Identity Crisis: The Fragmented Self in Elif Shafak’s Saint of Incipient Insanities

Abstract

This research, Identity Crisis: The Fragmented Self in Elif Shafak's Saint of Incipient Insanities, explores the determinants of identity crises, focusing on the characterization of Gail and Omer. The researcher employed a qualitative method, and the data were analyzed using the Close Reading technique by David Greenham. The theory of the third space, by Homi K. Bhabha, is used in this study. Identity crisis is a genuine practical challenge, and the characters Gails and Omer are subject to this issue in this novel. The study examines the contributory elements of an identity crisis and the character's approach to confronting and navigating this challenge to find a safe place. This study finds that the establishment of the third space results in a tragic ending, and to preserve and sustain their sanity, the characters grapple with their incipient insanities. The findings offer valuable insights into the practical implications of identity crises in real-world settings.