Identity

When reading this week's assignment, I was drawn to Culler's arguments about identity and how novels affect it. Culler points out that recent theory "can be seen as an attempt to sort out the paradoxes that often inform the treatment of identity in literature" (111). He also points ou that "fundamental identity of characters emerges as the result of actions, of struggles with the world, but then this identity is posited as the basis, even the cause of those actions" (111). These passages stuck out to me because of what Culler is saying: there is a duality between character identity and that character's actions, which makes perfect sense. The way Culler states it, there is a cause and effect type of interaction between literature and characters. A character's actions determine 'who' that character is, but 'who' the character is, is directly influenced by the actions, an interesting observation. In turn, Culler states, theis theme of identity in literature had played a significant role in the construction of the identity of the readers. Readers are always drawn to certain characters, even going so far as to let those characters dictate how they act, talk, interact in the 'real' world. As Culler continues to argue, "literary works enourage indentification with characters by showing things from their point of view" (112). Culler points out just how easily influence readers are and where a lot of our own self-identity stems from is due to what we read and what we associate to the characters we are reading about. If you think about all of the things you have read since you were a kid, think about how much characterization in those works of literature have influenced 'who' we are today. I know for a fact that many young boys read novels such as Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer and instantly are drawn to their behavior as rebellious youths, capable of living on our own, free of the laws of society. When you read these novels as a young boy, you cannot help but want to be Tom or Huck for a little while. What Culler points out is that our ability to associate with these characters greatly influences our ideas of self-identification. We are just as much influenced by these characters as we are influenced by the culture within which we grew up. Literature has an immeasurable effect on us, it helps shape who we are, helps us feel independent from others, but in reality only makes us all think, and act more like every other person who has read that same novel. It is a very interesting dichotomy that Culler points out. One that brings up a very interesting revelation about why we act the way we do, talk the way we do, think the way we do, etc. I really enjoyed reading this section of our reading because it made me look at how I read, and made me reflect on all of the ways in which literature has influenced me over the years. It is a pretty powerful concept to wrap your mind around when all is said and done. There is a lot of power in words, something I feel that a vast majority of people do not realize or admit.