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Social and cultural influences on personal identity
Influence of society on identity
Social and cultural influences on personal identity
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One of the biggest fears in today's world is the idea of not fitting into society. Evan Hunter's story “On the Sidewalk Bleeding,” explores the theme of the importance of personal identity. This will be shown through an analysis of how external reality plays a critical role in defining who people are, how personal identity is a crucial aspect of how individuals grow and the fact that no matter how hard you try, you can never erase the troubles of your past. One aspect of identity that is evident in Hunter's story is how external reality plays a critical role in defining who people are. While individuals may wish to be many things the world plays a role in who people are and how people perceive others. Andy states that “he could remember how happy he was the Royals had taken him in.”(Hunter 40). This allows the reader to examine Andy’s satisfaction when he becomes a part of the Royals. Andy hears the voice saying, "That's for you Royal!" and at the end of the story where the police officer says, "A Royal," when his name is given. It becomes clear that identity is defined, in large part, by social construction and external reality. It is symbolic that when Andy is stabbed, "he tried to yell for help, but he had no voice." (Hunter 40). His silence is reflective of how he lacks a voice in the face of social construction. Further, personal Personal identity is the most important aspect of how individuals grow and it is not a simple wave of the wand to erase the past and start a brand new beginning. Andy is judged due to the jacket. Without it, he is a different person. Andy wanted to be himself, but the label of being a Royal stopped others from knowing who he truly was. Even Hunter helps readers see Andy as a real person by describing his hopes and dreams - hopes and dreams that will never come
The narrator mentions how he's telling a story from the past by saying, “As a teen, I could’ve beamed / the crown, walked in w/out / the beat down custom,”. The author is describing to the reader's how he is telling a story from his past as a teen. He mentions how he could of been in the gang but, choose not to, which wasn't normal at that time. The beat down custom is usually what is suppose to happen. He dodged the custom and choose to avoid the gang through the pressure of his cousin “who claimed Two-Six, / the set on the next block decked in black & beige.” (20-22). With all the influence on his block and from his cousin, he never gave in and never wanted any part of any gang. The narrator was strong enough to resist what everyone around him was doing. It's hard to try to not fit in when everyone around you is doing what your not. I can personally say I wouldn't have the power to do myself but would fall into the gang life due to my surroundings. If my cousin and everyone around me was joining a gang and was a norm at the time, I would also do so. The narrator stood up for what he thought was right and ignored the pressure. The narrator wasn't interested in what he described but, “preferred games to gangs, / books to crooks wearing hats crooked to the left or right” (23-25). Luckily the narrator wasn't interested in gangs but was in games and books. This not only
The jacket is one of the Royals which created the hatred that andy was stabbed for. The assailant even yelled at andy “that’s for you royal!” (hunter 1). The label that andy was given made these people not see andy but see a Royal they see the jacket something that they find repulsive enough to end people's lives to end them. Andy being with royals wearing the jacket even innocent bystanders began to fear even associating with andy. Two of those innocent bystanders being Freddie and Angela the couple that finds andy in the alley.Freddie wants to help and but Angela says “I don't know I don’t want to get mixed up in this” (hunter 5). Freddie and Angela don't see a dying man if he wasn’t wearing the jacket that was associated with the Royals he wouldn’t have been stabbed and even if he did he could have been saved by Freddie and Angela. It was his gang affiliations that brought him the label and his death. Even after death, he was seen as a just a royal by most. After everything was finished for andy a cop and andy’s former girlfriend show up. The cop says “a Royal” (hunter 7) but Laura rebuttals that “no he's andy”(hunter 7). Everyone but Laura saw Andy as a Royal just a Royal not Andy just like the people before him but still Laura see him for his true self only if the rest of the world would too. People could make it so that people see people as themselves not what they are labeled as
In the short story “On the Sidewalk Bleeding”, Andy suffers with the inner conflict of his self-identity
Though unbeknownst to many, the experience of being an outsider is a sensation that everyone can go through. In the world, it is entirely possible for a person to be judged on physical appearance, opinions, and status among other things. It is simply how humans have adapted; they experience society by forming social groups that they are comfortable in. Generally, this group is seen to those involved with it as the “inside group”, and those not directly related to it are seen as “outsiders.” Even in literature, it is clear that the feeling of being one of these outsiders is universal. Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Fences by Pat Mora, and The Doll’s House by Katherine Mansfield all properly display how anyone can be an outsider.
