ipl-logo

Identity And Identity In Literature

848 Words4 Pages

The issue of identity has been a field of interest for many researchers. They have presented many perspectives on identity, on its shifting nature, politics and complexities. To understand this complexity, it is important to establish opposites like I and him (Said, 1978; Gregory, 1994; Thrift, 1995). Identification of oneself is always related to this fact ‘who I am not’ and other people easily accept the identity of an individual which may not match to his (individual) identity even. According to Merriam Webster’s dictionary identity is a set of personal qualities by which a person is known as a member of a certain group (245). This is very simple definition of identity, it do not explain complexities of identity such as identity in shift, …show more content…

The issue of identity is the most discussed issue in today’s world because of globalization process. In the world of literature, identity has a great importance, it is literature which has made it a very important theme for its reader. It helps its readers in constructing identities because works of literature encourage its reader to see things/issues from their own perspectives (Jonathan Culler 2005: 112). Identity is basically what we call ourselves. Vygotsky (1978) illustrates self as a very complicated phenomenon and it is created by individuals, as the outcome of their interactions with others and with culturally changed world Identity always need continual transformation and maintenance (Hegel). Baldwin discusses that this ongoing change in identity shows that self is an idea, and if someone needs to explore his self it needs to have an interaction with the outer world (2004: 224). From past ten years, many researchers/scholars working in different field of political science, arts, humanities, literature, political science, comparative politics and psychology are taking keen interest in identity. In nationalistic identity plays a vital role (Smith …show more content…

Geographers like Relph (1976), Seamon (1980) and Tuan (1997) discuss that this old notion of identity soon became problematic because people saw huge change in the geography. They further argue that people are not fully free in their lives, in fact, they are closed in an unseen cage they are caged physically, environmentally, mentally and emotionally. According to them there is a bond between outside ambiance of a world and individuals inside world. This geography does not accept the idea of fixed identity anymore. So this postmodernist idea rejects the traditional idea of fixed identity. It focuses on the fact that identity is not stable rather it is in flux and fluidity now (Pile and Thrift, 1995). They saw identity with cluster of difference and vibrancy, with fluidity and contrast. Difference plays a vital role in the fluidity of identity as Soja and Hooper say that the politics of identity include power, difference and change (1996:187). People have multiple identities and in the construction of identity there is a key factor called difference. This difference comes from different sides like place, origin, gender, culture and ethnicity. Difference maintain a ground for identity and then it is accepted as a negligible group of people who are trying to change the current system of power to

Show More
Related
704 Words | 3 Pages

Someone 's identity defines who they are. There are no two identities that are the same. , Everyone is unique in different ways. Finding oneself may take time and might not be exactly what you are expecting. In the novel “Milkweed” by Jerry Spinelli, the protagonist Jack assumes many identities but ultimately does not know who he is.

Read More
792 Words | 4 Pages

Every type of person struggles with a thing we call, identity. Personal identity come from multiple factors from our race to our own personal beliefs. Some people say we have the choice to choose our own identity, but is that always true? No, in fact other people can affect how we look and essentially identity our self’s. In the article called.

Read More
1724 Words | 7 Pages

Throughout literature the constant theme of identity has been explored, with Northrop Frye even suggesting “the story of the loss and regaining of identity is, I think, the framework for all literature.” For characters, true identity isn’t always apparent, it needs to be searched for. Sometimes the inner struggle for identity stems from ones need for belonging. Whether one finds their sense of identity within friends, family, or in a physical “home”. It’s not always a place that defines identity.

Read More
612 Words | 3 Pages

“The connection towards a certain culture is essential in the shaping of one’s identity.” Establishing a sense of identity is an intrinsic element of the human condition, dictated by an individual’s innate need to ascertain connections with [Answer Question]. However, its complex process can be attributed to its transitory nature, making it imperative The relationship between person and place is a significant element in shaping one’s identity. In Post Card, Peter Skrzynecki’s confusion about his connection to his homeland creates a fractured identity, having a major influence on his feeling of acceptance.

Read More
978 Words | 4 Pages

In John Knowles’s novel A Separate Peace Identity is shown as what defines us and makes us be placed in other peoples perspectives. An author can use identity to place characters in the readers mind to portray them a certain way, just as John Knowles did in A Separate peace. An identity can be defined as who a person is inside and out.

