Beloved

For the characters in Toni Morrison's Beloved, identity is unimaginably valuable yet unbearably painful to come to terms with. Today, people might say that one's self and one's identity is what Paul D called one's "best thing." Former slaves, like Sethe and Paul D, did not know what it was to be in charge of one's self until they were out of slavery, and this absence of personal identity meant dehumanization. Sethe was treated like an animal, constantly working and being forced to breed like livestock. Multiple characters believed that it was important not to love anyone too much. This is another idea that stems from dehumanizing treatment, and it runs like poison through the black community and families in Beloved.

Glorious victories occur, though, when Denver blossoms into a strong, independent woman, and Paul D tells Sethe she is her "best thing." Though it is important to never forget or cover up the horrors of their pasts, it is essential that they never allow the past to consume them and instead stand tall in the direction of the present. The past has largely molded their identities but it does not define their identities. They, themselves, are "the definers."

The Stranger

An interesting way Meursault identified himself in The Stranger was through his relationship with the physical world. He felt a thrill and connection in the aqueous sensation of swimming in the ocean and in the burn of the blazing Algerian sun upon his face. I think that such a relationship with the world makes Meursault feel truly alive and shows him how insignificant he is in the grand scheme of things.

Another idea I pondered while reading The Stranger, was how much of our identities are created solely in order to fit in and please society? Are we genuine, or are our thoughts and actions just the product of society's expectations? I think Albert Camus would say too many people willingly play the game, thus the world is seriously lacking in authenticity. Perhaps, that's true. It would be interesting to see how people would behave if they were never exposed to books, movies, music, or other aspects of mainstream society that might dictate to them how they should act. But I don't think this "game" Camus speaks of is always a bad thing. It is often necessary for people to partake in it in order for the world to continue spinning and be able to contain any harmony and organization at all.

So sometimes it's essential to err from one's identity, but despite that, many humans are on a determined quest to define their identity. I don't believe Meursault is one of these people though. To him, such a quest might be silly and unnecessary. He would not feel the need to publicly promote one's identity. I think that he would say identity is a personal matter, and how other people perceive you is of little importance. Or more likely, he would think it is completely insignificant and believe that you should just be authentic to yourself and avoid using the tag of "identity." In Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky seemed to believe in the value of public opinion, while Camus doesn't. Meursault did and said as he pleased, and he found value in living a solitary life. His lifestyle reminds me of a quote from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness: "We live as we dream-alone."

Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment shows that the identity in one's mind can be so incredibly divergent from the identity that the world perceives. If your actions aren't in line with the thoughts inside your head, the world will see you differently than how you see or want to see yourself. It's probably most important that a person lives so that he can accept himself, but no man is an island, and if you want to get anywhere in this world, you have to be able to successfully and accurately portray your desired identity to other humans.

Raskolnikov thinks of himself as a great "extraordinary" man while everyone else thinks he's absolutely crazy. It is clear that he’s capable of being both intelligent and kindhearted, but his inner convictions of his own greatness are counteracted by his bizarre and careless actions. Raskolnikov really can only be seen as extraordinarily insane, and when he’s in the company of the others, the value of others’ views of him is greater and more realized than his view of himself.

Henry IV Part 1

Identity is often formed through a series of trial and error experiences. Everyone goes through different phases in their lives where they try to take up a new way of life by adopting a new hobby or style. I generally think of this happening in the midst of adolescence, and I know I've gone through many varying phases in my life, some stranger than others. There have been times where I've been sure found my life's passion, only to forget about this passion a few months later. I think true interests and identity stand the test of time though and will always be present inside of you, just waiting for you to realize they're there.

In Shakespeare's Henry IV Part 1, Prince Hal tried out one of those crazy trial and error-esque paths. He purposely misbehaves, so that when he becomes king, people will be awed and amazed by his real honor and glory. I think one source of this rebellion was definitely defying his father, a mode of rebellion that continues to prevail in modern times. This changing identity is so bizarre though, and I feel like Hal will regret it once he matures and becomes king.

An Identity Curse

Oedipus Rex was born with a horrific curse that said he would kill his father and marry his mother. But did that prophecy truly define his identity? Was his fate like an unescapable genetic disease? Though there are some things that you're born with and stuck with forever, I don't believe this curse ultimately defined Oedipus. He had a great identity going for himself until mention of the curse came into his life. He was a good, strong ruler of his land, and I think his flaws -emotional immaturity and excessive pride- were what ultimately ruined him.

Thank God that I was not born with such a curse, but we all have reputations and family characteristics that follow us throughout our lives and possibly give others a false sense of our identity. A simple but common example is the kid brother of the superstar student athlete that all the teachers adored. He is probably going to get fed up of constantly being placed his older sibling's shadow. But I think that if your character is strong enough, then it is 100% possible to overcome preconceptions and show your own unique qualities.

We all need some Help

It's somewhat ironic to think you need other people to help you develop your own personal identity. But I do think it’s practically impossible to grow and develop an identity all by yourself. I don’t know where I would be without the help of my friends and family. Passing through life in solitude can be a hard pill to swallow, so I’m incredibly thankful they’ve provided me with the encouragement and understanding I need to be comfortable and confident in myself.


In Kathryn Stockett's The Help, it is largely due to the unlikely friendships that Skeeter, Aibileen, Minny, and Celia are involved in that they able to better themselves and their lives. A friendship between these white and black women was unthinkable in 1960’s Mississippi, but ignoring this taboo proved to be infinitely valuable. Aibileen and Minny inspire Skeeter to seek out a better life for herself by encouraging her to take the job at a publishing company in New York City, and Skeeter inspires Aibileen to write and Minny to be more independent.

A Personal Odyssey

How do we form and shape our identities?

The issue of personal identities is so simple yet so painfully complex. And as I journey through the latter part of my teenage years, this question feels extremely relevant. This is a time in my life when I'm expected to make huge decisions about my future, but how can I make such decisions if I don't feel like I have formed my own identity yet? Yet I don't know if there is ever a point in life where one feels he has wholly and completely shaped his identity. It's a never-ending process. And sometimes when I feel like I’m really sure of myself, I change- what if my identity that's true today is false tomorrow?

But today, August 31st, I feel like I can define myself, as I am right now. I feel like Amory Blaine in This Side of Paradise, “I know myself, but that is all-” But there is still the need to reveal one’s identity to the world, and that’s often the hardest part of it all. The world judges you on your actions and words whether you like it or not. So confidence and candidness is vital in shaping one’s identity.
Telemakos was just a baby when Odysseus left home, and when The Odyssey begins, he’s close to my age. He is young, inexperienced, and insecure. He has huge problems on his hands due to the absence of his father and the invasion of suitors in his household, and he has no clue what to do about it. In order to solve his problems, he must mature, and with newfound perseverance, boldness and a little help from Athena, Telemakos follows in his father's footsteps and begins to develop the makings of a good, strong leader. His personal journey to identity was not over at the end of The Odyssey though. And his father Odysseus was still changing and maturing in his middle age.

Like Odysseus’s and Telemakos’s, my odyssey is an inexhaustible process.