Index
1. Introduction…….………………………………………….……………………….2
2. Concepts of Identity……………………...………………………………………...3
2.1. Freud/Lacan……………………………………………………………………4
2.2. Derrida – Poststructuralism……………………………………………………5
3. On the way to self-fulfillment- Identity and Identity construction
3.1. Factors influencing Identity construction …………………………………….6
3.1.1. Gender…………………………………………………………..…………...6
3.1.1.1. Christabel LaMotte – poetess within the Victorian Era………………...…6
3.1.1.2. Maud Bailey – Feminist lecturer in the 20th century………….……..…….8
3.1.2. Relationality…………………………………………………………..……..9
3.1.3. Social environment………………………………………………………...10
3.2. Self-perception
3.2.1. Roland Mitchell – identification through others………………………...…11
3.2.2. Maud Bailey – white coolness………………………………………….….12
4. Love as the impulse to self-fulfillment………………………………………….…13
4.1. Self-preservation instead of love…………………………………………..…15
4.2. Self-fulfillment through the experience of love………………………...........17
4. Conclusion………………………………………………..……………………...…19
5. Bibliography……………………………………………………………………..…20
1. Introduction
Possession: A Romance, first published in 1990 marked a turning point in A.S.Byatt’s career, with its ability to not only attract a small specialized audience but crossing over and lodging in the popular imagination. Although the author had been writing for almost three decades and her highly literary and intelligent style was well...
2. Theoretical background
2.1. Concepts of Identity
“[…] who am I?”( Possession, p.251) are the pondering thoughts of the academic Maud Bailey, the main female Protagonists-maybe the most common question that arises when oneself is reflecting about himself. At the same time this question implies a longing for identity, which is the key theme of the novel discussed in this paper. Possession can be read as a double quest for identity since the protagonists’ search for their biographical subjects, the Victorian poets H.R. Ash and C. LaMotte, is closely connected to their own search for themselves. However the term identity is a concept which offers various interpretations so that it firstly will be defined by reference to different point of views: the autonomous self by definition of René Decartes, the Freudian approach, developed further by Jacques Lacan and the deconstructionist view of Jacques Derrida.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. CONCEPTS OF IDENTITY
2.1. FREUD/LACAN
2.2. DERRIDA – POSTSTRUCTURALISM
3. ON THE WAY TO SELF-FULFILLMENT- IDENTITY AND IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION
3.1. FACTORS INFLUENCING IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION
3.1.1. Gender
3.1.1.1. Christabel LaMotte - poetess within the Victorian era
3.1.1.2. Maud Bailey – Feminist lecturer in the 20th century
3.1.2. Relationality
3.1.3. Social environment
3.2. SELF-PERCEPTION
3.2.1. Roland Mitchell – identification through others
3.2. MAUD BAILEY – WHITE COOLNESS
4. LOVE AS THE IMPULSE TO SELF-FULFILLMENT
4.1. SELF-PRESERVATION INSTEAD OF LOVE
4.2. SELF-FULFILLMENT THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE OF LOVE
5. CONCLUSION
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines how the protagonists Maud Bailey and Roland Mitchell in A.S. Byatt’s "Possession: A Romance" navigate the tension between poststructuralist theories of the deconstructed self and their own pursuit of individual identity and self-fulfillment through romantic love.
- Theoretical concepts of identity (Freud, Lacan, Derrida)
- Factors influencing identity construction including gender, relationality, and social environment
- The role of the Victorian era as a mirror for modern identity struggles
- The transition from self-preservation to self-fulfillment through the experience of love
Excerpt from the Book
3.1.1.1. Christabel LaMotte - poetess within the Victorian era
From her letters to H.R. Ash we can see that LaMotte is an intellectual person and finds great satisfaction in the life of the mind. Despite occasional references to women’s studies and feminist theory, such as mentioning the writings of Maud’s feminist friend, Leonora Stern, the protagonists of Possession have to face historical gender stereotypes. Besides, the novel shows deep concern with historical inequality, the problem of women’s expression, and their fulfillment as individuals. The gendered dichotomy of mind and body that connects women with body and men with mind, is being problematised and it tries to emphasize the fact that both, men and women, are both( Steveker 65).
The portions of narrative set in the Victorian Era reveal the very limited range of lifestyle choices open to a woman at that time. LaMotte establishes an all-female community with her friend, Blanche Glover, who is in love with her. Even though it is not clear, whether they have had a sexual relationship, this form of living represents an attempt to escape from the restrictions imposed on women by society.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides an overview of A.S. Byatt’s "Possession" and outlines the paper's focus on identity construction and the romantic development of the main characters.
2. CONCEPTS OF IDENTITY: This section establishes the theoretical framework by discussing Freudian/Lacanian psychoanalysis and Derridean poststructuralism as lenses for analyzing the characters.
3. ON THE WAY TO SELF-FULFILLMENT- IDENTITY AND IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION: This central chapter explores how gender, relationality, and social environment shape the characters, specifically contrasting Roland Mitchell’s social situation with Maud Bailey’s academic and personal identity.
4. LOVE AS THE IMPULSE TO SELF-FULFILLMENT: This chapter analyzes how the protagonists overcome poststructuralist cynicism and the discourse of "self-preservation" to eventually embrace love as a transformative and self-affirming force.
5. CONCLUSION: The final chapter summarizes how the protagonists navigate their identity crises and demonstrates that the "romance" serves as a catalyst for both a common future and individual creative autonomy.
Keywords
Possession, A.S. Byatt, Identity Construction, Poststructuralism, Roland Mitchell, Maud Bailey, Gender, Relationality, Self-fulfillment, Psychoanalysis, Jacques Lacan, Jacques Derrida, Romance, Victorian Era, Autonomy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the construction of personal identity in A.S. Byatt's novel "Possession: A Romance," specifically focusing on the protagonists Roland Mitchell and Maud Bailey.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The key themes include the impact of gender roles, the influence of social environment, the nature of relationality, and the conflict between poststructuralist theory and emotional experience.
What is the central research question?
The research asks how the main characters define their identities and whether their journey toward love allows them to overcome the constraints of the deconstructed subject as defined by poststructuralist theories.
Which scientific methods are applied?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, drawing on psychoanalytic concepts (Freud, Lacan) and poststructuralist theory (Derrida) to interpret character development and narrative symbols within the text.
What is addressed in the main body of the work?
The main body investigates the factors influencing identity construction, analyzes the self-perception of Roland and Maud, and explores how their experience of love serves as an impulse for self-fulfillment.
Which keywords define the work?
Key terms include identity, poststructuralism, gender, relationality, self-fulfillment, romance, and the specific literary analysis of Byatt’s protagonists.
How does Roland Mitchell’s self-perception evolve?
Initially, Roland perceives himself through his social relationships and academic failures, but through his relationship with Maud, he moves toward self-assertion and creative autonomy.
What role does Christabel LaMotte play in Maud Bailey's identity?
Maud identifies strongly with the Victorian poetess LaMotte, using her life as a touchstone to understand her own position as a woman in a patriarchal academic society.
- Citar trabajo
- Isabella Wrobel (Autor), 2010, Identity and Identity Construction in A.S. Byatt’s Possession, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/155565
