Abstract:
This research explores the transformation and identity crisis as a comparative analysis
of The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid and The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka.
Characters in both novellas face identity crises, and they undergo an identity
development and tackle these issues differently. For this research, the researcher applied
the theoretical framework of Erik Erikson’s (1950,1968) theory of “Psychological
Identity Development.” He proposed psychological identity development stages in the
lifespan of a human. The researcher utilized qualitative research methodology to do
textual analysis of these short novels. Catherine Belsey’s “Textual Analysis as Research
Method” was applied by the researcher for the textual analysis of both novellas. This
research answers the identity crisis faced by the protagonists of The Last White Man
and The Metamorphosis. The protagonists of both novellas face an identity crisis in the
text. In The Metamorphosis, Samsa faced social alienation and isolation, physical
transformation, and the negative behavior of the family. On the other hand, in The Last
White Man, Anders faces physical changes in color, threats to life, and non-acceptance
of society. The second question addressed the distinct differences and continuum of
identity development. This continuum of identity development is exercised at eight
stages of life. The first four stages of the theory do not apply to the novella, The Last
White Man. Through the analysis of The Metamorphosis in the light of Erikson’s
Theory, we have concluded that Samsa’s psychological journey navigates his
development in a positive sense amidst his identity crisis. In the novella, Samsa can’t
sustain his positive development throughout the novella after his transformation into a
giant insect. His family's aggressive attitude towards the Samsa plays a vital role in his
despair and demise at the end of the novella. He got socially alienated and isolated in
his own house which deprived him of developing an intimate relationship with
x
someone. His ego integrity and self-identity were questioned by his family, especially
his father's behavior towards him contributed to his fall. Samsa isn’t able to develop his
identity development throughout the novel and faces an identity crisis. On the other
hand, in the novella, The Last White Man, Anders shows us the positive identity
development in the text despite the identity crisis and the threats he faced throughout
the novels from the white community. His father was a great support in the text and
helped him to accept his new black identity. He helped his son in defending himself
from the militant group of the white community. Anders developed an intimate
relationship with his girlfriend. Oona played an important role by accepting Anders as
a black person. So, the behavior of Oona and his father helped him to develop integrity
in his identit
