An identity can be given or earned, but regardless of where it came from, a true identity cannot be erased or changed. Portrayed in Coen Brother’s film, Miller’s Crossing, and William Kennedy’s novel, a universal conflict that many go through is the search for a true identity. In each of these works, the protagonists are given an identity but attempt to change due to embarrassment or uncertainty. Both Miller’s Crossing and Legs reveal how one’s identity may periodically appear to change, but one’s true identity cannot change. Kennedy and the Coen brothers depict this individual aspect most notably through the symbolism surrounding their lapel pin, rosary, and hat.
In his novel, Legs, William Kennedy portrays the inevitable return to one’s true identity through the symbolism of Jack Diamond’s Knights Templar cross and his rosary. Throughout the film, Kennedy uses religious affiliation as an identification of the characters’ values, such as Charlie Northrop’s belief in masonry and Alice Diamond’s devotion to Christianity. First described as an Irish Catholic, Diamond’s masonic Knights Templar pin serves as a contradiction to this identity, further representing his urge to escape his Christian identity. Diamond’s internal struggle to break free from the Christian identity arises when Diamond encounters his cousin, Will,
…show more content…
after returning from Germany. Soon after greeting Jack, Will asks, “ain’t that a Protestant bunch?” to which Jack replies, “It’s good for business, Will” (Kennedy 118). Stating that his masonic interests are only a business matter illustrates that although he attempts to completely remove himself from his identity, he still feels guilty about escaping his Catholic identity. Kennedy makes his point of the inevitable return to one’s true identity through the depictions of Diamond with his rosary. Specifically, Kennedy first introduces Diamond’s connection with the rosary when Marcus notices that “he was not praying—only staring at it, strung like webbing through his fingers, as if it were a strange incomprehensible object” (92). Even when Jack is away from the two main Catholic influences in his life, his wife and his family, he is still drawn towards his Catholic identity. Jack’s incomprehension to the object demonstrates how this return to this rosary is a subconscious desire for comfort and security of his true identity. Kennedy’s final point on the inevitable return to one’s true identity is illustrated through the rosary in Jack’s pocket. Kennedy writes, “When Jack’s lucky blue suit came back from the hotel cleaners, a silver rosary came with it in the key pocket” (242). The silver rosary inside the key pocket symbolizes the success and prosperity that is found in faith and how it remains Diamond’s key to escaping from his violent lifestyle to comfort and security. The symbolism of Diamond’s lapel pin and rosary demonstrate drifting away and returning to one’s true identity. Similar to Kennedy’s utilization of the Knights Templar cross, the Coen brothers use Tom’s hat in Miller’s Crossing to serve as a symbol of the inevitable return to one’s identity. The hat plays a prominent role as the recurring symbol that surrounds Tom. Recognizing that a hat represents identity while drawing attention to one’s head or mind allows the readers to infer that Tom’s hat serves as a symbol of Tom’s identity as a thinker. As a thinker, one can assume that it is part of Tom’s identity to outsmart his enemies rather than be physically violent. A clear example of this difference occurs when Tom is walking Bernie deeper and deeper into Miller’s Crossing. Bernie pleas with Tom saying “Tommy, you can't do this. You don't bump guys. You're not like those animals back there… They can't make us different people than we are. We’re not muscle Tom” (Miller’s Crossing). This scene is significant because Bernie directly addresses Tom’s identity. The hat, fully on Tom’s head, signifies that Tom has not strayed from his identity and therefore, remains a thinker instead of a murder. The location on Tom’s hat symbolizes how true he stays to his identity as a thinker. For example, when Tom shoots Bernie after finding the murdered Casper, Tom’s hat is at the back of his head, signifying a skewed identity. The hat is also brought up when Tom tells Verna about the dream he had when explaining, “No. It stayed a hat. And no I didn't chase it. I watched it blow away. . . Nothing more foolish than a man chasing his hat” (Miller’s Crossing). Tom’s chasing after his hat in the beginning of the film reveals the irony in this quotation. Tom’s failure to realize the contradiction between his words and actions prove that running after an identity is a subconscious search for Tom. The final symbolism of the hat occurs in the final scene when the Coen brothers include a dramatic pause to reveal that Tom’s placing of the hat on his head represents his return to his identity as a thinker. Apparent through the identity symbols in Legs and Miller’s Crossing, a person can stray from one’s identity, but they can never truly separate from their true identity.
