The Shadow of Extinction: Death and Suicidal Ideation in Sara Banerji's Blood Precious

This paper examines the identity crisis in the selected British novel, Blood Precious by Sara Banerji through a psychoanalytic lens, revealing how the protagonist grapples with fragmented selfhood amid social upheaval. The author analyses the protagonist- Lady Cunningham Symthe who displays solidary and suicidal behaviours, solely for the reason of being a widower. The protagonist’s identity fractures under several social pressures. This narrative depicts the protagonist’s constant battle with herself and her family members. Through Lady Cunningham Symthe’s struggle to navigate between herself and her family members, the author suggests that identity is not a fixed destination but a fluid, often painful negotiation of selfhood. Her identity crisis serves as a vehicle to understand her deliberations regarding her life.