Disillusioned Identity--Not so Funny: The Influence of Other Selves in "Funnyhouse of a Negro"

Authors

Amanda ReCupido '07, Illinois Wesleyan University

Abstract

Living in a country that prides itself on its citizens' rich blend of cultural backgrounds, one may underestimate the uneasiness some have fitting into the greater society-an idea that is explored in "Funnyhouse of a Negro." The play depicts a damaged relationship between Negro-Sarah and the broader society; she becomes isolated through her other selves and enters into an altered state of reality that is established by her self-hatred generated from denial of her heritage and an inability to reach her aspiration of whiteness. Her self-hatred accumulates in direct relation to the surmounting influence of her self-created identities, causing her to suffer from insanity and leading inevitably to her suicide.

Recommended Citation

ReCupido '07, Amanda (2006) "Disillusioned Identity--Not so Funny: The Influence of Other Selves in "Funnyhouse of a Negro"," The Delta: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 4.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/delta/vol1/iss1/4