Date
5-2020
Document Type
Capstone Project (Open Access)
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Department
Humanities & Communication
Major
Subject Matter Preparation in English, Creative Writing and Social Action
First Advisor
Maria Villasenor
Abstract
This research essay and collection of poems will highlight key moments in coming to terms with identity. For myself, these identities include race, sexuality, and gender. I have found an expressive outlet through poetry in which I can deduce experiences and make them more approachable for the audience from the perspective of a black, homosexual man. Similarly, Toni Morrison tasks the readers to understand the ways in which identities propose limitations on individuals in her novel, Beloved .The pieces included in this selection will illustrate how life experiences often dictate ones’ identity, and how exploring these differences can inspire both individual and societal revolution. Both works will beg the question to what extent may our identities haunt us?
Recommended Citation
Butler Ruthford, Azariah, "The Prodigy of Existence: An Essay on Identity and Its Constraints with Original Poems" (2020). Capstone Projects and Master's Theses. 798.
https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/caps_thes_all/798
Included in
Literature in English, North America, Ethnic and Cultural Minority Commons, Nonfiction Commons, Poetry Commons