Historians often find their motivations and interests intertwined with their own identities, leading them to explore areas of the past that reflect their inner selves. This introspective journey may reveal aspects of themselves they prefer not to confront directly, instead opting to engage with these issues through scholarly pursuit.

As historians delve deeper into their subjects, their academic interests increasingly shape their understanding and perspective on both history and themselves. This merging of personal reflection and professional exploration highlights the complex relationship between the historian and the narratives they study, suggesting that scholarship is not merely an objective study of the past but also a means of wrestling with one's own identity.