Literature plays an integral role in the development of identity and social theory. The issue of identity emerges as the central focus of Valerie Martin’s 2003 novel, Property, which underlines the dehumanizing power of ownership and the inhumane effects of slavery in the U.S. The novel is told through Manon’s point of view, providing the reader with an intimate monologue of the protagonist’s perceived reality and truth. The novel explores the horrors of slavery alongside master-slave relationships through the narrative of a fictional character in a non-fictional period of history. Attachment theory and research has been implemented in order to gain a better understanding of the main character’s complex nature and intricate relationships.
