The End is Only the Beginning: How "Sea Change" by Gina Chung Portrays the Lingering Effect of Domestic Abuse

However, what I want to bring to attention is the fact that Walker's cycle of abuse model does not talk about another integral part of abuse; what happens after the victim is freed from the abuser. It is not talked about nearly enough that even after victims have escaped the control and abuse from their abusers, the cycle of abuse still perpetuates.

Umma is a character that perfectly reflects how the cycle of abuse continues even after the victims are no longer under the influence of their abusers. Umma still chose to wear her wedding ring for a while after Apa's untimely disappearance, and struggles to deal with her newfound independence, something she deeply desired. Rachel, on the other hand, managed to break free from the cycle, but still struggles with the ramifications of being a single mother, sometimes missing the life that she had with her ex-husband.

These two characters illustrate the harsh reality of recovery from domestic abuse. Its effects linger, since after years of being in an abusive relationship, victims can form a codependency towards their abusers. This makes it incredibly hard for victims of abuse to lead their own lives after they are freed from their abusers, as they are unfamiliar with a reality without the control that has kept them constrained all this time.

Chung, G. (2023). Sea Change. Vintage Books.

Walker, L. (1979). The Battered Woman. William Morrow Paperbacks.