Examples of Identity and Displacement in Literature

Examples of Identity and Displacement 

• Frankenstein 

    Is a novel written by English author Mary Shelley and published in 1818. The novel follows the story of Dr. Frankenstein, who uses modern technology to revive a dead body, creating a non-human being that experiences brutality and excitement. Frankenstein is considered one of the first popular science fiction and horror novels, and deals with issues of creation, identity, responsibility, and displacement. The novel. Frankenstein has been adapted into several films, short stories, plays, television shows, and video games, reflecting its significant influence on popular culture and modern literature. The novel revolves around Dr. Frankenstein, who conducts an experiment in an attempt to play God, as he seeks to control life and death. But he drifts away from his human identity and becomes obsessed with achieving his scientific goals without thinking about the consequences of his actions.

     The monster, in turn, searches for his identity and place in the world. He suffers from loneliness and rejection and seeks belonging and acceptance, but finds himself ruled by his deformity and brutality. The monster that Frankenstein creates also lives in displacement and isolation, where he is removed from society and treated in a hostile manner. The monster that Frankenstein creates is a symbol of warning against scientific experiments conducted without ethical oversight, and indicates the tension between science and ethics.

• The Grapes of Wrath 

    by John Steinbeck is considered one of the most prominent works on the subject of displacement and identity in English literature. The novel was published in 1939 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940. It is the story of the poor Judd family who migrated from Oklahoma to California during the United States' 8 economic depression. 

    In the novel, the writer shows the conflicts and challenges facing the family during their journey and search for work and safety in the face of poverty and suffering. The novel highlights the personal identity and collective identity of the family, and how the displacement experience deeply affects them. The characters must adapt to new circumstances and overcome obstacles in order to survive and achieve hope for a better future. The novel features a group of strong and diverse characters, including members of the Jude family and other characters they meet during their journey. The writer shows the human sides and strong emotions of these characters in the face of the challenges they face. The road that the Judd family takes towards California is a symbol of hope and the search for the best. Their journey reflects the challenges of displacement, identity, and the search for identity in light of economic and social conflicts.

• The play Sunlight

 is a dramatic work written by American writer Samuel Beckett. It premiered in 1957 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama that same year. Sunlight is considered one of the most important plays in modern American literature and one of Beckett's most famous works. The story of the play revolves around William Loman, a fifty-year-old family man who works in a grocery store in Brooklyn. The work centers around one day in the life of Loman and his family, as his family is exposed to harsh circumstances and faces the challenges of daily life and the pressures of work and money. 

     The characters’ suffering is highlighted in the search for their personal identity and their place in society. For example, William's wife, Lina, suffers from feelings of isolation and alienation, and longs for a better life away from the harsh conditions in which they live. The play deals with the effects of displacement and social transformation on family relationships. William, Loman, and his family face 9 challenges in staying together and dealing with internal and external problems that affect their relationship.

Edit This Article