Why did Mr Han repeatedly fix and smash his car annually?

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Mr Han Repeatedly Fixed and Smashed His Car Annually as a Coping Mechanism for Trauma

Mr. Han's annual ritual of fixing and then smashing his car was a manifestation of his unconscious mind attempting to process the profound trauma of losing his family in a car accident. This repetitive cycle of repair and destruction served as a way for his conscious mind to revisit and confront the site of his greatest sorrow, a process driven by the psyche's tendency to cover up traumatic events and create a gap in consciousness that compels repeated engagement with the source of pain.
The Unconscious Mind's Response to Trauma

When individuals experience profound trauma, the unconscious mind often acts as a protective mechanism by suppressing or covering up the event. This suppression can lead to a disruption in the normal flow of consciousness, creating a "gap" in memory and experience. This disruption, akin to a break in a stream of consciousness or a jump in train tracks, compels the conscious mind to repeatedly return to the location or situation where the trauma occurred, seeking to reconcile the discontinuity.
Revisiting the Site of Pain

The article suggests that Mr. Han's actions were driven by a traumatized desire to return to the place of his greatest sorrow. The act of meticulously fixing the car year after year represented a conscious effort to engage with the object associated with his loss, while the subsequent smashing symbolized the re-enactment of the traumatic event. This cyclical behaviour, though seemingly irrational, allowed him to confront the pain rather than deny it, which is presented as a more constructive, albeit difficult, path to processing grief.
A Necessary Step in Grief Processing

While the ritual of fixing and smashing the car might appear bizarre and even self-destructive, it is framed as a necessary, albeit temporary, step in Mr. Han's process of grieving. The alternative, such as outright denial of the event, is presented as far less healthy. By repeatedly engaging with the car and the memories it evoked, Mr. Han was, in a sense, attempting to integrate the traumatic experience into his consciousness, even if this integration was achieved through a painful and repetitive cycle.

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Why did Mr Han repeatedly fix and smash his car annually?

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