In his famous soliloquy of Act III, Scene 1, of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet, prince of Denmark, reveals his inner struggles and his search for identity and meaning. Confronted with and utterly disturbed by family and political problems concerning the crown of Denmark, questions, believes, social conventions and personal convictions are pressing hard on him and leave him searching for meaning and identity, trying to find for the right way through and the right way out.
To be, or not to be, that is the question -
whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer
the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
or to take arms against a sea of troubles,”. (III,1)
The question of “to be or not to be”, which is in essence the question of identity, is a widely discussed and fundamental theme of life, a topic many authors have written about and many producers have made the central theme of Hollywood movies.
The purpose of this essay is to discuss question of identity in postmodern American short stories. It will include a presentation of postmodernism in its contrast to modernism. Three short stories from different American authors will be discussed in regard to conflicts and development of identity: "Lost in the funhouse" by John Barth, "Saint Marie" taken from Louise Erdrichs "Love medicine" and "A Wife's Story" by Bharati Mukherjee. Special attention will be paid to the story of initiation.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. What is postmodernism?
2.1 The term
2.2 The dominant of postmodernism
3. The Question of Identity in postmodern American short stories
3.1. “Lost in the Funhouse” – a story of initiation
3.1.1 What is initiation?
3.1.2 “Lost in the funhouse”
3.2 “Saint Marie” – Identity influenced by religion
3.3 “A wife’s story” – identity change as result of cultural change
4. Concluding thoughts
Research Objective and Core Topics
This essay examines the central question of identity in postmodern American short stories. By contrasting postmodernism with modernism, the work explores how characters navigate fragmented realities and conflicting self-perceptions, ultimately questioning if fixed definitions of the self are still attainable in contemporary society.
- The evolution of the term "postmodernism" and its shift from epistemological to ontological dominants.
- The concept of "initiation" as a process of maturation and self-discovery in postmodern fiction.
- The intersection of personal identity with religious and cultural affiliations.
- The role of gender, cultural expectations, and systemic pressure on individual identity formation.
- The use of fragmented narratives to mirror the instability of the postmodern "ME."
Excerpt from the Book
3.1.2 “Lost in the funhouse”
The short story “Lost in the funhouse” by John Barth tells the story of a young boy who struggles with his identity and who tries to find out who he is. It’s the 4th of July, the Day of Independence, and Ambrose and his family (father, mother and brother Peter) with Uncle Karl and Magda, a friend of the family, are going to Ocean City for the day.
Aged 13 Ambrose is “at that awkward age” (73). His voice is in change and it is a difficult and challenging thing for him to talk. He no longer wants to do the things they did when he and his brother were still small: he refuses to look for the towers of the city as they always did when they were coming near; he rather likes to think about Magda, the 14 year old friend sitting next to him. He is in puberty – that time when a child starts discovering and facing him- or herself, a time when the personality is unstable and needs to develop.
Already at an early age Ambrose started to realize that life was different for him. When they all go to the pool and other boys are at the springboard he chooses to stay with Magda and converse. He puts himself in the position of an observer who is watching the boys jump, swim and dive and at the same time is critically watching them and reflecting on them. He is looking at their bodies and their bathing suits and arrives at the conclusion that he “was glad he hadn’t gone swimming” (83). With admiration he remarks how good a diver Peter was, only to state at the end of the story that Peter was “a happy-go-lucky youngster who’d’ve been better off with a regular brother of his own” (94). Ambrose grows up with the conviction that he doesn’t fit in.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction establishes identity as a fundamental, perennial theme, bridging Shakespearean inquiry with the specific focus on postmodern American short stories.
2. What is postmodernism?: This chapter defines the emergence of postmodernism, highlighting its ontological shift and its role in challenging societal boundaries and fixed cultural identities.
3. The Question of Identity in postmodern American short stories: This section provides a detailed analysis of three works, exploring how the protagonists of John Barth, Louise Erdrich, and Bharati Mukherjee grapple with fragmented selves through initiation, religion, and cultural relocation.
4. Concluding thoughts: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, asserting that postmodern stories deliberately refrain from offering final answers, instead prompting the reader to continue the questioning of their own individuality.
Keywords
Postmodernism, Identity, Initiation, Fragmented Self, Ontology, Culture, Religion, Gender, John Barth, Louise Erdrich, Bharati Mukherjee, Alienation, Subjectivity, Assimilation, Modernism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the concept of identity within postmodern American short stories, analyzing how characters struggle with fragmentation and self-definition in an unstable, modern world.
Which key topics are addressed in the work?
The work covers the transition from modernist to postmodernist literature, the mechanics of the "initiation" narrative, the influence of cultural and religious backgrounds on the self, and the impact of societal expectations on individual identity.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to demonstrate that postmodern short stories do not provide conclusive endings, but rather function as a medium to trigger critical questions about the nature of the self.
Which methodology is used to analyze the texts?
The author employs a comparative literary analysis, contrasting modern and postmodern features and examining three specific short stories to illustrate the struggle for identity from diverse perspectives.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It provides a theoretical overview of postmodernism, followed by specific chapters dedicated to John Barth’s "Lost in the Funhouse," Louise Erdrich’s "Saint Marie," and Bharati Mukherjee’s "A Wife’s Story."
How can the work be categorized using keywords?
The work is defined by terms such as postmodernism, identity formation, initiation, fragmented personality, cultural conflict, and gender dynamics.
How does Ambrose’s story in "Lost in the Funhouse" illustrate the identity struggle?
Ambrose faces an existential crisis during puberty, characterized by feeling "radically different" from his family and classmates, leading him to create an internal world to cope with his lack of belonging.
How does cultural change affect Panna’s identity in "A Wife’s Story"?
Panna’s transition from an Indian upbringing to life in the United States forces her to navigate two competing cultural systems, eventually allowing her to redefine herself, though she remains burdened by the weight of her original history.
- Quote paper
- Lars Berghaus (Author), 2001, To be or not to be - The question of identity in selected postmodern American short stories, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/74227
