Marcia and Calvino: Great Minds Think Alike?

<Tab/>When reading Italo Calvino's Nonexistent Knight, it is easy to consider that he may have based his characters on Marcia's theory of identity development. Or when studying Marcia's theory of identity development, it is easy to ponder whether or not he developed his theory based on the actions of Calvino's characters. Neither of these instances, however, is the case. It would be anachronistic to say Calvino's book was influenced by …

…commit themselves to this new form of government. And they live happily ever after! Isn't identity achievement wonderful? <Tab/>All of Marcia's stages of identity development are represented in Calvino's The Nonexistent Knight. This is obviously an example of great minds thinking alike. Perhaps if Erikson's theory had been formally developed at Calvino's time it would be Calvino's theory of identity development instead of Marcia's. Now there's a thought to ponder!