Beloved

For the characters in Toni Morrison's Beloved, identity is unimaginably valuable yet unbearably painful to come to terms with. Today, people might say that one's self and one's identity is what Paul D called one's "best thing." Former slaves, like Sethe and Paul D, did not know what it was to be in charge of one's self until they were out of slavery, and this absence of personal identity meant dehumanization. Sethe was treated like an animal, constantly working and being forced to breed like livestock. Multiple characters believed that it was important not to love anyone too much. This is another idea that stems from dehumanizing treatment, and it runs like poison through the black community and families in Beloved.

Glorious victories occur, though, when Denver blossoms into a strong, independent woman, and Paul D tells Sethe she is her "best thing." Though it is important to never forget or cover up the horrors of their pasts, it is essential that they never allow the past to consume them and instead stand tall in the direction of the present. The past has largely molded their identities but it does not define their identities. They, themselves, are "the definers."

The Stranger

An interesting way Meursault identified himself in The Stranger was through his relationship with the physical world. He felt a thrill and connection in the aqueous sensation of swimming in the ocean and in the burn of the blazing Algerian sun upon his face. I think that such a relationship with the world makes Meursault feel truly alive and shows him how insignificant he is in the grand scheme of things.

Another idea I pondered while reading The Stranger, was how much of our identities are created solely in order to fit in and please society? Are we genuine, or are our thoughts and actions just the product of society's expectations? I think Albert Camus would say too many people willingly play the game, thus the world is seriously lacking in authenticity. Perhaps, that's true. It would be interesting to see how people would behave if they were never exposed to books, movies, music, or other aspects of mainstream society that might dictate to them how they should act. But I don't think this "game" Camus speaks of is always a bad thing. It is often necessary for people to partake in it in order for the world to continue spinning and be able to contain any harmony and organization at all.

So sometimes it's essential to err from one's identity, but despite that, many humans are on a determined quest to define their identity. I don't believe Meursault is one of these people though. To him, such a quest might be silly and unnecessary. He would not feel the need to publicly promote one's identity. I think that he would say identity is a personal matter, and how other people perceive you is of little importance. Or more likely, he would think it is completely insignificant and believe that you should just be authentic to yourself and avoid using the tag of "identity." In Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky seemed to believe in the value of public opinion, while Camus doesn't. Meursault did and said as he pleased, and he found value in living a solitary life. His lifestyle reminds me of a quote from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness: "We live as we dream-alone."