What Is Authenticity In Authenticity

Frances Katreen Marie D. Catipon
R08
Self-Authenticity and Mental Health in Ann Beattie’s Janus Authenticity refers to the act of being genuine and true. It can also refer to the accuracy of a certain concept or idea. It is the ultimate goal of science, art, and many other disciplines. In our world, authenticity is viewed as the ideal and must be present in all the things we do. However, even though authenticity is what we hope to be the norm, it is still subjective. The truth contained inside an idea, or even a person, can never fully satisfy an individual’s concept of what is real. Thus, authenticity elicits different reactions, depending on what one believes. Andrea, Beattie’s protagonist in Janus, has her authenticity questioned in the lines “Why continue living life the way it was? Why be two-faced, he asked her.” The question asked by Andrea’s lover poses a request for her to show herself in her entirety, to be true. However, the events of the story suggest that Andrea could be suffering from anxiety and possibly, depression. As mental health is stigmatized in any society, Andrea cannot be true and she must continue to be two-faced in order to work around people’s expectations and beliefs. On the surface, Andrea is

I felt as if the world was against me, and that people were only my friends because they had to. I felt alone. It affected the way I interacted with the people who mattered most. My grades started to drop and I lost many friends. Eventually, all the emotions I stored away collided into one big emotional breakdown. My emotional breakdown even stopped me from making any more progress with my grades, and in repairing broken relationships. Soon enough, I asked for help. Much longer hours were dedicated to processing all of my emotions when I had other things to do. It’s funny that I initially believed that emotions were preventing me from doing the things I had to do when ultimately, I just made it harder for