Trauma, Betrayal and The Plague of False Expectations In George Packer’s Betrayed

Abstract

The 2003 Iraq War stands as one of the most disruptive conflicts in modern history, leaving a legacy of profound trauma and suffering for the Iraqi people. This paper explores how George Packer’s play, Betrayed, dramatizes the harrowing experiences of Iraqi translators who risked their lives for the promise of American freedom, only to face systemic neglect and violence. Through the lens of trauma theory, the study examines the psychological "psychic separation" experienced by these individuals as they become "people in between"—distrusted by their own society and abandoned by the American forces they served. The research further investigates the "plague of false expectations," contrasting the hopeful aspirations of the Iraqi people with the reality of an invasion fueled by misinformation and fabricated claims of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). By analyzing characters like Adnan, Laith, and Intisar, the paper illustrates a multi-layered betrayal: the betrayal of Iraqis by Americans, the internal betrayals within Iraqi society, and the moral failure of a political campaign built on falsehoods. Ultimately, the study highlights the enduring mental health crisis in Iraq and the resilient yet shattered hope for a future reconciliation.