Quest for Identity: A Study of Strindberg?s THE FATHER
I have been a great fan of August Strindberg and through this article I have made an attempt to explore and examine the theme of ‘quest for Identity’ which is one of the major concerns in Strindberg’s Play “The Father”. In the process of examination of the play the focus is on the protagonist, the captain who, struggles hard to establish his identity as a good father, a sincere husband and a hard working research scholar and above all a man with strong morals and convictions. His only Endeavour is to retain his male identity in fact; but every moment he feels that his identity is at stake. He is not prepared to surrender his male pride and power which receives frequent threats, actually an obstruction comes from his wife, the opposite sex. And the result is a clash of identities and power. The captain is forced to enter into conflicts, which result in misunderstanding and bitterness, loss of peace of mind and family happiness and marital harmony. His death brings an end to his struggles and efforts for assertion to his superiority and individuality. Ironically failure and tragedy become his ultimate destiny.
A person’s identity lives in the soul, not in the body even though the body influences the soul”, says Spinoza. Through all his actions the captain wants to show that his identity lives in the soul. His love for his daughter, his wife and his research work is the expression of his soul. Laura, his wife on the other hand, lives in her body not in her soul and there comes the difference. The captain wishes to live with his Visions, “fancies, ideas and illusions”, His ‘genius’ for him ,his science and his philosophy, determine his identity. His child Bertha is his “idea of immorality”. He