NATIONAL IDENTITY IN BRITISH LITERATURE

National identity has always been a central theme in British cultural and literary discourse. From its historical roots in religion and empire to its re-evaluation in the age of postcolonialism and globalization, the notion of Britishness has undergone constant transformation. Literature has served as both a mirror and a critical space where ideas of belonging, unity, and difference have been negotiated. Writers from the Romantic and Victorian eras reinforced traditional values and imperial pride, while modernist and contemporary authors questioned the coherence of national identity, reflecting cultural fragmentation and hybridity. In the twenty-first century, British literature continues to explore the complexities of multiculturalism, migration, and globalization, positioning identity as a fluid and contested construct rather than a fixed reality.