Volume III Special Issue I January 2023

Name of Author : L Sujitha, Dr. S Sophia Christina

Title of the paper : Identity Crisis and Multiculturalism in The Autograph Man

Abstract: The Autograph Man by Zadie Smith reveals the identity crisis faced by an individual with a multicultural background along with his obsessions with everyone who he believes to be better than himself. The unconscious rejection of his true identity makes him hanker after the ‘made-up’ identities of others, he idealizes the existence of others. The protagonist Alex-Li Tandem is a Jewish Chinese living in London. His profession is to collect and sell the autographs of different celebrities. The profession itself is not an issue but his obsession with this profession coupled with his rejection of accepting his roots reveals the theme of identity crisis in the backdrop of multiculturalism. This essay will explore the identity crisis faced by Alex and his obsession with the identity of celebrities. The essay will discuss that in a postcolonial world individuals with a multicultural background suffer from alienation from their true identity and even though colonialism has ended its aftereffects still impact the lives of many individuals like Alex.

Keywords : Identity Crisis, Colonialism, Post-Colonialism, Multiculturalism, Alienation.

DOI :

Page Number : 97-101