In consideration of the individuality of a particular person and its dynamic nature, as it evolves over time with new experiences and interactions, is it feasible to replicate a person's identity? What if the identity is not unique? This essay examines these questions through the lens of a recently published and widely reviewed novel, Ishiguro Kazuo's Klara and the Sun (2021), focusing on the formation and transferability of human identity. In order to concentrate solely on the subject of human identity, its formation, and its possible transferability, I will provide a concise overview of the narrative structure of the novel, and then I will delve into a particular scene in which the uniqueness of the human identity is put to the test.

Klara, an artificially intelligent entity, becomes the companion of Josie, a girl who, following a process known as "lifting," suffers from a range of health disorders. The novel is narrated from the perspective of Klara, the artificial friend, and charts her life trajectory from her initial appearance in a store window, through her purchase by Josie's mother, to her subsequent role as Josie's companion, providing assistance when she falls ill, and ultimately, her final resting place.

With this in mind, I want to analyze the concept of identity in the novel, especially in the context of the "portrait" of Josie and the idea of replacing a human with an artificial counterpart. Indeed, as the narrative unfolds, it becomes evident that the reason behind the mother's purchase of Klara was not to provide companionship to her daughter, Josie, but rather to serve as a replacement. Is it then feasible to transfer human identity to an artificial entity? What is understood under the term “identity”?

The role of the Other in human identity formation

Recent cultural theories have suggested that identity is a social construct that "has meaning only in the cultural context of its production"1 , and that an individual's identity position is never fixed but rather constituted of multiple, coexistent, constantly changing, and opposing systems of identity. Therefore, identity is not an intrinsic, self-sustaining, and self-replicating entity but rather a dynamic construct shaped by interactions and negotiations. Identity formation entails an ongoing exchange between an individual's articulated self-perception and the perceptions of the socio-cultural environment2. Thus, the formation of self-identity is contingent upon the recognition of the Other and the establishment of a relationship between the Self and the Other. In terms of identity formation as a relation between self and Other.

Jacques Lacan's concept of "the Other," in the field of psychoanalysis firmly, provides a sophisticated perspective on identity formation, particularly in the construction of "the self." This theory is crucial for understanding the challenges of replicating human identity in the novel. Lacan (2001)3 posits that "the Other" is not merely an external entity but rather a fundamental dimension of human existence, intricately intertwined with the formation of the self. In his theory of the symbolic order, Lacan claims that the Other exerts a regulatory function within the social field, imposing norms, values, and ideological frameworks that govern subjectivity and shape interpersonal relations (292). As such, the Other serves not only as a site of identification but also as a locus of authority and control, exerting influence over individuals' desires, fantasies, and aspirations. Therefore, the ther is not just something outside us. It is part of who we are.

Returning to the novel under analysis and focusing on the particular scene in which the mother, a doctor, Josie, and Klara, the artificial companion, are at the doctor's studio checking Klara's abilities to copy Josie's behavior and movements, I will analyze this scene to explore the concept of replicating human identity. For the mother seeking a replica of her daughter, whose health is debilitated, is a consistent effort to preserve Josie. Indeed, in the name of drawing a portrait for Josie at the doctor's lab, the mother's real intention is to reinvent a new Josie, one that is not merely an imitation but a genuine continuation of Josie.

The role of Klara in this is not:

To become [Josie] […] If the day comes we [the mother and the doctor] want you to inhabit Josie up there with everything you've learned... You are the one best equipped to learn, Josie. Not just superficially, but deeply, entirely. Learn her till there's no difference between the first Josie and the second (232).

The above-mentioned quote highlights the mother's belief in the possibility of replicating Josie's identity. What has been asked of Klara is therefore not to give Josie companionship, as it was first stated at the beginning of the novel, but rather “to mimic Josie's outward behavior [...] to continue her for the mother. And for everyone who loves Josie (233). According to the doctor, there is nothing particular in human identity that cannot be replicated; there is nothing inside a human body that an artificial entity cannot replicate: “nothing inside Josie that's beyond the Klaras of this world to continue” (233).

A few pages later, even the mother seems so sure about the doctor's affirmation, claiming that even science has proven there's nothing so unique about her daughter, nothing there that artificial tools can't excavate, copy, or transfer (249). In the subsequent pages, even the mother appears to concur with the doctor's assertion that science has demonstrated the absence of any intrinsic singularity in her daughter and that the underlying characteristics of her daughter can be replicated through the use of sophisticated technology. The mother's unwavering conviction that technology can "copy" and "transfer" human beings into robots effectively dismisses the notion that each individual possesses a distinctive and immutable essence, instead aligning with the perspective that such beliefs may be regarded as an anachronistic superstition (224).

In the latter part of the novel, Klara is found in a yard with other artificial entities, recalling memories as Josie's companion and contemplating her role in replicating Josie. Klara does not question her ability to copy Josie, but she suggests that the outcome would not have been as favourable as intended. This is not due to her inability to replicate Josie, but rather because "there would have remained something beyond [her] reach" (338). Klara's assertion implies that she would not have been loved as the initial Josie by her mother or friends. The love that others have for Josie is unique and cannot be replicated by an artificial entity, highlighting that human identity is deeply intertwined with the relationships and emotions shared with others. This special quality is not intrinsic to Josie's body or soul but is found within those who loved her (ibid.). Klara's comments clearly illustrate that what is unique about humans is not only their internal capacity for feeling but also the irreplaceable nature of being loved by others as a human.

The interdependence of Self and Other: a conclusion

Klara and the Sun presents a challenge to the concept of replicating human identity by illustrating the complexities and distinctive characteristics of individual identity. Despite the technological advancements, the novel posits that certain qualities, such as the love and relationships that define a person, remain beyond the scope of artificial replication. As previously stated, an individual's identity is shaped by external influences and is contingent upon the presence of the "Other." As mentioned at the beginning of the essay, Lacan's theory suggests that the formation of the self is fundamentally linked to the recognition of oneself in the Other.

This process highlights how identity is constructed through the perception of oneself as seen by others, underscoring the interdependence of Self and Other in identity formation. Therefore, the replication of the "self," as desired by Josie's mother, is insufficient for achieving human identity. One crucial element has been overlooked: the role of the Other. The Other and the Self are inextricably linked, and this interdependence extends to all individuals. Consequently, any attempt to exclude the Other is essentially an attempt to exclude a fundamental aspect of the Self, underscoring the inseparable nature of human identity and interpersonal relationships.

References

1 Sáenz, Alire Benjamin. (2003) “In the Borderlands of Chicano Identity, There are only Fragments”, in Bass, R. and Young J. eds, Beyond Borders: A Cultural Reader. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
2 Breinig, H. and Lösch K. (2002) Multiculturalism in Contemporary Societies: Perspectives on Difference and Transdifference. Erlangen: Univ. Bibliotek.
3 Lacan, Jacques. (2001). Ecrits: A selection. Routledge.