Identity In Brave New World

Identity is a fundamental aspect of our existence, shaping our thoughts, beliefs, and actions. In the literary works, Othello by William Shakespeare, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, and Cinderella by The Brothers Grimm, the idea of identity is explored through the conflicts that the characters face. Furthermore, these stories portray the struggle of characters trying to establish their identity while navigating social expectations and pressure. The identity crisis of Cinderella, Othello, and Bernard Marx lead to plot affecting conflicts. The story of Cinderella is about a young girl who is abused by her wicked stepmother but remains optimistic and full of hope even under her harsh circumstances. Her identity is shaped by her humble origins

However, she struggles to assert her identity in a world that values wealth and status over someone's heart. One of the main conflicts that arises over identity is the tension between Cinderella’s true identity and the one society has assigned her. Cinderella is viewed as a lowly servant girl, but she is actually a kind, intelligent, and courageous person. She is constantly judged by her outside appearance and is never given a chance to prove herself. Cinderella’s stepmother makes this very clear with the statement, “‘No, No! Indeed, you have no clothes and cannot dance; you shall not go” (The Brothers Grimm). Cinderella is constantly reminded of her low status and bad appearance by her stepmother, but finally finds her identity when the prince falls in love with her at the ball. Through her interactions with the prince, Cinderella is able to reveal her true, courageous identity and escape from the limitations that society has placed upon her. She also discovers her true self when she chooses kindness over hatred at the end of the story. Critic Bruno Bettelehim writes in Cinderella about her kindness and mentions, “…nevertheless, at the end Cinderella embraces

Identity is a crucial element of Othello, as the characters' perceptions of themselves and others lead to misunderstandings, mistrust, and violence in the play. Othello’s battle with identity is driven by his own insecurities and the manipulation of those around him. Othello is a Moor, a member of a group that has historically been marginalized and discriminated against. As a result, Othello is aware of his identity as an outsider and feels he needs to prove himself to those around him. His desire for acceptance and validation is exploited by Iago, who manipulates Othello into believing that his wife, Desdemona, is unfaithful. Iago claims to Othello, “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy/ It is the green eyed monster which doth mock/ the meat it feeds on” (3.3 1816-1818). Iago spills lies to Othello in order to improve his position. Othello’s sense of identity is thus in conflict with his love for Desdemona, and he ultimately chooses to believe the lies, which then leads to tragedy. Othello’s story demonstrates that not having a true identity leads to conflicts such as Othello killing Desdemona over a bunch of