Essay Questions

Do you think the author should have given a disclaimer to readers to notify them of the novel's traumatic events?

The 'Dark Chapter' is a novel that entails violent events, including brutal rape and other dark happenings that can negatively impact readers' psychology. Therefore, the author needs to provide a disclaimer to alert readers that what they are about to read in the novel is traumatizing. Consequently, preparing readers on what to expect is critical because this aids them in deciding on whether to read the book. However, the disclaimer can also increase the reader's enthusiasm to read to book to uncover the dark and traumatic events.

How does the author build the theme of injustice in the novel?

Injustice in the judiciary is not something new. The author uses Vivian's brutal rape to demonstrate how lawyers manipulate victims to paint them as criminals instead of convicting the perpetrators. A boy brutally rapes Vivian, and the case is before the judges. Unfortunately, lawyers manipulate evidence to paint Vivian as the criminal. Consequently, Vivian fails to get justice, and this haunts her life. Everything time Vivian remembers the brutal rape and the injustice served to her, she feels empty.

What is the allegory of Vivian’s violent rape?

The entire novel is about Vivian's rape and the struggles she goes through to search for peace of mind. After being raped, Vivian walks through the corridors of justice, explaining herself often, but she does not see the fruits of her struggle. The media and press are always after Vivian's opinions and efforts, but most of them critique her explanations, which hurts her more. The allegory of Vivian's brutal rape reveals what rape victims go through in life. Instead of helping the rape victims, the justice system and society humiliate them leaving them more traumatized.