Psychological Strains in Concealed Identities: Evaluation of Racism in The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Keywords:
Bennett, racial passing, concealed identities, The Vanishing Half, Freud, psycheAbstract
This study deals with complex emotional landscape of racial passing in the novel The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. Employing Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis, focus of the study is on characters’ experiences revealing identities, social expectations, and internal struggles that define their lives. The inner desire of characters for acceptance, the interaction between personal desires and practical realities, and internalized moral values constitute complex psychological development. Through the lens of Freud’s Id, Ego, and Superego, the paper presents the characters’ lives as an in-depth examination of the psychological tensions associated with the concealment of racial identity. The findings highlight the enduring consequences of carrying a dual identity in a racialized society. This study provides a glimpse into the psychoanalytic analysis of The Vanishing Half, offering a compelling perspective on the characters' psychological complexities as they wrestle with the profound implications of racial passing. The study not only highlights the literary value of the novel, but also contributes to a deeper understanding of the human psyche in terms of identity and race in particular.
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