CASS MODEL REVISITED: A STUDY ON MAULIK PANCHOLY’S NOVEL

Abstract

This study examines the construction of homosexual identity in Young Adult Literature (YAL) through close textual analysis of Maulik Pancholy's novels, The Best at It (2019) and Nikhil Out Loud (2022). Through qualitative close textual analysis, the research employs Vivienne Cass's six-stage homosexual identity development model, with emphasis on Identity Confusion, Identity Comparison, and Identity Tolerance stages. Intersectionality is employed to explore the impact of race, culture, and family on the protagonists' identity construction. Findings are: [1] The protagonists experience Identity Confusion through compulsive behaviours and inner conflict pertaining to their burgeoning queer identities, [2] Their social awkwardness and difficulty with performative roles map to Identity Comparison, as they navigate tentative self-discovery, and [3] both protagonists display elements of Identity Tolerance because they walk the line with community involvement and self-expression. Furthermore, the research concludes that queer youth of colour identity construction is deconstructed and complex, shaped by intersecting cultural forces and social expectations, thereby making Cass's model difficult to apply easily. This research makes a contribution to YAL studies by centring Pancholy's novels as rich contributions to intersectional queer representation, as vital mirrors to marginalized readers, and providing insight to larger audiences. It highlights the necessity to integrate intersectionality with classic psychological models to provide a more generalizable perspective on LGBTQ+ identity construction in contemporary literature.