Identity In To Kill A Mockingbird And American Denial

Every encounter we have with each other alters our identities, sometimes in large ways. A person’s identity is the mixture between their opinions, expectations, and perseverance. These three components create the perfect formula for a being’s personality. However, when they collide with another identity, they create an impact on each other. This is called social interaction, which occurs throughout a society’s people. People and their identities influencing each other has been commonly seen within films and contemporary American literature, for instance, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and American Denial, following the story of Gunnar Myrdal. From these sources, I often find the narrative and

plot emphasizing upon moments where society tries to change a person, as a way of showing how humans sculpt each other’s identities.
When we decide to denounce a person for not meeting our expectations, they will change.

Either in the way that we ask them to, or in the entirely opposite way, where they will agree with their own views more. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the reader finds characters doing both. Such as when Atticus Finch was being brought down by other townspeople during the Tom Robinson case. They sought to prevent him from protecting a negro based off of their expectations of black people and a lawyer. However, Atticus decides to fortify his opinions and identity by continuing to protect Tom. When his daughter, Scout, asks him why he is still trying to win, he replies, “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” (Lee 101). Which clearly represents the strength of his opinion even after the history of racism among other residents in his town. On the contrary, another character, named Mr. Underwood, changed his views based off of Atticus’s expectations. Atticus describes him by saying “You know, it’s a funny thing about Braxton, he despises Negroes, won’t have one near him.” (Lee 209). Yet, he still changes his side on the Tom Robinson case, putting aside his hate for negroes, and supporting Atticus, who expected him to, because they are

friends.
From the changes coming from expectations, new opinions are formed. Opinions also change identity when they conflict with another. When looking at A Raisin in the Sun, we see the varying opinions of Beneatha. At first, she says she wants to be a doctor, and her family disagrees with that choice. Walter, her brother, replies to her in an argument regarding her future by saying, “Who the hell told you you had to be a doctor? If you so crazy ‘bout messing ‘round with sick people—then go be a nurse like other women—or just get married and be quiet…” (Hansberry 38). From Walter’s opinion on women and his sister, he plays a part in influencing Beneatha to change her opinion on becoming a doctor. After more negative influences in the story, she says, “No—I wanted to cure… It used to be so important to me. I wanted to cure. It used to matter. I used to care.” (Hansberry 133). From this statement, we see how Beneatha’s indecisiveness shines through the conflict between opinions. Her identity shifts due to her newfound opinions and determination that had diminished through the conflict.
To add onto the notion of determination, perseverance can also change identity. Through the increase or decrease of determination towards a goal, a person’s affection towards other things can fade or grow accordingly. As shown in American Denial, Gunnar Myrdal dedicates himself to his study of race relations. When finally writing his study, Myrdal was distanced from his family primarily due to his persistence and focus in writing. As said by Vincent Brown, a professor of history at Harvard University, “his wife is beginning to question his commitment to the principles that they’ve agreed upon in their marriage.” (27:07). As this is one piece of evidence shows Gunnars commitment to his project, even his daughter, Kaj, said, “He was very convinced by his stature, he called himself genius, and he said genius doesn’t have time to listen so much to the children.” (27:58). From this information, I saw that an increased amount of dedication to something will negatively impact a human’s identity and how they treat ‘obstructions’ to their work. Which in turn, impacts other people’s identities, as previously seen.
As seen from the relationship between society and identity, shown in films and contemporary literature, like A Raisin in the Sun, To Kill a Mockingbird, and American Denial, humans leave an everlasting impact upon each other. I found this primarily shown in a person’s expectations of others, opinions, and dedication. However, does this impact by society provide a positive outlook for my identity? And should I care? Well, as said by Anu Taranath, in her article titled “Difference, Identity and Power”, “Each of us has a complex identity that is rooted in human differences such as gender, class, race, sexuality, disability, religion, nationality, age and ethnicity. The ways in which all of these various categories intersect with and inform our individual lives creates the uniqueness of each of us.” This part of her article resonated with the idea that identity should be our own to create. This closes my question by telling me that identity should be what makes us unique. If we force our identities upon each other, then that individuality that drives us no longer exists.