychological 

evaluations and searching cross-examination regarding past sexual history. 

Therefore, these theories are indispensable in understanding as well as 

interpreting rape victims. 

 

Aspects of Psychoanalysis and Rape Traumatic Experience in Atta's 

Everything Good Will Come 
This is a coming of age novel about two girls growing into women in post 

colonial Nigeria. Throughout the plot, one of the female protagonists, Enitan’ 

faces different personal entanglements; ranging from family troubles, rape, 

cheating boyfriend’s and imprisonment. While Sheri on the other hand is 

Enitan's friend and the rape victim in the story; whose life falls apart after the 

rape incident. Sheri is not only gang raped but her virginity was snatched. Sheri 



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is raped, devalued, ruined and is robbed of her womanity and pride on the day 

she went for a picnic with her friend, Enitan. Atta (2005) explores thus: 

Sheri was lying on the seat. Her knees were spread apart. The boy in the 

cap was pinning her arms down. The portly boy was on top of her. His 

hands were camped over her mouth. Daramola was leaning against the 

door (Everything Good WillCome,65).{She further laments):there was 

blood on her pubic hairs, thick spit running down her legs. Semen. 

(Everything Good Will Come, 66) 

 

This singular event changes the life of Sheri. Atta's use of first person narrator 

eliminates the chance for the reader to feel the impact of the psychological 

damage ‘the act'inflicted on Sheri immediately after the rape; especially 

Burgees et al. acute phase of trauma. But, through Enitan's narration, Sheri's 

disoriented state of mind is made clear as RAINN stipulates in Rape Trauma 

Syndrome that in the acute phase of RTS, the rape victim is disoriented (36). 

Sheri’s rape is a pivotal moment in the novel for both girls. It is as'a misfortune 

that binds them,' and which both of them are unable to speak about into 

adulthood. Silence marks every aspect surrounding the rape. The three boys 

hold Sheri down, gag her, and then proceed to silence Sheri through the rape 

which she is unable to articulate. Atta through Enitan describes it thus:  

A silent moment; a peaceful moment.” “N-nm, she moaned…[It is the 

only sound she is able to make]I dressed her, saw the red bruises and 

scratches on her skin, her wrists, around her mouth, on her lips…. There 

was blood on her pubic hairs, thick spit running down her legs. Semen. 

I used sand grains to clean her, pulled her panties up…. (Everything 

Good Will Come, 66)  

 

Atta’s character, Sheri depicts Freud’sanalysis in An Outline of Psychoanalysi 

swhich states that: “the ego adopts different defence mechanisms when faced 

with a difficult situation” (Sigmund Freud, 18). The rape incident weighs 

heavily on Sheri denting her superego of uprightness and her self esteem that 

has been trampled. To avoid reaching the neurotic state, her mind represses the 

horrifying rape experience as a defence mechanism to cope with the horrors of 

the rape. She silences the incident that all through the narration, she never 

mentioned the rape not immediately nor after she was abused. The fallible 

narrator Enitan, does not know how it happened except for the scene she 

witnessed herself. This clearly indicates that some rape survivors prefer 

repressing their experiences; they avoid talking about it as a way of defence 

mechanism and recovering from their emotional trauma. Sheri prefers to live in 

denial of the rape incident because she fears public criticism and stigmatization 

associated to being a rape victim. 

 

RAINN asserts that;“in acute stage, rape victim may suffer from crying spell, 

anxiety, nauseating and vomiting (36). Atta explores these syndromes in the 



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novel, when Enitan takes Sheri home and bathes her. “Sheri, unable to say a 

word of what happened…stood up and let out a cry... just as she lurched, her 

vomit splattered over the table, hitting my face. She lunged forward and another 

mound of vomit plopped on the veranda floor” (Everything Good Will 

Come,68).This analysis concludes Burgess and Holmstrom's ideology on RTS 

that whether or not rape victims are injured during a sexual assault, rape 

survivors exhibit higher rates of poor health in the months and years after an 

assault (959). And the above conclusion is Sheri’s fate. She becomes 

deteriorated; the vibrant and agile Sheri shuts down to a mute and self detached 

lady almost removed from reality because she prefers to live in denial. 

