…{Changers} were a threat to identity, a challenge to the individualism even of those they were never likely to impersonate. It had nothing to do with souls or physical or spiritual possession; it was, as the Idirans well understood, the behavouristic copying of another which revolted. Individuality, the thing which most humans held more precious than anything else about themselves, was somehow cheapened by the ease with which a Changer could ignore it as a limitation and use it as a disguise.
The concept of Changers in Iain M. Banks' "Consider Phlebas" presents a significant threat to personal identity and individualism. This fear stems not from notions of possession or soul theft, but from the way Changers mimic behaviors and appearances of others, which can undermine the uniqueness individuals cherish. This ability to adopt different identities raises concerns about the authenticity of self and how easily one’s individuality can be overshadowed or disrespected.
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