Identity In A Haunted House And The Bloody Chamber

Identity is a controversial term; it has been discussed by various theories and as a result has a number of definitions.Mark Leary in aHandbook of Self and Identitydefines identity as “the traits and characteristics, social relations, and social membership that define who one is” (69). According to Leary, identity is something that can be constructed, built, and shaped in light of various perspectives such as, social, psychological and cultural aspects. Embedded in the concept of identity is the sexual aspect that is a key component in the process of constructing an identity especially in women. Mark Leary’s definition sheds light on the challenges that women face in their journey for seeking an identity because women in a patriarchal society shape their identity by seeking the approval of a male gaze that would give them a respected place in society through marriage. Foucault’s concept of the panoptical role of social institutions along with Jean Paul Sartre’s concept of “existentialism” can help unravel the intricate process of identity formation in feminist literature. The following paper aims at analyzing selected literary works by the two celebrated feminist authors and suggests that reading “A Haunted House” (1921) by Virginia Woolf and” The Bloody Chamber” (1979) by Angela Carter from a sociological perspective and as feminist literature …show more content…
Moreover, her identity is linked to his identity. In this case identity isrevealed as a constructed and shaped object which depends on various aspects; psychological, cultural, social, political and gender aspects. “Identities are not the fixed markers people assume them to be but are instead dynamically constructed in the moment”(Leary 70).This suggests that an individual’s identity is a constructed object that depends on several various factors such as culture, gender, social and political