 

Atta explores the blame the society puts on the victim and the impact of such 

blame on the victim’s mental health through the narrator Enitan. Enitan blames 

Sheri for her rape. She is confused by what she has seen and as a result of this, 

feels anger towards Sheri who is the victim. She internalizes the blame against 

Sheri thus “the fist in my stomach explodes.Yes. I blamed her. If she hadn’t 

smoked hemp it would never have happened. If she hadn’t stayed as long as she 

did at the party, it would not have happened. Bad girls got raped. We all knew. 

Loose girls, forward girls, raw, advanced girls. Laughing with boys, following 

them around, thinking she was one of them” (Everything Good Will Come, 68). 

Unconsciously, it is the teachings of her mother that surface and influence 

Enitan’s interpretation of events. 

 

The rape has far reaching consequences and is detrimental to the psyche of both 

women and men. The physical and psychologically effect of rape is explored in 

this novel. Atta portrays both the physicalas well as the psychologically effect 

of rape through her character Sheri which includes: unwanted pregnancy, self-

hate, damaged uterus, self-absorption and so on. She further explores other 

consequences of rape through the actions of Sheri. Firstly, she attempts to self- 

abort the pregnancy with the use of a hanger Atta states: "She struck a hanger 

up herself and nearly killed herself" (Everything Good Will Come, 70).This 

action results in damaging her reproductive system, leaving her barren. This 

outcome not only exposes the physical negative effect; it also explores the rape 

victim's mental state that is detrimental to her wellbeing. Sheri, despite her 

biology knowledgeforgets the danger of self-abortion because she is not in the 

right frame of the mind. She is psychologically drained and devoid of feeling; 

her demented state of mind completely clouds her judgement making her 

oblivious of the grievous harm she is about to inflict on herself through self 

abortion. 

 

Through this novel, Atta tries to tell the readers that it is better to be ugly, 

crippled, or even a thief, than to be barren as a woman. Women are linked 

tosome of their reproductive parts and while "marriage could wipe out a slutty 

past, angel or not a woman had to have a child." She further explains through 



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Enitan to Sheri that: "A woman may be forgiven for having a child out of 

wedlock if she had no hope of getting married…. Marriage could immediately 

wipe sluttish past, but an angel or not a woman had to have a child” (Everything 

Good Will Come, 105).Thisexposes Sheri's general poor health and damaged 

psyche. The emotional trauma and psychological damage of feeling self pity, 

low esteem, disorientation, fear of being talked about, little or no social life, 

unwanted pregnancy, damaged uterus are all the consequences arising from 

being raped. These emotions lay emphasis on Burgess and Holmstrom's RTS 

theory of the Outward/Adjustment and Disorganization stage (OADS) of rape 

(981-986).  Her realization that the incident leaves an indelible memory of 

pregnancy triggers a crisis in her 'frail self'as she describes herselfsince the rape 

incident (Everything Good Will Come 105). She feels that her body has 

betrayed her. It is as if her body, the foundation of her suffering as she tells 

herself is an autonomous thing; acting independently from herself in ways 

detrimental to the body. This experience anchors to Burnam et alassertion of 

“dissociation (feeling like one is not attached to one’s body) [as second phase 

coping mechanism OADS]” as stipulated inRTS (849). She makes out her body 

to be a different person, different from her and outside of herself.  

 

This psychological state of depression that forces Sheri to create two entities; 

one defiled being ‘her body’ and the other undefiled 'her mental state of denial'. 

This explains Herman's point that “…dissociation can be so severe that a 

fragmentation of the personality can result in the emergence of alter 

personalities” (84). The issue of unwanted pregnancy, where Sheri has been 

nurturing an absence of memory (as a coping mechanism)in the acute stage of 

rape as Desiree 1992 states that “diminished alertness, dulled sensory, affective 

and memory functions, disorganized thought content…are all part of some 

individuals coping mechanism” (92). Also, the damaged womb is a constant 

reminder of the traumatic experience of the rape incident which has stuck with 

her like a life long burden affecting her decisions in later life. 