Read More
846 Words | 4 Pages

Identity is the fact of being who you are or what a person is. Everyone has an identity, but does identity shape you as a person? Many people can think it doesn't but in the short stories Passing by Langston Hughes and Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst, it is exemplified that identity does shape who you are. We see two characters Jack in Passing and Doodle in Scarlet Ibis face Identity difficulties and how these challenges build who they are as an individual.

Read More
759 Words | 4 Pages

In academic article “Who Am I” by Beverly Daniel Tatum; she talks about the complexity of identity, which defined as a person. She describes the multiple identities of different kinds of people and their significance in the community. She illustrate the how person past, historical event, family background, experiences, and thought of person has impact on the personal identification. The concept of past, present, and future, those characterize the person identity. She explains how gander of person is the part of identity, which build identity.

Read More
1266 Words | 6 Pages

Identity is one thing that no one can experience, which comes to the conclusion that no individual has an identity. The community lacks individuality which there is no social stability without individual stability in the Brave New World. Community, being one of the 3 ideals in the Brave New World is shown through their placement within their social groups, Ford’s day celebrations, community sings and solidarity services. Although great lengths are taken to create a community in this dystopian society there still lacks the actual sense of a community, their emotions are limited, they are taught to fear as others and have the same likes and dislikes. In this society, their social groups In the novel, an individual's identity is known as a fundamental of society.

Read More
1092 Words | 5 Pages

Identity is something people tend to think of as consistent, however that is far from the case. The Oxford English dictionary states that the definition of identity is “ The characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is.” The allegorical novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding tackles the issue of identity while following young boys from the ages twelve and down as they struggle with remembering their identities when trapped on a deserted island. Identity is affected by the influence of society and how individuals influence society based on their identities. By looking at Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the Stanford Prison Experiment, and Sigmund Freud 's philosophical ideas, it becomes clear that identity is affected by society through peer pressure and social normalities.

Read More
500 Words | 2 Pages

What is Identity? Identity is like a fingerprint; it clearly determines who people are. Identity is something that people are not born with, it is an act people do that classifies their identity. People need to act upon their own choices to determine their own identity rather than being influenced by the choices of others. So, people must follow their own path in order to keep their own unique identity.

Read More
579 Words | 3 Pages

The identity a person holds is one of the most important aspects of their lives. Identity is what distinguishes people from others, although it leaves a negative stereotype upon people. In the short story Identities by W.D Valgardson, a middle-aged wealthy man finds himself lost in a rough neighborhood while attempting to look for something new. The author employs many elements in the story, some of the more important ones being stereotype and foreshadow. For many people, their personal identity is stereotyped by society.

Read More
843 Words | 4 Pages

(Tatum, B. D. (2000). The complexity of identity: “Who am I?.” , page 4, paragraph 3) Unequal power shifts the focus of subordinates towards survival. And as we have already understood, dominants decide for the subordinates, thus, subordinates tend to change their ways according to the dominants.

Read More
683 Words | 3 Pages

These identities are one of the biggest challenges people in our society face in their lives. They not only affect ones social life but also their daily interactions. I will also discuss two examples that support this statement, one of them being from the reading of “The complexity of identity” by Daniel Tatum. Now a days, dominant and subordinate identities are two very different identities, who play a very important part in our everyday lives. The dominant group being the one with the most power and influence from society or politics.

Read More
825 Words | 4 Pages

Identity is who someone is as a person. People have different views of what identity is and what can be done to find it. Identity can be your actions and thoughts. It’s what makes someone unique and different from anyone else. The Bible has its own view of identity as well.

Read More
957 Words | 4 Pages

Introduction The concept of identity has been a notion of significant interest not just to sociologists and psychologists, but also to individuals found in a social context of perpetually trying to define themselves. Often times, identities are given to individuals based on their social status within a certain community, after the assessment of predominant characteristics that said individual has. However, within the context of an ethnicity, the concept identity is most probably applied to all members of the ethnical group, and not just one individual. When there is one identity designated for the entire group, often times the factor of “individuality” loses its significance, especially when referring to the relationship between the ethnic

Read More

More about Identity And Identity In Literature

Related Topics

Open Document