Who knew that actors had so many identity crises? In The Day of the Locust, we're introduced to a ramshackle group of weirdos with one thing in common: they were all drawn to Hollywood like broken, crazy moths to a flame. The only problem, of course, is that none of them have any clue who they really are. Harry Greener can't let go of his past success. His daughter Faye creates a new personality every week. And poor Tod Hackett is unaware of the darkness that lurks deep inside himself. Although what they find might not be pretty, each of these characters goes on a quest to find his or her true self over the course of the novel.
Questions About Identity
- How does Tod's identity change over the course of the novel?
- Is Faye aware of how artificial she is?
- Are any characters confident about their identity?
- In what ways is Harry experiencing an identity crisis?