Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to unearth gender identities of both female and male characters in the novel entitled Howards End (1910) by E. M. Forster through the lenses of identity criticism. As an author, having an intuitive sense of what his readers wanted as an author, Forster observes the relationships of the people and describes all aspects of human life genuinely in this novel. Forster narrates his characters as the representatives of real life in the Edwardian period to his readers with their own weaknesses and strengths. Thus, this paper attempts to analyse gender identities of the characters through identity criticism. Additionally, this paper also attempts to uncover how both female and male characters verify their own gender identities in the Edwardian period where gender roles are gradually blurring. Accordingly, this paper examines the self-verification processes of the characters through the lenses of identity criticism with a focus on “input”, “identity standard”, “comparator” and “output”. This study concludes that both female and male characters search for maintaining their social relationships in contexts where their identities are verified. Also, it is concluded that the characters prefer to interact with the others who approve of their identities and avoid those who do not. It is also found that what affects identity standards most is the “comparator” and “error signal”, both of which are directly dealt with the society itself.