hi I need help editing my intro. How can i open with an interesting question yet keep it formal. please proof read.
Do the terms national, familial, sexual, postcolonial, ethnic and racial hold the same meaning? Ofcourse not. However, Selvaduri’s Funny Boy uses these concepts in such a way that the boundaries of these terms begin to collapse in one another, where familial becomes political and sexual becomes national. This mixing of boundaries results in the nature of identity in Funny Boy to become highly negotiated and fragmented, as seen through Arjie, Aunt Radha and Arjie’s mother. Each character has a unique identity however, this individual identity is kept hidden and oppressed because of the identity characters are expected to have according to the social constraints and the norms of the society in Sri Lanka. This constant suppression leads to the characters living dual lives and facing various problems in the struggle towards forming an identity as clear resolutions are not provided for the problem of identity.
Your introduction is already off to a good start as it poses a thought-provoking question and introduces the main focus of your essay. However, here are a few suggestions to refine and strengthen your opening paragraph while maintaining a formal tone:
"Can the terms national, familial, sexual, postcolonial, ethnic, and racial truly convey the complexity of human identity? Implicitly, they cannot. Yet, in Selvaduri's novel Funny Boy, these concepts are masterfully intertwined, blurring their conventional boundaries. Within the pages of this narrative, familial becomes political, and sexual becomes national, shining a light on the intricate web of identities. Through the experiences of Arjie, Aunt Radha, and Arjie's mother, the nature of identity in Funny Boy emerges as a deeply negotiated and fragmented entity. Despite possessing unique individual identities, these characters are compelled to conceal and suppress them, conforming to the social constraints and norms imposed by Sri Lankan society. This constant struggle leads to a life of duality and numerous challenges in their quest for a coherent sense of self, as the novel refrains from offering clear resolutions to the complex issue of identity."
In this revision, I rephrased your initial question to maintain formality while still capturing the attention of the reader. The sentence structure has been adjusted to enhance clarity and flow. Additionally, I clarified the relationship between the terms you mentioned and provided more context for the central theme of identity in Funny Boy.