 

According to Burnam et al. (1988), hé clearly mentions other visible RTS 

coping mechanism paramount in the OADS to include: “sense of helplessness, 

hypervigilance, extreme anger and hostility….some of these coping mechanism 

may be productive or counterproductive like self-harm, drug abuse alcoholism” 

(843-850).And these mechanisms especially the sense of helplessness is 

clearlyindicated in the life of Sheri and her coping mechanism is 

counterproductive because it propels her to self-harm. This is revealed during a 

conversation that ensued in later life between Sheri and Enitan; one can clearly 

point out Sheri’s sense of helplessness and psychological state of mind that 

propels her and pushes her into making life changing decision by self aborting 

the pregnancy that leads to damaged womb the writer says: "What did I know? 

Taking a hanger to myself, with all the biology I studied. I still thought I had a 

black hole inside me so which single man from a normal family would have a 



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person like me?" (Everything Good Will Come, 105). But at that moment, Sheri 

feels getting rid of the pregnancy by herself is what is best for her. It is not in 

her making to destroy her future; but when a victim is mentally traumatized, the 

psychic is usually damaged. 

 

To the society, Sheri's act of self aborting is abominable and degrading but what 

the society does not understand is the current mental state of the victim. When 

victims are emotionally derailed, their reasoning becomes asocial and absurd. 

Sheri's human sense of reasoning has been damaged at that point of time, that 

she couldn't remember the implications of the actions she took rather she is 

overwhelmed with decisions that will make her feel better and not bring shame 

to her person thereby getting rid of the pregnancy that damaged her womb. Atta 

through her character suggests that a barren woman has no future. Therefore, 

Sheri's barrenness sets up her future as a "sugary girl" because she is convinced 

that no single man from a normal home will want her (Everything Good Will 

Come, 100). After several years have passed, Sheri and Enitan meet again when 

Enitan comes home from England. Enitan finds out that Sheri is the mistress of 

the Brigadier. In exchange for an easier lifestyle, she plays the role of housewife 

and does all of the cooking, cleaning, and care of her man. Sheri knows how to 

take advantage of the fact that men often stray from their marriages. This new 

found life of Sheri is a clear indication of Burgesss and Holmstrom (1974) RTS 

of OADS which suggests that some  rape victims at times become hypersexual, 

promiscuous or probably withdraw from a positive lifestyle to a negative one 

because they are emotionally destabilized (981-985). This is attributed to Sheri; 

after realizing that she is barren, she believes that marriage is no longer for her 

therefore she chooses an easier lifestyle with the Brigadier rather than carrying 

her misfortune to an innocent man's house in the name of marriage. She fears 

that the society will still ridicule her when she finds it difficult to conceive. In 

understanding the implications of trauma, Sheri's decision in trailing the 

negative aspect of life is not surprising, rather, her traumatic experiences or 

better still, psychological state of mind put her in a spot that she does what is 

best for her not minding its implications.  

 

Another devastating nature of rape x-rayed by Atta in Everything Good Will 

Come is that it makes the victim disengage from any social activities; identity 

crisis is also triggered following the abuse; the victim is in constant confusion 

and fear of the society perception of her and her perception of herself (204). 

Atta’s set triumphant strategy is the possibility of her female character 

reclaiming her alienated bodies. This proves problematic in the context of the 

cultural isolation of the character. Atta tries in presenting her character with 

reintegrated identity, but takes this to the social stigmatization of a raped 

woman. Due to Sheri's past experience, she separates herself from social 

activities. Atta opines;"Sheri would not come for her party. She was not 

interested in people who will gossip about her....scrutinized her whenever they 



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see her unhappiness, sexual frustration, and other deprivations, so that they 

could say her life was well and truly ruined" (Everything Good Will Come, 204). 

This makes Sheri to be self-conscious, often minding her business especially in 

public places like Enitan’s office. She rarely responds to greetings because she 

feels awkward and convinced she is being talked about. 

