The White Castle

Orhan Pamuk’s novel The White Castle does well to encompass the contemporary topic of identity throughout its plotline.  Over the course of the story, the narrator and his ‘master’, Hoja, both must come to terms with the concept of self and what it means to be an individual, unique to each of them personally.  Due to their uncanny similarities in physical appearance, Hoja concerns himself with learning all that the narrator knows and eventually the two characters are able to switch places with one another without detection because of their similarities. 

This idea that the narrator was not necessarily himself alone is exemplified when he and Hoja stand in front of the mirror together after the narrator has examined an ailment of Hoja’s skin.  The narrator comments that “the two of us were one person!  This now seemed to be an obvious truth” (82).  After Hoja had learned to perfectly imitate the narrator and mimic his every move, there was truly no way to distinguish the two characters.  Hoja goes to further reiterate his intentions of becoming one another when he continuously repeats to the narrator that “I was he and he was I” (85).

After the two characters have lived out the story and the narrator has left the servitude of the sultan, the narrator come to a realization that I believe to be one of the most prominent themes of the novel.  After many years of service, seven of which came after suspicions began to arise that the narrator was not who he was claiming to be (Hoja), the narrator began to once again feel confident in his answer to the question of identity and what makes someone who they are.  The narrator says, “I was now quite shameless in answering the questions about my identity which had at first put me on guard: ‘Of what importance is it who a man is?’ I’d say.  ‘The important thing is what we have done and will do’” (149).  

Personally, I think that this message is important to be heard in the world today, so it is appropriate how blatantly Pamuk relays it.  Regardless of our reputations or what others may think of us, we are still in control of who we are.  If we choose to do, and continue to do, what is right, there is no need to question our identities.  We can hold steadfast in knowing that we are who we are.  And that will be just fine.