Analysis Of Orphan Train By Christina Baker Kline

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Recommended: The nature of identity

“I am learning to pretend, to smile and nod, to display empathy I do not feel. I am learning to pass, to look like everyone else, even though I feel broken inside” (Kline 112). Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline sheds light on how young orphans such as Vivian and Molly feel compelled to change elements of their identity in order to fit in. Vivian Daly immigrates to America as a young girl with a thick accent, and an Irish name that is difficult to spell and pronounce. Furthermore, she never feels truly at home or like she is part of a family, and does whatever she can to please her foster family. Molly Ayer grew up on the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation, and enters the foster care system after her father dies and her mother ends up in jail. Molly has trouble trusting others, and relies on her appearance to create a persona for herself. On the other hand, I try my hardest to stay true to myself and not succumb to peer pressure to fit in, but it has happened occasionally. Changing parts of one’s identity to fit in does make a person less genuine because they are not able to express themselves.

Molly Ayer is a seventeen-year-old foster child, who uses her appearance to fit a certain stereotype because she wants her peers to form specific opinions about …show more content…

Molly became less genuine by changing her appearance to create a new persona for herself in each new foster home. Similarly, Niamh became less genuine by hiding her Irish heritage and taking on the role of Dorothy and eventually Vivian. On the other hand, I have not changed major elements of my identity, but I have taken temporary measures to fit in. Vivian summarized it best when she tells Molly, “‘I suppose we all come under false pretenses one way or another,’” (Kline 217). After all, both characters modified parts of their identities to feel a sense of belonging and to be

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