 

Furthermore, long term effect of RTS is explored in this novel; one of which is 

the feeling of vengeance. In the later life of Sheri, through her discussions with 

Enitan, her feeling ofvengeance on the rapists is showcased, Atta reveals Sheri's 

lamentations: "I did not rape them; they raped me, and if they see me they'd 

better cross the road...be vengeance cause if I get my hands on them, there will 

be nothing left to cross with" (Everything Good Will Come, 104-105). This is 

to say that some rape victims never forget the incidence, they are traumatized 

thereby carrying with them an unforgiving spirit and yearn for as a way of 

knowing that justice has to be done. Sheri's anger and emotional trauma are 

drawn from her predators' attitudes towards her and this falls in line with one 

of the acute phases of rape trauma syndrome by (RAINN) which stressed that 

victims' pain is a disorder caused by the actions of the rapist. Atta achieves this 

as Sheri laments: "the boys were absurd in my mind, with their red eyes and 

hemp, and skinny bodies. I would have to exaggerate them to explain why they 

jinxed her life and why I still couldn't open my mouth to talk about them” 

(Everything Good Will Come, 105). Though through Enitan's discussion with 

one of her classmates in London, it is portrayed that Sheri's justice came when 

Damola Ajayi was admitted into a mental institution where drug addicts in 

Lagos end up. 

 

According to Herman, “complete amnesia known as dissociative states may 

occur….. victims may attempt to return to their lives as if nothing happened” 

(84). And Sheri shows symptoms of this coping mechanism in the novel. She 

lacks the zeal to talk about the rape after the horrifying incident. In addition, 

she represses her emotions (as her coping mechanism); living as though it never 

happened pointing to Sandoval (2002) assertion that “not all rape survivors 

show their emotions outwardly. Some may appear calm and unaffected” (1).  

Atta through her character buttresses the fact that Freud's defence mechanisms 

and RTS coping mechanisms can help a person to successfully cope with rape 

traumatic experience and heal its psychological damage. 

 

Sheri's rape armed her with a revengeful spirit, she becomes hyper vigilance. 

During her discussion with Enitan, she is of the view that in as much as she 

lives under the dictation of a man, she cannot be mistreated or mishandled. Atta 

makes it clear that her victim has control over her life and determines what 

happens next in her life. She flares thus: “now, where I differ from most women 

is, if you lift your hand to beat me, I will kill you, god no go vex” (Everything 

Good Will Come, 107).Sheri's hyper vigilance conformsto Burnam et al (2002) 



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Ogene & Ezeonyi                                    189 
 

claim that it is one of the attributes rape victims exhibit in OADS of RTS coping 

mechanism. 

 

Throughout the story line, Sheri who could not defend herself during the rape 

incident later becomes too defensive. The ugly experience put her in a way that 

she refused to be subjected to any form of oppression from any man aside from 

the ones she chooses for herself. Atta confirms this as Sheri fights the 

psychological impact of being rape and moves ahead in life; she also indulges 

in physical combat with Brigadier when he goes beyond what seems to be his 

boundary with his different attempts at making a complete chattel out of her. 

Sheri's repressed feelings erupt, and “she beats him for every person who had 

crossed her path in life” (Everything Good Will Come, 161). This confirms that 

a repressed feeling may sometimes be triggered by a similar act of events that 

put the victim in such a state (Freud 1974 in Outline of Psychoanalysis, 20). 

 

Atta portrays that Sheri's healing starts with the suppression of the rape 

incidence, alongside Enitan who supports and encourages Sheri to trail in the 

positive aspect of of life. She decides not to rely on the past "I'm a today-

tomorrow woman. I can't look back. I have my business, plenty of children 

around me. Someone will always chase me. I still have a pretty face. Abi? Its 

other people who worry about me. Me, I have no worries except when I die” 

(Everything Good Will Come, 299). But despite that she feels so, she worries 

about her death because no child of hers will bury her since she is barren (long 

term effect of trauma). Also, Enitan reuniting with her becomes part of her 

recovery process that makes her retreat from the negative aspect of life and 

channels her energy on becoming a better woman tomorrow thus: “You are 

better than this, Sheri. Anyone you want, you can have" (Everything Good Will 

Come,104). Enitan gives Sheri the idea of a catering business, which she puts 

into motion when the Brigadier hits her. This enables Sheri and her family to 

take care of them without being supported by a man. "Sheri had become 

guarded about her personal life” (Everything Good Will Come, 245). The 

reunion of both women in the novel marks the beginning of a new era in Sheri's 

life. With Enitan, Sheri begins to realize that though life has not been fair to 

her, she has the capability of making life treat her better. She realizes her 

potentials and struggles for a better life rather than living under the confinement 

of the Brigadier. 

