• Journal of English Language & Literature
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.753-782
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• 2012

This paper attempts to look at how the question of cultural identity can be discussed in terms of which "a family of the minds" as a unit can be given meaningful form of interpretation. I found its real possibility in the James family, especially in Henry James Senior, William James, and Henry James Junior since they represent important cultural context reflecting their European relationship in terms of American cultural consciousness. This research is divided in two parts; the first part of this study consisted of the elder James's role as a source of moral aesthetic consciousness for the two children, the second part consisted of showing different aspects of inter-relationships between father and sons and between brothers in the process of identity construction. I examine different aspects of the identity formation process of William James and Henry James Junior by arguing different ways of making relationship with their father's philosophy to illuminate how they reflect and represent American cultural consciousness, and to define the meaning of the Jamesian mind in American cultural history.