Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Anthony Akerman
Published on 2024-02-28 07:00:39
Nobody was who he thought they were. His world was turned upside down when he discovered he was adopted at a young age. His mother, father, sister, and grandparents were all strangers to him. The secrecy and shame surrounding adoption at the time only added to his confusion and feelings of abandonment. In Lucky Bastard, Anthony Akerman takes the reader on his journey to uncover the truth about his origins.
As he grappled with the revelation of his adoption, Anthony began to question who his biological parents were. His adoptive parents reassured him that they were his real parents, but he couldn’t shake the feeling of not knowing where he came from. The secrecy surrounding his adoption only fueled his curiosity and desire to uncover his true identity.
Growing up, Anthony found solace in literature, particularly in plays like Oedipus Rex and King Lear. The tragic tales of these characters, particularly Oedipus, resonated with him as he struggled to come to terms with his own adoption. Like Oedipus, Anthony realized that not knowing his true parentage had profound implications for his sense of self and identity.
The discovery that Oedipus himself was adopted struck a chord with Anthony. He saw parallels between his own story and that of the tragic hero, both grappling with the consequences of not knowing their true origins. As he delved deeper into his own past, Anthony began to wonder about his biological parents and where they might be.
The idea that his real parents could be out there somewhere, living separate lives, haunted Anthony. He couldn’t help but wonder if he had siblings he didn’t know about, or if he had passed by his parents without even realizing it. The need to uncover his origins became a driving force in his life, leading him to search for himself in the faces of strangers.
Creating origin stories became a way for Anthony to make sense of his identity and find a sense of belonging in the world. Imagining fantastical scenarios, like being the child of a Ruritanian Princess and a commoner, helped him to piece together a narrative that gave him a sense of history and purpose.
Through his quest to uncover the truth about his adoption, Anthony grappled with profound questions about identity, belonging, and family. The journey was not easy, but it ultimately led him to a deeper understanding of himself and a newfound sense of acceptance. In the end, Anthony’s search for his origins became a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, allowing him to embrace his true identity and find peace with his past.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
