The Crisis of Identity

Why is it that man needs to compare himself to others in order to define himself? Is man able to form a society where only the necessary connections between individuals are the most basic fundamentals of the human condition? The world we live in is vast with a web of social interconnections, and we can no longer just identify ourselves in simple terms. When one is born, he or she is not simply brought into a family identity, but along with that family comes a national, racial, economic, religious, social and historical identity - all determined before we even take our first breath. An identity based on the actual character of a person is developed later in life, long after those predetermined identities have taken root. These multi-faceted identities need to be able to coexist or else a strain is placed on the individual or society in order to reconcile any incompatibilities. Are these identities even a necessity for modern society or are they just a pseudo-social structure manufactured by man?

The first identities that every person is assigned are based upon a historical significance - a factor which should never solely determine an identity, especially in the form of a primary identity. It seems quite counterintuitive to give a person an identity based upon another’s identity, even if it is that of a parent. An identity should be a composition based solely upon an individual’s actions and experiences, not one that is imbued or assigned. When a child begins to develop a basic idea of one’s self, it seldom coincides with these given identities and ultimately creates the necessity for rebellion. The extent of this rebellion is determined by factors including the expectations of friends, family and society. The degrees of variatio...

... middle of paper ...

...ew experiences and gain a new perspective of each other and ourselves. I fear a future where similarity is adored, and differences are detested. It seems to me the ideal identity is one that is synonymous with the mathematical or philosophical definition - the relation everything has to itself and nothing else. If there is but a single difference between two individuals, they are not similar but rather completely unique identities.

Works Cited

Ali, Wajahat. “The Domestic Crusaders.” McSweeney's. 2011. Print

Gay, Peter. “My German Question.” Yale University Press, 1999. Print.

Joyce, James. “A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man.” Dover Publications, 1995. Print.

Malcolm X. “The Autobiography Of Malcolm X.” Penguin Modern Classics, 1965. Print.

Remarque, Erich Maria. “All Quiet on the Western Front.” 1st ed. New York: Glencoe McGraw Hill, 2000. Print.