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Short Fiction · Theme

Identity and Self-Deception

How Short Fiction develops Identity and Self-Deception.

Characters often deceive themselves about their circumstances, as Dr. Henck in 'The Fur Coat' believes a fur coat will restore his wife's love, and Bloom dreams of a new life despite his past, while the tattooed anchor in 'The Blue Anchor' symbolizes a fixed but fading identity.

Where it surfaces

  • II

    The narrator's tattoo, a mark of his past as a ship's boy, becomes a focal point of identity and vulnerability, while he deceives himself about the uniqueness of their kiss.

  • III

    Richard's reluctance to wear the decoration and his reflection on the anchor's fading suggest a tension between his true self and the social identity imposed on him.

  • The Dream of Eternity

    The narrator's youthful belief in an immortal soul allows him to live a dissipated life without consequence, revealing a form of self-deception.

  • Communion

    The narrator, believing himself worldly, attempts to assert his maturity but is reduced to a stammering child when confronted by the clergyman, revealing his fragile self-image.

  • The Clown

    The boy's transformation into a clown on stage suggests a performance of identity, where his true self is hidden behind a mask of comedy, echoing the theme of self-deception.

  • Signy

    The narrator's creation of Signy as an imaginary companion and his later renaming her to Ida illustrate the fluidity of identity and the self-deception involved in hiding his inner world from adults.

  • A Masterless Dog

    The dog forgets he ever had a master, adopting a new identity as a masterless dog, only to be confronted by a haunting memory that challenges his self-perception.

  • The Burning City

    The boy cannot accept that he did not exist when the city burned, insisting 'I was somewhere,' revealing a nascent struggle with the concept of self and non-existence.

  • Archimedes' Point

    The narrator's attempt to follow the rowdy's advice while hiding his compliance reveals a struggle with pride and self-awareness.

  • II

    The narrator's identity is tied to his clothing and accessories; without them, he becomes a stranger to his own animals, highlighting how identity can be externally constructed.