Identity beyond one's self - individuality, community and imperfections in American literary texts

Does Singapore have a national identity? Do Singaporeans have a set of values or ideals that unite them? How does it feel to be a Singaporean?

In early America, there was a similar identity crisis which is captured throughout literary texts. Attaching one's identity to a concepts bigger than oneself was key for establishing identity, and I chose 2 American literature texts that convey this:

As its title suggests, theologian Jonathan Edward’s 18th century spiritual autobiography, Personal Narrative, explores his individual experience building a personal relationship with God.

Famed American poet Walt Whitman’s 19th century poem, Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, accounts the author's musings and observations onboard a ferry trip from Manhattan to Brooklyn.

To compare how individuals viewed identity beyond one's self, I have chosen 3 categories:

1. How they downplay their own individuality

2. How they view their connection with their fellow countrymen

3. How they process their imperfections

Through these comparisons, we can explore how individuals comprehend complicated questions such as their place in society, their connection to others, and their morality. We also get a glimpse into the similarities between religious reverence and patriotism.

Downplaying individuality

Both authors comprehend their place in the world by downplaying their individuality and personal experiences to instead attach their identity to larger concepts. They reject the idea that they are unique and value grander phenomena.

How Edwards defines identity through spirituality

In Personal Narrative, Jonathan Edwards strives to cultivate an identity as a servant of Christ. With dramatic language, Edwards portrays an image of a man pining for his individual nature and feelings to be overshadowed by his commitment to Christ. Edwards claims

“I felt in me a burning desire to be in everything a complete Christian… that I might live in all things, according to … the gospel” (Edwards, 18).

"Everything”, “complete”, and the phrase “live in all things” are absolutes, and they reveal that Edwards desires for his entire identity to revolve around his devotion to Christ. Perceiving his identity this way, rather than as someone with complicated personal desires and experiences, Edwards receives structure and purpose.

How Whitman defines identity through his physical surrounding

Similarly, in Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, Whitman sees himself as part of a crowd in a ferry, and uses an anaphora to subdue his individuality. In the second stanza of his poem, Whitman ponders how his experience crossing the East River is similar to all other commuters, and he repeats the word “Others” to start his lines.

“Others will watch the run of the flood-tide, Others will see the islands large and small, Others will see the shipping of Manhattan north and west, and the heights of Brooklyn to the south and east...” (Whitman, 17-19).

The repetition of "Others" draws attention towards the other commuters onboard the ferry, simultaneously drawing attention away from the author. Rather than focusing on his personal feelings crossing the river, Whitman presents the journey as a universal experience which is not unique. He is now able to perceive himself as just another face in the Brooklyn crowd, thus comprehending his identity as a member of the community. 

Therefore, the authors are similar in comprehending their place in society by drawing attention away from their individuality.

A connection to their fellow countrymen

As Edwards connects his personal identity to an internal, metaphysical entity, Christ, he feels disconnected from his fellow man.

In Personal Narrative, the author uses imagery to detail his desire to separate himself from others and connect with God in solitude.

“fixed ideas and imaginations… of being alone in the mountains, or some solitary wilderness… far from all mankind… sweetly conversing with Christ, and wrapped and swallowed up in God” (16).

The image conjured of a man at peace in nature conveys that Edwards finds comfort in the idea of separating himself from others and crowds to connect internally with God. The strong words “wrapped” and “swallowed” express how he wishes for God to consume his whole identity, leaving no room for connection with anyone else.

On the other hand, Whitman’s attachment to his external surroundings, make him feel unified with his countrymen.

In stanza 6 of Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, he uses an anaphora to express how he is experiencing his environment just like others before him.

“I too lived, Brooklyn of ample hills was mine, I too walk’d the streets of Manhattan island … I too had received identity by my body” (Whitman, 60-66).

With the repetition of the phrase “I too”, Whitman emphasises that he is sharing an experience, and hints that participating in these shared events validates him as a member of the Brooklyn community. Expressing his identity as being a member of the Brooklyn community then becomes intimate, and shows that Whitman feels unity with other community members.

How they process with their imperfections

While authors view themselves as inherently flawed, they use their identities to cope with this fact in different ways.

Edwards attaches his identity to Christ to escape guilt and punishment from his sinful ways.

Using strong imagery, Edwards portrays a frightening image of his heart as “an abyss infinitely deeper than hell”. The descriptions he uses here hints that he sees his flawed nature are endless, and that he has no way to change himself or improve. He is greatly burdened by his sins, and he believes that only God’s merciful nature can save him from their consequences.

“I should appear sunk down in my sins infinitely below hell itself… but the piercing eye of sovereign grace, that can pierce even down to such a depth.” (Edwards, 22).

The hope he finds in God hints that he attaches his identity to God for forgiveness from the consequences of his imperfect nature.

Whitman does not express guilt or seek forgiveness, but rather finds comfort by attaching his identity to his surroundings.

Using enumeration, he downplays his sins and normalises them. Listing out his sins, in

“was wayward, vain, greedy, shallow, sly, cowardly, malignant… refusals, hates, postponements, meanness, laziness” (79-80),

he draws attention away from each individual sins, reducing their severity in the reader's eyes. And with the phrase "was one with the rest" (81) he expresses that he is just a face in the crowd, just one of the many who has committed sins.

The idea that he is not alone in committing sins is comforting as it provides another layer for Whitman to connect with his fellow countrymen. This comfort frees him from guilt or requiring forgiveness.

Identity beyond one's self - Choosing our own path

The vastly different ways in which they perceive important concepts like morality and community highlights just how diverse American society truly was.

Ultimately, the fact that they had the opportunity to choose the foundations of their identity to is a testament to the freedom and prosperity that the American people enjoyed. Similarly, the lack of coherence we might experience in Singapore could be a blessing in disguise.

For another analysis on the connection between the individual and state, check out my reading of the Carnivalesque in Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children.