Essay On Identity And Individuality

„Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself” (“goodreads”). This quote by Harvey Fierstein emphasises the importance of having the freedom to define one’s own identity. A fundamental right in our society nowadays and since we are moving towards a more and more individualistic culture exceedingly crucial. It seems to be more important than ever before to be who we are. Yet, who defines who we are? What exactly are identity and individuality? Looking up these terms in dictionaries, identity is defined as “who a person is, or the qualities of a person or group that make them different from others” (“Cambridge Dictionary”). In comparison, individuality seems to be almost the same, according to the Online Cambridge Dictionary as it says “[Individuality is] the qualities that make a person or thing different from others” (“Cambridge Dictionary”). Those are indeed vague definitions and they give the impression that every individual has to define them themselves. What if we lived in a country where our rights are restricted to an extent where the individual does not matter and the government

In the end, it is clear that the theocracy of Gilead has robbed the identity of the citizens in order to maintain obedience. The Regime established a strict hierarchy in which people lose their individuality. Every aspect of the handmaids’ personality as simple as their names, clothing and belongings are altered or abolished in such a way to undermine their individuality and reduce their identity to their functions in this totalitarian society. So, defining ourselves is closely linked to the freedom we have. If we have the rights to express our individuality and determine our identity ourselves, we can be the person we would like to be. Atwood shows with this novel how important it is to combat anything that threatens our fundamental rights in order to be free and be an individual