Introduction
According to Stryker’s role identity theory, people create a sense of who they are by assuming different roles within their social environment. Roles are symbolic representations of expectations and actions that shape people’s identities (Stets and Serpe 12). Everybody’s life is enriched by romantic interactions, which significantly affect how people develop their role identities.
Stryker’s concept of role identity is illustrated in The Sojourner and What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. These two significant narratives offer insight into the impact of romantic relationships on identity formation. The subtle interplay between roles and emotions in these tales is explored in this article, which utilizes Stryker’s theory of identity salience hierarchy to demonstrate the profound impact that romantic connections have on the characters’ sense of self and identity development.
The Sojourner
In The Sojourner, the connections between the characters John Ferris and Elizabeth are complex and significantly affect how they play out their roles. John Ferris simultaneously performs the functions of husband to Jeannine and lover to Elizabeth, creating difficulties between the roles that test his sense of self. His intense emotional ties to both women cause tension, which leaves him unsure of who he is as a spouse and filled with insecurity.
Jeannine has role difficulties as she fights with the idea of being the wife of an unfaithful spouse. Her status as a wife puts her at odds with her desire for a strong, committed relationship. The difficulty in Elizabeth’s role as John’s lover also stems from her need for a more substantial emotional commitment from him, which he finds difficult to give because of his loyalty to Jeannine.
The study of role tensions and insecurity is enhanced by the clever use of literary devices by McCullers, such as metaphors and symbols. For instance, John Ferris’s struggle is expressed when he tells Elizabeth, “I don’t know where it’s going with Jeannine, but I don’t want it to end (McCullers 385).” The metaphor “where it’s going” highlights his lack of confidence in his future and his capacity to be a good husband. This metaphor serves as an aperture into John’s inner issues by highlighting the tension between his identities as a husband and a lover, leading to unease and instability.
The idea of a “long, black road,” which represents Elizabeth’s desire for a committed and long-lasting relationship, also conveys her need for John to engage emotionally on a deeper level. This symbolism shows her need for security and stability in her relationship with John. The road symbolizes their trip together, highlighting her intense emotional involvement and desire for a long-lasting relationship.
By understanding Stryker’s identity salience hierarchy, role conflicts in “The Sojourner” may be resolved. Based on emotional relevance, the characters prioritize their roles. Consequently, John prioritizes his duty as a spouse over that of a lover, while Elizabeth, despite her displeasure, accepts her secondary role to maintain their relationship. This decision-making process exemplifies how emotional connection and commitment resolve conflicts across roles and create a cohesive identity.
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
Mel and Terry, two characters in Raymond Carver’s tale, engage in a conversation about love that reflects their roles and struggles. Mel, a cardiologist, plays both the professional and the romantic roles, which conflict. He finds it challenging to comprehend love beyond the scope of his medical training, which makes his romantic interactions uncomfortable and uneasy. On the other hand, Terri prioritizes her identity as a survivor and someone aware of the darker sides of love due to the traumatizing love experiences she has had in the past.
Carver expertly combines literary devices, such as similes and metaphors, to depict role tensions and discomfort. Mel’s failure to comprehend love exemplifies his statement that “you can’t see, hear, or feel it. It’s impossible to feel with your fingers or hear with your ears” (Carver 400). Concerning his sense of self as a partner, this analogy emphasizes his discomfort and difficulties in understanding love beyond its outward appearance. In contrast to the passionate and intimate nature of his romantic connections, the analogy highlights Mel’s professional identity and analytical, detached attitude towards love.
Terry’s ambiguity regarding her status as a wife is indicated by the phrase, “My life has been stolen from me.” The word “stolen” implies a lack of control over her job and represents her issues with security and commitment inside her marriage. This analogy illustrates Terry’s mental anguish as she tries to accept her role as a wife and find stability in her identity while still juggling her prior traumas. The emotional impact of Mel and Terri’s roles has not yet been balanced, as the role conflict in their relationship remains unaddressed. Their romantic connection is overshadowed by Terri’s terrible history, which causes confusion and uneasiness in their roles as lovers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the stories illustrate how role identity theory impacts a person’s sense of self in romantic relationships. Using Stryker’s idea of the identity salience hierarchy, these literary works brilliantly demonstrate the profound impact of romantic relationships on role identity. They demonstrate how love relationships form the basis for most roles and how people feel secure and committed to specific roles. Using metaphors, similes, and symbols deftly, McCullers and Carver depict the characters’ sense of self amid their love entanglements, enriching the examination of role conflicts and fears. The complexity of human nature and the ongoing struggle to comprehend oneself in the context of love are poignantly illuminated by these stories.
Works Cited
Carver, Raymond. What We Talk about When We Talk about Love. Vintage Digital, 1989.
McCullers, Carson. The Sojourner. The Library of America, 1998.
Stets, Jan E., and Richard T. Serpe. “Identity Theory.” Handbook of Social Psychology, vol. 31, no. 60, 2013, pp. 9–14. Web.