INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH CULTURE SOCIETY ISSN(O): 2456-6683 Monthly Peer-Reviewed, Refereed, Indexed Journal [ Impact Factor: 6.834 ] Volume - 7, Issue - 5, May - 2023 Publication Date:10/05/2023 Available online on - WWW.IJRCS.ORG Page 1 Theme of Identity Crisis in Margaret Atwood’s Lady Oracle Dr. Priyanka Singla Associate Professor, Department of English, Government College for Women, Hisar, India Email - priyanka.ind81@gmail.com 1. INTRODUCTION: Margaret Atwood's Lady Oracle is a novel that explores the theme of identity crisis through the eyes of the novel's protagonist, Joan Foster. The novel revolves around Joan's attempts to reconcile with her past, come to terms with her true identity, and break free from the multiple masks she wears. This paper examines the importance of identity crisis as portrayed in Lady Oracle. Joan's identity struggle is a central theme in the novel. It is a powerful exploration of identity crisis, self-discovery, and the importance of acceptance. Joan's multiple identities are a metaphor for the many masks that we wear in everyday life. The novel shows that the key to discovering one's true identity is through self- awareness and acceptance of one's past and experiences. Ultimately, the novel teaches us that true identity lies not in the masks we wear or the roles we play, but in our ability to embrace who we are and live authentically. 2. SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL: In the opening scene, she is seen faking her own death, which suggests that she is trying to escape from her past and create a new identity for herself. However, as the novel progresses, she realizes that she cannot escape her identity, and must confront and accept it to move forward in life. Joan's attempt to shed her layers of identities and reveal her true self is a powerful metaphor for the importance of self-discovery and acceptance. Joan's multiple identities are created to escape a reality that she finds difficult to accept. The novel suggests that identity crisis is not merely an existential problem, but is often driven by emotional and psychological traumas. Joan's trauma is largely due to the abuse she experienced from her mother and the death of her father. These incidents have left scars in Joan's psyche, and she seeks to create different identities to retreat from the pain of her past. As she grapples with these traumas, she realizes that the key to finding her true identity is to confront her past and resolve her traumas. Throughout the novel, Joan's identity crisis is also used to explore themes of gender and social norms. Joan is a woman who has been conditioned by societal expectations of femininity and womanhood. The novel shows how Joan struggles to fit into these boxes, and how her search for identity is, in part, a rebellion against these norms. For instance, the romance novels that Joan writes are seen as a way for her to escape from the gender roles society has set for her. However, as she breaks free from these expectations and finds her true identity, she also begins to challenge social norms and expectations. Joan's search for who she truly is also important as it highlights the power of self-awareness and acceptance. Abstract: Margaret Atwood’s novel Lady Oracle is an exploration of the theme of identity and how it shapes the protagonist’s life. The novel is about Joan Foster, a successful author who is struggling with her identity and her perception of self. The theme of identity is present throughout the novel, particularly in the protagonist's search for self-discovery and self-acceptance. One of the most significant themes in Lady Oracle is the idea that identity is not fixed; instead, it is fluid and constantly evolving. Joan's search for self-discovery and self-acceptance shows that identity is not only shaped by our past experiences, but also by our present actions and choices. This is evident in the different identities Joan creates for herself in the novel, each of which reflects a different aspect of her personality. Another theme related to identity in the novel is the idea of performance. Joan's multiple identities are, in a sense, performances that she puts on for different audiences. Whether it is as a successful author, a romantic novelist, or a fat woman trying to find acceptance, Joan is always performing for others. However, as the novel progresses, she begins to realize that she cannot continue to perform for others without sacrificing her true identity. The novel shows that the key to discovering one's true identity is through self-awareness and acceptance of one's past and experiences. Ultimately, the novel teaches us that true identity lies not in the masks we wear or the roles we play, but in our ability to embrace who we are and live authentically. Key Words: Identity Crisis, Search for Self, Self- Acceptance, Multiple Identities. DOIs:10.2017/IJRCS/202305001 --:-- Research Paper / Article / Review