A comparative study of the search for black identity in the selected plays of Lorraine Hansberry and James Baldwin

Abstract

Racism in America has played a vital role in the destruction of the black newlineman s positive identity elements. The black man s obsession with identity has newlineemerged as a result of his peculiar experiences in his mother country. He is newlineforced to accept the values of the dominant white society which is not ready to newlineaccept him as a person. This crisis of identity is clearly evident in Afro newlineAmerican writings and life. An existential anxiety and an alienation from the newlinesociety and from himself, a feeling of nobodyness and the struggle for survival newlineare the prominent aspects of American life. Identity development is a newlinecontinuous process and never really ends. The proposed study of the search for newlineidentity of Lorraine Hansberry and James Baldwin and of the heroes of their newlineplays is based on this concept. This is a psychological and literary study based newlinemainly on the theories of the famous social psychologist Erik H. Erikson. newlineThe thesis is divided into five chapters and chapter five gives the newlineconclusion with a comparative study of the identity quest found in Lorraine newlineHansberry and James Baldwin. Chapter one contains the necessary social, newlinepolitical and cultural background of the Negro which compels him to search for newlineidentity. Chapter two presents the theme of identity. Various identity theories newlineare discussed and an analysis of problems of identity faced by the African newlineAmericans is also given. Chapter three brings into focus the identity quest newlinefound in the plays of James Baldwin. Chapter four projects the search for newlineidentity found in the plays of Lorraine Hansberry. Chapter five focuses on the newlinevarious similarities and differences between Lorraine Hansberry and James newlineBaldwin in their treatment of the concept of identity. newlineBoth Lorraine Hansberry and James Baldwin conquered and contributed newlinemuch to the world. They created new possibilities for the blacks. Through their newlineplays they proved that art can be a weapon to liberate the people.