UNRAVELING THE COMPLEX TAPESTRY OF IDENTITY: EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF COLONIALISM THROUGH DUL JOHNSON'S DEEPER INTO THE NIGHT

Abstract

This paper delves into the intricate web of identity formation and its profound connection to the enduring legacy of colonialism. Through a critical analysis of Dul Johnson's thought-provoking novel, Deeper into the Night, and employing the lens of postcolonial theory, we illuminate the multifaceted dimensions of identity as they are affected by the historical, cultural, and psychological aftermath of colonial rule. It also sheds light on how individuals and communities grapple with hybrid identities, the politics of representation, and the power dynamics inherent in the construction of postcolonial identities. This study investigates how colonialism has left an indelible imprint on the identity of the colonized. Deeper into the Night serves as an apt literary canvas through which we explore the characters' struggles with their own sense of self in the wake of colonialism's destructive forces. By examining their experiences, we uncover the enduring consequences of colonial domination, including the erasure of indigenous knowledge systems, the imposition of foreign ideologies, and the fracturing of cultural identities.