Ethnicity and ethnic identity in Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex"

Thesis (M.A.) , 2005 , 88 Pages , Grade: 1,5

American Studies - Literature

Instead of investigating the most obvious aspect of the novel, namely gender identity, this work focuses on the ethnic novel Middlesex with its particular interpretation of ethnicity and ethnic identity. These assumed marginal aspects are of unique importance when it comes to their relationship with the main theme of the book - gender identity. The concept of Greekness in the novel is not just a side effect or accidentally connected to the hermaphrodite story: the connection is clear as the hermaphrodite myth goes back to the Greeks.
What Americanness means to the protagonist and the individual characters in the novel; whether they would see themselves as hyphenated Americans or not are questions tangled in this paper. Middlesex is a novel that overflows with different notions of ethnic representation, ethnic identity, ethnic struggle and self-fashioning. Identity is nothing fixed but always changing as it is subject to choice and self-invention. Eugenides depicts an overarching concept of the new man/woman in the sense that the hermaphrodite Zora’s statement “‘Because we’re what’s next.’” (552) is the central message.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 0. Introduction: In the Middle of Everything.
• 1. Definitions
  • 1.1 Ethnicity and Ethnic Identity.
  • 1.2 The Tradition of Ethnic Writing.
    • 1.2.1 Historiographic Metafiction.
    • 1.2.2 Middlesex as an Ethnic Novel
  • 1.3 The Concept of Hybridity.
• 2. The Silk Road.
  • 2.1 The Road of Self-Transformation....
  • 2.2 The Silkworm Image.
• 3. The Melting Pot
  • 3.1. The Concept of the Melting Pot
  • 3.2 Henry Ford's English-Language Melting Pot
  • 3.3 Lefty and Desdemona: Melted into Amerikanidhes?
• 4. Blacks vs. Whites
  • 4.1 The Nation of Islam
    • 4.1.1 Naming.
    • 4.1.2 Fard Muhammad: The Master of Self-Invention..
    • 4.1.3 Tricknology.
  • 4.2 Black-White Relations...
    • 4.2.1 The Zebra Room
    • 4.2.2 The Race Riots of 1967...
    • 4.2.3 The Second American Revolution...
• 5. Ethnic Group Belonging.
  • 5.1 Middlesex
  • 5.2 Milton: Pursuing the American Dream
  • 5.3 Chapter Eleven: With a Knack for Self-Transformation…..\n
• 6. Ethnic Food.
  • 6.1 The Mediterranean Diet.
  • 6.2 Hercules Hot Dogs
• 7. In-Between: Cal/Callie
  • 7.1 Ethnic Identity at Baker & Inglis.....
  • 7.2 The Charm Bracelets: Everyone is Ethnic..
  • 7.3 Hermaphrodite: The Middle Way..\n

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

The objective of this paper is to examine the concept of ethnicity and ethnic identity in Jeffrey Eugenides' novel "Middlesex" by investigating the interplay between the narrative of the hermaphrodite protagonist and the novel's exploration of Greek-American identity.

• The role of ethnicity and ethnic identity in the novel "Middlesex."
• The impact of immigrant experiences on the formation of ethnic identity.
• The interplay between personal and historical events in shaping ethnic identity.
• The concept of hybridity as it relates to both gender and ethnic identity.
• The idea that everyone is ethnic and that identity is fluid and subject to choice.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction introduces the central character, Cal/Callie Stephanides, and explores the novel's hybrid nature, encompassing elements of family saga, coming-of-age narrative, science fiction, immigrant story, and love story.

Chapter 1 delves into definitions of ethnicity and ethnic identity, placing "Middlesex" within the tradition of ethnic writing and immigrant novels. It explores the concept of hybridity as a central theme within the novel.

Chapter 2 examines the "Silk Road" as a metaphor for self-transformation and explores the symbolism of the silkworm image. Chapter 3 discusses the concept of the melting pot and its relevance to the novel, particularly through the experiences of Lefty and Desdemona.

Chapter 4 focuses on the complex relationship between Black and White communities, including the Nation of Islam, its impact on naming practices, and the legacy of the 1967 Detroit race riots.

Chapter 5 investigates the concept of ethnic group belonging, highlighting the experiences of Cal/Callie, Milton, and the complexities of forging an American identity.

Chapter 6 explores the role of ethnic food, specifically the Mediterranean diet and the "Hercules Hot Dogs," as cultural markers and expressions of identity.

Chapter 7 delves into Cal/Callie's journey of self-discovery, exploring the concept of ethnic identity in various settings, such as Baker & Inglis and the Charm Bracelets. It also examines the significance of Cal/Callie's hermaphroditism as a symbol of the "middle way" and hybrid identity.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The central keywords in this paper are ethnicity, ethnic identity, immigrant experience, hybridity, gender identity, self-invention, postmodernism, and the novel "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides. These keywords highlight the focus on the interplay between individual experiences, cultural background, and societal perceptions of identity.

• College: University of Hannover (Englisches Seminar)
• Grade: 1,5
• Author: Anika Götje (Author)
• Publication Year: 2005
• Pages: 88
• Catalog Number: V42538
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638405478
• ISBN (Book): 9783638714716
• Language: English
• Tags: Ethnicity, Jeffrey, Eugenides, Middlesex