Blog Post #1 - Identity

When reflecting upon the concept of identity, it is important to look at one's own understanding of the subject first. To do this it would be wise for one to consider questions such as what sorts of categories can be a part of identity? How broad is it? How does one identify themselves, and how do others identify them? What influences can identity have in the unfolding of circumstances? Taking into account such questions while reading and reflecting I believe can bring out some key concepts within text that maybe aren’t so obvious and don’t often get acknowledged.

Outside of this course, my understanding of identity primarily comes from social understanding. I think it's beautiful that in the 21st century the way people view identity is really being reshaped - anywhere from in terms of sexuality to gender roles. We’re living in a society that’s fighting for change and is really working to raise questions in terms of rights and equality. In terms of identity, how people should be recognized is a key topic, and based on how people identify themselves may have effects on their rights. Which is just crazy to me. Sometimes when I see what’s being debated, and it seems to me that obviously equality should win out, I can’t help but be frustrated that this is still an issue that undergoes much opposition. It’s simple: we’re not living in antiquated times anymore, like the likes of Shakespeare (I mean no offense). But that being said, in his own time I love how Shakespeare plays with identity and is willing to say things or go where others may not, and get risky. Take for example any of Shakespeare’s plays where cross-dressing occurs; people are taking on other roles and assuming identities so that they may do things they previously wouldn’t have been able to do. I think that’s a real social message for back then, and even still relevant today.

Another understanding I’ve garnered of identity comes from my class last semester with Dr. Sebastian, Reading Historically I. In that particular course, we took a look at texts and considered the role in identity in them. That brought up such categories in our studies like the notion of comitatus – a body of companions (OED) – which spurred reflection on other related ideas like identity in relation to loyalty and brotherhood, the role of outsiders (and who they could be identified as – mostly women), and gender roles, stemming from that. It really made me realize while there can be a singular concept of one’s own identity, it’s really interwoven with how we identify ourselves with and to others. In Beowulf, for example, our title character identifies himself not by name at first but rather by his people, his king, his role, and his father. So it can be seen that identity, though it may not normally be viewed as such, belongs to the community and not always just the individual.

The definition of identity in the OED (the Oxford English Dictionary), is identified (no pun intended) as thus:

Identity, n. – The quality or condition of being the same in substance, composition, nature, properties, or in particular qualities under consideration; absolute or essential sameness, oneness.

I find this definition curious when considering Shakespeare's early works because as discussed in class, he's going to play with forms, and challenge the constructs, much like how his characters that take on different identities in his plays do. The origin of the word identity is Middle French and as listed in the OED has a few different ways of being defined. That makes me laugh, given the staunchness of the above definition, because even identity itself can be loose in it's own identification. I can tell already that identity will be a diversified and deep topic because of the many ways it may go.