Identity Crisis in Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You

Abstract

This paper undergoes complication of individual identity of the protagonist Lydia in the novel Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng’s. The divided family background creates confusion and dilemmatic situation further to define personal choice of subject. Lydia, the female character, grows up in culturally divided family. During the period of adolescence, she hangs up between personal desire and society but she cannot communicate her complicated situation with family members. This indecisive position cannot consolidate her to have unified cultural identity. The refection of dragon lady's image of the western society is experienced and Lydia has to be victim of the existing image and she struggles against it to establish her identity. Erik Erikson shows complicated contradiction between self and society in adolescent period which leads them towards negativity and frustration. Lydia undergoes contradiction between herself and society but she cannot communicate about it with society. This situation arises question of identity and then it causes mental suffering. Unfortunately, she is unable to communicate it to lessen her pressure and stress. This is how she is unable to find solution besides death. Because of racial, gender and psychological conflict with society, Lydia cannot establish her identity which causes her to death. Key Words: Adolescent, Identity Formation, Identity Crisis, Psychosocial Development, Alienation