The Construction of Identity in Don DeLillo’s White Noise

Banaz Wirya Ali

doi:10.25212/lfu.qzj.6.2.35

Abstract

The authors of Postmodernism illuminate the problems of life in a postmodern world. Identity is one of the most dominant themes for postmodern researchers, especially after the WWII. This study selects a novel of Don DeLillo’s White Noise in America. The main purpose behind this novel is to display to the readers that the issue of construction of identity is not merely faced by the immigrants but it is also faced by the native individuals in their motherland country.  The well-known American novelist Don DeLillo deals with the construction of identity according to his perspectives. The postmodern novelist in White Noise claims the role of consumerism, mass media and technology in the construction of identity. This paper displays the identity formation in multicultural society in America which determines by consumerism, technology and mass media as it is portrayed with an American citizen Jack Gladney in Don DeLillo’s White Noise. Besides, it interprets the extent to which the main character succeeds or fails in overwhelming the construction of identity in multicultural America. Consequently, this study displays the outcome of the main character’s struggle in the formation of their identity.  At the end of the novel, shows that Gladeny unsuccessfully construct his personal identity as a professor because he simulated a false person, and his identity was not stable.

Highlights

Donald Richard DeLillo (1936), wrote fifteen novels and four plays, is one of the masters of American fiction who is well-known for his important representations of contemporary American life
In WN, DeLillo clarifies the issue of the construction of identity from the view point of a native American citizen, who lived in a multicultural society
Jack Gladney, as the protagonist, struggled to construct a professional identity in a society which is dominated by consumerism, media and technology

Summary

Introduction

Donald Richard DeLillo (1936), wrote fifteen novels and four plays, is one of the masters of American fiction who is well-known for his important representations of contemporary American life. Think what it's like to be a killer Think how exciting it is, in theory, to kill a person in direct confrontation. In addition to centering on how the society forms identity in postmodern American society, the novel focuses on Jack and his wife’s horror of death and how they make plans to escape from that horror. In his novel, DeLillo attempts to show the modern-day of American society in which they become artificial and exploited by media, by, radio and TV

The Construction of Jack Gladney ‘s Identity as a Professor in WN

Gladney’s Identity as a Consumer in DeLillo’s WN

Conclusion