LP: Why is the concept of identity often an elusive one?

 LP entry: Why is the concept of identity often an elusive one in texts? Consider the Monbiot texts as well as other texts covered during your English studies.

The concept of identity can be hard to pin down in texts, for one because identity affects text often in an implicit way. The form, subject, and tone of a text are at least in part indicative of the identity of the author. Depending on the author a lot can be done to mask the identity of the author, but it's hard to remove all the traces of an author's identity from their work. Looking at George Monbiot, he's not particularly explicit in inserting his identity into his work, but it's nevertheless an important aspect of his writing. The parts of Monbiot's writing that most explicitly show his identity are the fact that he's writing an opinion column and the large picture of the author next to the title. Implicitly the tone, form, and structure of Monbiot's writing often reveal a lot about Monbiot's stance on the issue he's discussing and furthermore act as a reflection of the identity of the author. Another text we've done that deals with identity is Oranges are Not the Only Fruit, whose plot is heavily based on Jeanette Winterson's own childhood, but decidedly not an autobiography. The text both is and isn't autobiographical, precisely because Winterson recognizes that an authors identity is so closely connected to the work they produce.