Make Lemonade Essay On Identity

Reid Hoffman once said, “Identity is a core and unavoidable part of all our lives. Our actions shape our identity, and in turn, our identity shapes our actions.” This quote may imply that we can build our own identities with ease, however, at some points in life identity is uncontrollable. Like an ocean that chips away at a rock cliff, or a potter who molds their clay, identity is shaped through both internal and external factors within a society; Those of which you’ve been born into, or those that you’ve subconsciously created for yourself. The verse-novel Make Lemonade is a clear depiction of two characters who struggle to get by and meet their families’ needs as they face new inflictions both on a day-to-day basis, and on an inclusive level.

Social class is a category that is pre-determined; Something that people most likely can’t help but deal with. Usually, being in a specific social class comes with certain advantages, privileges, and/or disadvantages. Throughout the introduction of the book the realities of social class are made clear by describing both of the girls’ environment, social past and present interactions, and economic capital. Jolly is stuck in a social class indicated by the fact that she lives in a very low quality area, and even then she still can’t afford to pay rent for her apartment. Lavaughn sees this and comments “I go to meet this Jolly like she says / at her place. The building was broken-down looking, / it was even a worse place than where we live,” adding to the effect of poverty that shapes Jolly. In addition, Jolly is incapable of holding down any sort of job, even one in a factory. During a conversation with Lavaughn, she says “‘I’m canned,’ Jolly says, and she translates immediately. / ‘Fired.’” (p. 55), further revealing her status as a lower class citizen. This poverty shapes Jolly because she learns to live in a different way than others that are her age; she has to take more responsibility, she learns to live frugally, and is forced to be a hard worker. Furthermore, social class shapes Lavaughn as well. To begin with, Lavaughn’s

For instance, Jolly desperately wants and needs to keep a job, though can't for long. She displays her longing for a place of work by declaring ‘“I need a job,” and explains the reason why she was fired in the first place: “you blow the whistle on them, you're out of work for good.”’ (p.57), alluding back to the time when she got fired from her factory job for defending herself against sexual harassment. Jolly’s desire for a job, an internal factor, and inability to get one, an external factor, has created a bitter distaste for men in her mind. She cannot hold down a job because of what certain men have done to her, not relating to the workforce (unintentional pregnancy) and within the workforce (sexual harassment). This forms her as a character and shows a lot about her wavering views on equality and gender stereotypes. Moreover, although sometimes she doesn't show it, Jolly truly does want to do the best she can in making sure her kids are taken care of. By working to achieve this, Jolly has unknowingly shaped her identity because they bring her hope and something to work towards, instead of only