Fragments of a Hybrid Self: A Study of Identity and Belonging in the Poetry of Derek Walcott

Abstract

The poetry of Derek Walcott unfolds a remarkable synthesis of cultural influences, literary traditions, and personal history. This paper exhibits the complex interplay of identity, hybridity, and belonging in his poetry.  Walcott's poetic voice negotiates the tensions between colonial heritage and cultural autonomy, between African and European influences, and between personal memory and collective history. Through a minute reading of selected poems, including "A Far Cry from Africa", "Names", and "The Schooner Flight", this study explores how Walcott constructs a hybrid self that resists fixed categories of identity.