Identity In Literature

Issue of identity is the most discussed issue of today’s world because of globalization process. In the world of literature identity has a great importance, it is literature which made it a very important theme for its reader. It helps it 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. Identity always need continual transformation and maintenance (Hegel). (Baldwin) This ongoing change in identity shows that self is an idea, and if someone needs to explore his self he need to have an interaction with the outer world (2004: 224). From past ten years, many researchers/scholars are working

The traditional notion of identity was a fixed point which was not changeable from anything, person or environment. It is a universe which is enclosed by self and this self-enclosed discussion of identity expel others. They exclude other groups of people with different identities because they feel some threat from them (119). Idea of fixed identity in the past time or in older theories is also confirmed by Stuart hall. Hall (1989) reaffirmed this idea that identities were fixed in older times, there was stability and fixity. People were not supposed to think about shifting identity. The logic of this discussion posit the idea of stable identity and postulates that identities remain fixed whatever the case is. It is a stable and fixed point in the world (Hall 10). This discourse gives an idea about identity that is connected to certain beliefs and values. It leads toward an idea that identity can never be changed even after bitter experiences in life. Over time an individual is same as he was before twenty years ago, he remains the same.in this discourse of identity, it is related to an idea that safeguards fixity, stillness and authenticity. The identity’s logic is basically called a true self. And it is all about searching one’s true

It accepts that the notion of fragmentation affects the formation of identity. The imbalance in the concept of identity took birth from the idea of relationship of the other and self. If there is no other is present, then also the self/ identity cannot be existed. The association with others give birth to the idea of change in identity. Self cannot find meaning without involvement of others. Without other, the self cannot be completed. Though self is not a complete phenomenon, it is not something stable and consistent, rather it something in flux, and constantly in a shifting process. The endless shift in identity empowers self with fluidity. Identity rises as a sort of unorganized place or difficult question which cannot be solved among many separate discourses (Hall