Culture and Identity as Depicted in Kay’s “Trumpet” Research Paper

Themes constitute an important part of literal work as they help authors to bring out various emotions and perceptions concerning their work. To the reader, themes are central to in-depth analysis and understanding. In the contemporary world, culture has acquired new dimensions making it even more contentious than ever. According to Bayart (1996), “History and anthropology offer many examples of culturally undefined societies, whose members base their identities on exchange, intermarriage, and cosmopolitanism.” Therefore culture can become a rather vague way to determine identity, especially when based on poorly defined or understood aspects. Even the contemporary society blessed with sociologists still finds it hard to define primary aspects of culture. In “Trumpet,” Jackie Kay manages to portray the theme of identity from different perspectives in terms of gender, race, and sexuality. The novel brings out the perception of various characters upon the revelation that the famous Trumpeter known as Joss was actually a woman, but who lived his whole life as a man. The perceptions concentrate on this rather unconventional living with total disregard of the achievements of Joss as a trumpeter, as a father, and a husband. The book covers various issues with relation to how cultural disparities have been perceived with prejudice instead of understanding. In an interview, the author reveals that the novel aimed at telling the same story from different perspectives to bring out various perceptions. Perhaps the author aimed at providing every reader with a perception to identify with. In the same Interview, Jackie reveals that she wrote the novel to emphasize how people invent identities to try and hide their own shortcomings, and how other people still use the same identity to discriminate against others. According to Appiah (2005) on Identity, “Individuality is not so much a state to be achieved as a mode of life to be pursued.” This brings out the dynamism surrounding identity by emphasizing the fact that identity is not an aspect that requires conformation, but that is characterized by continuous transformations.

Culture is a dynamic factor that is bound to change depending on aspects including the surroundings and technological advancements. It is therefore important that culture is viewed in consideration of other underlying issues, to avoid the prejudices that are common when referring to emerging cultures such as gays (Nardo 135). The conflicts within cultures are not totally destructive as they enable parties to become conscious of their differences, understand each other, and eventually co-exist in harmony. In the “Trumpet,” Millie who is Joss’s wife has managed to live with him for all those years with the complete knowledge that Joss was a woman (Kay 8). Culturally, Joss can be referred to as a lesbian in conventional terms. The gay community is still a community under discrimination even in the most civilized societies.

However, it is also imperative to outline the extent to which Joss’s life defined his identity. To his wife Millie, who knew every secret that Joss kept from the rest, Joss was a partner, a father, and a Trumpeter and he did a commendable job in all the roles. Kay manages to bring out the intrigues and fantasies of the human mind. Furthermore, Kay through the life of Joss emphasizes the fact that fantasies can still be achieved and dreams can be more than just mere illusions. Joss achieves the fantasies of living as a man by actually letting everybody think that Joss is male. The only person who knows about Joss’s secret is their wife, who perhaps supports him in arriving at his fantasies. It is therefore obvious that Millie does not define Joss’s identity in terms of what is doing currently but is conscious of the real Joss. The relationship between Joss and Millie is Romantic and there is no limit to what love can tolerate. Culturally, Joss represents a minority. Joss is a black lesbian living in a white society. Perhaps, Colman is the one who has been affected most by the revelations about Joss posthumously. Colman’s perception of Joss was that Joss was a husband, a father, and a trumpeter. On discovery about the real gender of the person he had called father all his life, Colman becomes disillusioned. According to Poussaint, a very small segment of the African-American societies accept gays and lesbians as they accept the rest of the straight African- Americans. In most instances, they are treated with contempt and disgust. (124) The observation outlines how society finds it difficult to embrace gays and lesbians as a different cultural group that needs understanding. The contemporary society, characterized by globalization that has brought persons of diverse cultures together in various respects is still prejudicial towards gays and lesbians. Coleman having grown up in the same society was predisposed to respond to Joss’s story with prejudice, leaving very little room for understanding. Prejudice clouds rational judgment especially when it comes to the minority. This is because they are rarely given an audience and are seen as “blemishes” in a “perfect” society. However, the realities of the contemporary world marred by prejudices against women and gays would have threatened Joss’s dreams. It is for this reason that Joss decided to live a double life; as a man to the judgemental world and as a woman to Millie. These circumstances compel Joss to hide his actual self in order to be in a position to continue performing jazz competitively, get married to Millie, and even manage to adopt a child.

Kay admits that she used different characters to tell the story of Joss from different perspectives. Kay avoids being judgemental but rather provides the reader with various perceptions that people have of cultural diversity. However, it is also observed that Kay leans towards the people who perceive cultural diversity with prejudice. All the other characters except Millie consider Joss from a negative aspect. The author manages to extensively use the aspect of culture to bring out the theme of identity. Colman and the rest of the characters except Millie, define Joss’s identity in terms of gender, race, and sexual orientation. It is for this reason that they become disillusioned and even outraged on discovering that Joss was actually a woman. The only person who defines Joss’s identity differently is Millie. Millie understands Joss better because she is also aware of the stigma that Joss might have encountered, had Joss decided to live his life as a female lesbian. The theme of identity in the “Trumpet” brings out the correlation between identity and culture and how it is difficult to separate the two aspects in contemporary society. Jackie Kay’s objective with regard to the book was to emphasize the issue of identity especially when it involves cultures that are a minority and that are considered unconventional.

References

1. Appiah, Anthony. The Ethics of Identity. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2005.
2. Bayart, François-Jean. The Illusions of Cultural Identity. London: C. Hurst & Company, 1996.
3. Bold Type. An Interview with Jackie Kay. 2008.
4. Nardo, Ann. The Lucid Self in Seventeenth-Century English Literature. London: McGraw-Hill, 1991.
5. Poussaint, Alvin. An Honest Look at Black Gays and Lesbians. Ebony. New York: Johnson, 1990.