Representations Of Self-identity In Selected Poems
Identity separates us from everyone else, and while one may be very similar to another, there is no one who is exactly like you, someone who has experienced exactly what you have, feels the way you do, and reacts the same to experiences you’ve had. This became prevalent to me when I read My Fractured Identity by Valsa George and A Mix of Many Things by Alyssa Murray. In both these poems, identity is expressed and explored through the use of literary techniques, which has allowed me to develop an understanding of my own personal identity.
In the poem My fractured Identity, by Valsa George it is clear that the poet has communicated her idea of self throughout. In this poem when the character returns to her home in India after being away for some time, she finds herself being “an unwelcome stranger among total strangers.” The repetition of the word ‘stranger’ emphasises her sense of displacement. This poem highlights the connection between identity and place, and how her home makes up a part of her identity. She also uses the simile “moving like aliens” to express how out of place she feels after returning, it is also a metaphor for the people who are around her who seem to be like strangers to her now after being away for so long. While studying this text, I have been able to develop an understanding of my own personal identity, as I too feel like the place where I was born is very much connected to my identity and makes me who I am, it is a reflection of myself, it allows me to feel like I belong. I can also relate to the character in this poem as when I do return to my homeland, there are many aspects of it that tend to change over time, making me feel different to those who are around me as they are no longer the way they used to be.Identity provides us with a sense of belonging. our families, our cultural backgrounds, and where we live all contribute to our sense of identity.
As well as in My Fractured Identity, in the Poem A Mix of Many Things by Alyssa Murray, the key ideas and concepts of uniqueness and individuality are celebrated throughout, as these are some of the factors that make up self Identity. The poem talks about the many things that us up through language and sound techniques, these include alliteration which is repeated throughout the poem various times in the sentence ‘mix of many things’ this draws attention to the theme of the poem which is central to understanding it. As well as the use of alliteration the poem has used rhyming couplets, this creates emphasis on certain words in this case being the last word of each line, giving them prominence as these words all relate to self and the special uniqueness and diversity of everyone. This text reminds me of the value of being an individual in the same way that Alyssa Murray appreciates her individuality throughout her poem. Defining our individuality is our and ours alone. Subjective labels describe collectives, not individuals and substituting who we are for such labels is a falsification of our individuality.
Both these texts examine what makes an individual a particular, unique self. They draw on the effective literary works.
