I Shall Know Who I Am

A screenshot of The Hitchhiker from The Twilight Zone

It was the most peculiar way of getting identity crisis. Adams in The Hitchhiker left home for a long trip which he was expected to have eight days driving on the road. Instead of hot dog or hamburger stand, he saw a hiker with a bag and a cap. He could also see the rain drops on his shoulders every time he saw him. The man followed him to wherever he went. Adams found himself to be reported dead six days ago in traffic accident, while he was talking to the person on the phone. There was no clue who was right and who the hiker was. It was in the liminality of dead and alive.

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I found this radio-play very scary not only because of the suspense created, but also the question of identity and existence was so real and personal. We may not experience the identity crisis of not knowing self under the same circumstance as Adams was. However, we could share the question of identity and existence. I remember reading Sophie’s World and thinking very hard for the first question “Who are you?” Our identities change from time to time, so it is not unusual for us to be confused for who we are at some special liminal stage (except hearing that you are dead in the phone).

Source of screenshot:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitch-Hiker_(The_Twilight_Zone)#/media/File:Inger_Stevens_Twilight_Zone_1960.jpg