...ins the reader in experiencing the transformation of Andy as a character and the unavoidable sentiments that ingrain themselves into the human psyche. By delving into this unique harmony between the feelings of both author and reader, one can come to further comprehend the questions King is bringing to the table and his premeditated goal for this work. What does it mean to truly become a legend and why does Andy Dufresne so beautifully embody this definition? These are queries that we can only begin to answer and are an active ingredient of what makes Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption the literary marvel that it is.
There are many factors that lead to the development of an individual’s identity. Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” illustrates an extreme change in Gregor Samsa’s external identity and the overall outward effect it has on the development of his family. While James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” illustrates a young man struggling to find his identity while being pushed around by what society and his family wants him to be. Both of these characters exhibit an underlying struggle of alienation but both also demonstrate a craving for belongingness. This conflict of trying to belong to something as well as satisfying the needs of society, has directly impacted their own individuality and the lives of the people around them.
Did you know that wherever you go in the world, and there are groups, there are outsiders? That’s just humans’ nature. The book, The Outsiders, written by S.E Hilton in her junior year in Tulsa, Oklahoma, written because the Hilton was enraged at the way people separated themselves into socioeconomic groups (Doc A), but her rant about Greasers & Socs turned into a best-selling novel. This book showcases that Outsiders are not just the ones who assume they don’t fit into the society, but they are the ones who view life not as social divisions like Greasers and Socs.
Identity is primarily described primarily as what makes a person who they are. While it is seen as an individual asset, one’s identity can be shaped and persuaded not only by life experiences, but by society as well. Bryan Stevenson speaks on several controversial issues and proclaims certain societal problems and the typical behaviors noticed in response to them. How one approaches the issues that are spoken about may expose their true identity. Stevenson argues that how one reacts to racial inequality within the criminal justice system may regulate their identity. In addition to that, how dealing with the nation’s history may force a growth on one’s identity, eventually bringing peace and acceptance to the nation. Lastly, how one views the
The existential drama, No Exit by Jean Paul Sartre, and the absurd drama, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard both portray characters with an ambiguous sense of identity. While the characters in No Exit delude themselves with respect to identity and shirk responsibility for their identity-making choices, the characters in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead are primarily controlled by outside forces that confuse and limit their sense of identity. Both these authors do a fine job of portraying the relationship between identity and the outside forces
This novel by S.E Hinton , “The Outsiders” shows a crucial point that everybody is special is some way and be known as who they are not as a group. The important message of the story is that individuals should not take people for granted. Instead, treasure those close to you and understand them.
The boy said “i don’t want to get mixed up in this. He’s a royal. We help him, and the Guardians’ll be down on our necks”. Then Andy started thinking why they were scared of the guardians if he would always stand up to them because he thought that’s what courage was he thought being in a gang was
At the time Andy was bleeding out, one of the people to come upon the bleeding of Andy was, Freddie Lowe. Freddie was with his girlfriend at the time. He was asked why he did not help out. Freddie replied saying “ We wanted to help but, he was a Ranger.
Identity is a sheltered, unchanging trait, right? Wrong. Identity is actually one of the most exposed, effected feature a person can have. But what factors contribute to what everyone is made of? An individual’s possessions and the society around them affect their identity. The short story, “The Jacket” by Gary Soto and the article “How Reality TV Works” by David Rupel both connect to the theme of what affects one’s identity. Belongings label a person’s identity and affect their confidence. The society around someone influences how one acts and what general public thinks of them. The two ways that most prominently change a person’s identity are their possessions
I am writing this letter in regards to the story “On the Sidewalk Bleeding”. After reading the short story, I have much appreciation towards you, for writing a story with meaning, that poses a message that can change the views of people. The message that comes across is, joining a gang can change the way you perceive yourself and the way people perceive you. In the story, everyone except for Laura saw Andy as just another “Royal.” That one title changed how Andy was identified.
Strangers passing by could mean they want to help or they could hurt you. Andy is laying on the sidewalk bleeding and is being passed by many strangers but none helped. Evan Hunter is the author for "On the Sidewalk Bleeding”. Andy was stabbed for being apart of the gang the Royals and strangers were passing by him but not helping him. They were not helping him because they seen that he had a Royals jacket on so if they helped him he thought the other gang qthe Guardians would be after them. While Andy is on the sidewalk bleeding he is thinking about his girlfriend Laura and how he will miss her and she will miss him. Evan Hunter uses mood/tone in his story of "On the Sidewalk Bleeding" to convey the theme of murder usually leads to misery