Constructing Multiple Selves in Washington’s Autobiography Up from Slavery

Abstract

This thesis aims to illustrate the idea of multiple selves of B. T. Washington in his autobiography Up from Slavery. Mainly, it discusses how the post- colonial period invites multiple identities in the multicultural world. The text presents Washington’s life story, how he grew up and becomes successful person in African- American culture. When he shifts from one state to another he faces diverse cultural influences. Identity is not innate rather it is constructed, Washington tries to present an idea that human identity is always in process which is not stable and fixed. His original African culture is changed because of the influence of American multiculturalism. Different factors like profession, geography, culture shape one’s identity and these very entities change Washington’s identity when he is in America. In this thesis, the concept of fluidity of identity and the concept of the multiple selves developed by Stuart Hall has been applied for analysis of the text. Based on the textual analysis, ideas of different critics and library based materials, the researcher explores multiple selves constructed through cross cultural phenomenon and finds out that the identity of Washington constantly changes through time and place.