ABSTRACT
Identity is an extremely complex and subjective theme to discuss – especially when it comes to
setting a fixed definition. This article examines the construction of identity through the lens of social
constructionism and draws in several working definitions from various sociologists to purport the core
of this article. The sociological concept will be applied on three different texts: Escape from Harem by
Tanushree Podder (2013); The Poor Christ of Bomba by Mongo Beti (1971); and The Book of Night
Women by Marlon James (2009). Focusing only on the protagonist from each text, we attempt to carry
out the analysis of this paper by looking at the flux of identity within them. We argue that identity is
not a fixed and permanent state of a character; instead it is constructed by social, political, economic,
and personal experience. All the three protagonists, Zeenat, Denis, and Lilith experience specific
identity fluctuation in their lives. As such, we will be looking at the psychological growth and changes
in each character and determine whether or not his/her sense of self is reconstructed or deconstructed
at the end of their journey to self-discovery.
References
[1] Akbar, Arifa. The Book of Night Women, by Marlon James. The Independent. 28 Aug.
2009. Web. 16 June 2015.
[2] Beti, Mongo. The Poor Christ of Bomba. New Hampshire: Heinemann Educational
Publishers, 1971. Print.
[3] Boghossian, Paul. What Is Social Construction? Times Literary Supplement, 23
February 2001, pp. 6–8.
[4] Cerulo, Karen A. Identity Construction: New Issues, New Directions. Annual Review of
Sociology Vol. 23 (1997), pp. 385-409
[5] Gergen, Kenneth J. The Social Constructionist Movement in Modern Psychology.
American Psychologist 40.3 (1985): 266
[6] Glover, Kaiama L. Womanchild in Oppressive Land. The New York Times. 26 Feb.
2009, Sunday Book Review sec. Web. 17 June 2015.
[7] James, Marlon. The Book of Night Women. New York: Riverhead Books, 2009. Print.
[8] Mohd Muzhafar Idrus, Ruzy Suliza Hashim, & Raihanah, M. M. Malay. Cultural
Identities: A Review. Humanities and Social Sciences Letters, 3(1) (2015): 1-9.
[9] Owen, Ian Rory. Social Constructionism and the Theory, Practice and Research of
Psychotherapy: A Phenomenological Psychology Manifesto. Boletin de Psicologia 46
(1995): 161-186. Web.
[10] Oxford Paperback Dictionary. (1990) (3rd ed). (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
[11] Podder, Tanushree. Escape from Harem: A Mughal Saga of Romance, Revenge and
Retribution. New Delhi: Roli Books, 2013. Print.
[12] Serequeberhan, Tsenay. Our Heritage: The Past in the Present of African American and
African Experience. Lanham: Rowmand & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2000. Print.
[13] Thoma, Mark. A. Literature as Voice: An Examination of Gay Male Identity as
Revealed in Contemporary Gay Fiction and Its Implications for Education. Diss. The
University of San Francisco, 2005. Ann Arbor: UMI, 2005
[14] Vignoles, Vivian L., et al. Beyond Self-Esteem: Influence of Multiple Motives on
Identity Construction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 90.2 (2006): 308
[15] Wan Yahya, W. R., Forough Barani, Arbaayah Ali Termizi, and Emily Abd Rahman.
Cultural Identity Past and Present: Poetic Imagination of Muhammad Haji Salleh.
International Journal of the Humanities, 7.12, (2010): 13-24.
Support the magazine and subscribe to the content
This is premium stuff. Subscribe to read the entire article.
