Identity Crisis in Jean Toomer'sCane

Abstract

Jean Toomer'sCanebrilliantly portrays dislocation, isolation and identity crisis of educated Negroes living in north due to their strong attachment to white culture and way of life. It is about the anxiety and pain of educated black folks as they are inbetween push and pull of white and black culture, their sense of dislocation and isolation arise with the realization that they can neither be true white nor they can completely be aloof from African American heritage. In other words,Caneshows the difficulty of the educated black people toassociate themselves with down-trodden, uncivilized and poverty stricken black folks who are considerably less advanced and civilized. In short,Caneshows how past continues to haunt the dreams and lives of the black intellectuals who have strayed far from their roots.