The psychological impact of rape on the loved ones is evident. Although Enitan 

does not experience the rape physically, she is emotionally and psychologically 

scarred by it; her innocence is disrupted. Atta further reveals how Sheri's rape 

sharpened Enitan’s horizon for a better perception of the world. She begins to 

ask some questions about existence: “Sheri had gotten pregnant from the rape. 

Didn’t a womb know which baby to reject? And now that the baby had been 

forced out, how did it look?” (Everything Good Will Come 73). Sheri's rape to 

Enitan is an enduring distrust of men, a notion bolstered by the fact that so many 



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Ogene & Ezeonyi                                    190 
 

seem to betray her. Enitan's first relationship did not end well due to her frigidity 

towards her partner. Her sexual experiences become more varied while she is 

in England, she is still tainted by Sheri’s rape and the puritan voice of her 

mother. The memory from the rape is a visual reminder as she could not bear 

the thought of semen leaking out of her ‘rolling down her thighs’, so she always 

needed to wash afterwards because she believes sex was a filthy act. Her 

experience of the opposite sex is still largely uncomplimentary; some men who 

take from women and do not give much in return. Atta further portrays that each 

time Enitan opens her mouth to tell him "about Sheri and me that awful summer, 

I thought my voice would blast my ribs apart, flatten him, flatten the bed, toss 

my sheets around like the wind, so I said nothing." (Everything GoodWill Come, 

77). Her boyfriend complained of her frigidity in bed and described it as a form 

of mental illness. Referring to Enitan that "she is like other Nigerian women in 

bed. You just lie there, like dead women (Everything GoodWill Come, 77). 

Through Sheri’s rape, Enitan learns the brutality that women can occasionally 

endure at the hands of men. The narrator draws our attention to the treatment of 

Nigerian women by Nigerian men, so that whether at home or in the diaspora 

the cultural implications that implicitly allow men to treat women as sexual 

objects in the next generation of boys. But in the end, she regains her life back 

and overcomes her traumatic experience. This proves that rape victims needs 

love and understanding neither pity nor criticism to overcome the traumatic 

experience. 

 

Conclusion 

It is established in this research that Atta is of the opinion that rape in its entire 

entirety is demoralizing on the human person. Rape and its traumatic 

experiences on the human psyche is devastating and deteriorating. It is still a 

trending issue and its growth is on rapid increase in our society today. Many 

rape victims have threaded in negative aspects of life after the incidents due to 

the negative effects of the psychological trauma on such victims. Moreso, lack 

of knowledge of rape psychological trauma on the victim by the society by 

blaming and degrading rape victims with distorted notions of rape on the victim 

without realizing its harm contributes immensely to victims' counterproductive 

defence mechanism. 

This research finding also exposes how rape affects a child's growth and 

development. It equally exposes how rape is a destroyer of woman's dream and 

aspirations. It is clear that an aftermath of rape may turn some victims to thread 

in the negative aspect of life believing that it is the best life can offer them since 

it is proven that rape affects human reasoning as this paper's theoretical anchors 

uggests; that one of the effects of rape is that some rape victims may become 

disoriented thereby indulging in unhealthy lifestyle like promiscuity, drug and 

alcoholic abuse and so on. From the research done, it is deducted that rape is 

attributed to poor parental background, peer group influence, moral and societal 

decadence. 



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Ogene & Ezeonyi                                    191 
 

 

In all, this study encourages the society to be more considerate towards rape 

victims. To understand and realize the psychological damage and mental 

trauma rape victims are forced to undergo and instead of shaming the victims, 

they should be a support system to the victims helping them get justices and 

ensuring that whichever coping defence mechanism the victim may adopt will 

not be counterproductive but instead productive. This research concludes that 

with love from family and friends; and through successful application of 

defence mechanisms by Freud and RTS coping mechanisms, a rape victim can 

overcome the traumatic experience and move on happily in life. 

 

 

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