Trudeau's The Search For One's Identity

Many people to this day still do not have a collective agreement on what is the Canadian identity? Depending whom you ask you may get a wide variety of answer spanning the spectrum of possibilities, more so now, than at any point of the history of our nation. This essay will investigate how Pierre Elliott Trudeau found himself as a Canadian, and will demonstrate how it is his surroundings in which he immersed himself that shaped who he became. It is only later in his life that he truly discovered himself as well as his identity. Through the use of John English's biography as our primary reference we will investigate the development in Trudeau's character as he becomes older and experiences turning points in his life.

Well in order to have a better understanding of the matter at hand we should take a quick look at the context of what we are analyzing. Pierre Elliott Trudeau was born October 18, 1919, in Montreal Quebec. Son of a successful French Canadian businessman and lawyer, Pierre Elliott Trudeau grew up in Outremont which was located not so far away from the "Golden Square Mile" which at one point held around three quarters of Canada's millionaire. This should suggest that he will be growing up in a very prestigious neighbourhood usually advocating very conservative if not Victorian views. His mother, Grace Trudeau, was of French and Scottish decent, Grace's father was a prominent businessman who had privileged her with an education at Dunham Ladies' College where #she had acquired an education in literature, classics and etiquette. Both of Trudeau's parents were devout Catholics, they enlisted Pierre in a prestigious Jesuits college which was responsible for the most part of his childhood education and up bringing. While at College Jean-de-Brebeuf, Pierre Elliott Trudeau was immersed in a world of nationalism, conservatism, and very intense Catholicism. Many of his teachers and confidents were ministers of the Jesuit and Dominican order. Brebeuf had a reputation of expelling students who didn't conform or adhere to their norms. All else aside, Trudeau was an exceptional student at the college, usually scored top marks in his class and received many commendation letters from his teachers. This can be seen as a sign of his acceptance to conform to the School's demands, as well as his devotion toward his school work. Pierre's father also played a profound role in his up bringing, #"He taught Pierre boxing, shooting and wrestling tricks.