Whether it is straying from a religious upbringing or a personality type, many characters have the internal struggle that goes beyond the story’s central struggle of the hero. Discovering one’s identity is a universal struggle that can be utilized to expose a humane side to a character or draw a reader to make a personal connection with a story. By understanding a Diamond’s and Reagan’s internal struggles, one receives a deeper understanding for the humanity of the mythic
characters.
Life is not something simple as we often prefer. There are many different approaches and in most instances we will not find the desired fulfillment in any of them. In the short story “Parkers Back” written by Flannery O’Connor we have a multi-faceted view into the life of the primary character O.E. Parker. In addition we see into the life of Sarah Ruth, Parker’s wife and possibly into the life of author Flannery O’Connor, who died shortly after completing this short story. The characters in this story deal with Tattoos from totally different perspectives and get completely different results. Tattoos are the focal point of the story and prominent on many occasions. Without purpose in life people often make bad decisions which impact the rest of their lives and those they interact with. How often do we pretend to be something or somebody we are not, and have to live with the unpleasant results?
Firstly, one’s identity is largely influenced by the dynamics of one’s relationship with their father throughout their childhood. These dynamics are often established through the various experiences that one shares with a father while growing up. In The Glass Castle and The Kite Runner, Jeannette and Amir have very different relationships with their fathers as children. However the experiences they share with these men undou...
Everyone in life must find, and know themselves from the stories they tell. In Robertson Davies’ Fifth Business Dunstan Ramsey tells us his life’s story, from a small-town kid, to battling in the war, growing into old age and his struggle to capture and understand his personal mythology. Personal mythology is ones life story and inner self, whether they’re conscious of it or not. It’s shaped and created by experiences, moments, people, beliefs and stories. Throughout his life Dunstan is molded and influenced by different events, people, stories and his inner-self that make him better understand and make his own personal mythology. However, Dunstan’s – like most other’s – personal mythology must be set on course by a trigger event that sends
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.
This essay will focus on how the novel Passing by Nella Larsen engages with the theme identity. Before proceeding, it is worth defining identity in order to understand how that definition does and does not work in the analysis of Passing. According to the Oxford dictionary, identity means ‘the fact of being who or what a person or thing is’, it is ‘the characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is’. A person retains a sense of self identity, or a sense that they belong in a culture or people. The characters in Passing do not adhere to this definition. Larsen explores the complex issue of racial identity and identification in her novel Passing. The novel not only refers to the sociological occurrence of blacks passing as white peoples, but it signifies the loss of racial identity. Even though they are trying to tolerate identities appointed to them by society, they have lost a sense of belonging; they are detached and isolated from their race. With the abrupt ending of the two protagonists failing, Larsen illustrates that ‘passing’, while useful in order to gain acceptance, ultimately limits a person’s independence to the extent of death.
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
Among carpenters, it is a well-known fact that building a house upon a solid foundation is imperative. When beginning the construction of a home, the foundation is always the first step leading to success, for without it, the house will become unstable. During extreme weather, such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other conditions, a slight fault in the foundation of a home will most likely guarantee significant damage, if not complete destruction. Similar to a house, a person’s identity must rest upon a firm foundation; otherwise, it may not be capable of withstanding the ominous conditions of the world. When trials and burdens threaten to crumble people’s identities, their foundations must stand their ground and overcome the various tribulations. Although there are billions of inhabitants of the world, no two people share the same identity; rather, each person has unique memories, stories, events, and artifacts influencing who they have become. Some people’s identities may reflect a difficult childhood of discrimination, poverty, and hatred similar to the one described by Malcolm X in his article, “Nightmare.” Other people may associate with Katie Pederson and her article, “Identity,” in which they are defined through a simple artifact such as an identification card. In addition, numerous unfortunate people may struggle from the devastating effects of memory loss similar to those Floyd Skloot experienced, and they are helpless as their memories and identity slowly slip away from them. Still other people may find themselves desperately searching for acceptance and identity similar to the homeless man in Gina Berriault’s article, “Who Is It Can Tell Me Who I Am.” Unlike the homeless man and Malcolm X, I was fortuna...
