Identity Crisis in Fataneh Haj Seyed Javadi’s Drunkard Morning and Annie Ernaux’s The Frozen Woman from Erikson’s Perspective

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of French Language and Literature, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

2 PhD Student, Department of French Language and Literature, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Identity crisis is a fundamental and complex psychological issue that holds particular significance during psychosocial development, especially in adolescence. Erik H. Erikson’s eight-stage theory, emphasizing the interaction between biological and social factors, provides a theoretical framework for understanding this crisis. This study analyzes the identity crisis in two prominent novels: Drunkard Morning by Fataneh Haj Seyed Javadi and The Frozen Woman by Annie Ernaux. Although these works are set in two distinct cultural-historical contexts, both depict the identity challenges faced by women confronting social structures. The findings reveal that the main characters in both novels are situated in the fifth stage of Erikson’s theory, “Identity vs. Role Confusion,” and encounter multiple internal and external conflicts on their path toward forming their identity. This study highlights the crucial role of family, society, and culture in the identity formation process and demonstrates how literature can reflect individual and social psychological crises. The results contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of individual and social identity across diverse cultural contexts and provide a foundation for future interdisciplinary research.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Persian Language and Literature

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 07 May 2026

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 16 September 2025
  • Revise Date: 30 November 2025
  • Accept Date: 21 March 2025
  • Publish Date: 07 May 2026

Share

How to cite

Statistics