Identity is classified as the conception, qualities, beliefs, and expressions that make the individuality of a human being. In Massachusetts during the seventeenth century, Hester Prynne is a Puritan woman who is charged with adultery in a hypocritical and judgmental town. After spending her entire pregnancy imprisoned in the local jail, Hester emerges from the prison door with a three month old baby in her hands, and stands on the scaffold to be judged. Therefore, because of her crime of adultery, she must wear a bright crimson ‘A’ on her chest and learn from her sins. Hester refuses to reveal the father of the child, and is shunned from the small society. In the novel“The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester`s identity
Robin's character is discovered in many ways through the conflicts with each situation he finds himself in through out his journey. Each conflict is carried through a sequence of events that leads to the climax and creates the characters. Robin's conflict starts with the elder authority figure that h...
self. This crisis of identity is not only limited to the protagonist, but also seen throughout
As the concept of nationality, boundaries, and social confinement are no longer stable in the wartime desert, national borders and identity in the novel become blurred and ambiguous. The war breaks the boundaries of nations, so identity also brings the feeling of lack for a definable identity. The characters’ identities are deconstructed by their attempts to escape from their names, their bodies, and their environment.
Literature is full of unforgettable characters; characters that we are able to relate to, characters that can scare us, characters that can touch us, and many that make us reflect our own lives. In literature these characters have traits that we can reflect in our own lives. Traits like vulnerability, a sense of humor, pain, and self-awareness personify them. Many characters’ traits develop and change throughout a story. Authors may choose to show this self-awareness after a conflict has made the characters question their own thinking, reasoning, or ethos. Which can then creates an inner conflict in this character. That inner conflict that has the ability to change the principles, and traits of this character. Before a character is able to
In movies, novels, and life, people are named as heroes. The heroes we establish and the heroes we recognize, however, may not meet the criteria for a mythic hero. A mythic hero ventures forth on his journey, and comes forth from the hero’s path to greatness. Joseph Campbell, a mythologist who studied many of the great human myths and religious tales, realized, in studying these myths and tales, that there were certain steps that every hero went through. Campbell called this “The Hero’s Journey”; it is based on Carl Jung's idea that all human beings have an archetype. After Campbell studied a lot of the great myths and realized this pattern, he published his findings in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Ever since then, authors have used “The Hero’s Journey” as an outline to tell their stories. “It is important to note that not all of these individual steps are present in every hero’s tale, nor is it important that they be in this exact order” (Vogler 20). The Hero with a Thousand Faces gives a sense of significance as it looks into the inner mind and soul. The author, Joseph Campbell, performs two extraordinary accomplishments: compelling his readers that myth and dream, those are the most effective and everlasting forces in life and a unification of mythology and psychoanalysis with a gripping narrative. One well-known example of “The Hero’s Journey” from popular culture is the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling. In the novel, Harry Potter, the main character, is the chosen one and “The Hero’s Journey” applies to his life from the moment he is attacked by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named as a baby.
In literature, (or life) religion plays a large role in a character's identity. However, sometimes the writer's own religion and personal experiences shapes the character's identity more than his/her imagination does. A person's religion can play a big role in one's identity. Throughout his works, Philip Roth explores the theme of identity doubles. Roth's portrayal of identity formation in his characters is directly inspired by his own identity; his life.
Several different elements are necessary to create a story. Of all the elements, the conflict is most essential. The conflict connects all pieces of the plot, defines the characters, and drives the story forward. Once a story reaches its climax, the reader should have an emotional connection to the both story and its characters. Not only should emotions be evoked, but a reader should genuinely care about what happens next and the about the end result for the characters. Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace” is the perfect example of how a story’s conflict evolved the disposition of its characters.