The Search for Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Search for Identity - Essay Example Hence, it must be inherent for a human to search for his or her own identity all throughout his or her existence on earth. In regard to the aforementioned facts, this paper aims to dissect and explicate the search for identity in the two novels namely "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston and "Run With The Horsemen" by Ferrol Sams. Moreover, quotes from the said novels shall also be cited as well as to determine how it can be a conscious and, at the same time, an unconscious process, thus exemplifying the essence of this essay. Janie Mae Crawford is the protagonist in this novel. Aside from her quest for true love and standing up for her rights, despite the hindrances caused by the seemingly double jeopardy of being a woman and a black citizen- both symbolized an undeniable societal inferiority, she also has a search to find her real identity, that is, who she really is and what she is standing for. Janie's search for her identity is but a conscious effort. She knew what she really wanted: she wanted to be free! At first, she was seemingly under the control of the values that Nanny, her grandmother, has instilled in her young mind, thereby submitting herself to marry a man whom she doesn't even love. Nevertheless, her efforts to set herself free can be seen in as early as the beginning chapters of the novel, particularly when she left Logan to go with Jody. Moreover, when her relationship with Jody was "on the rocks", she has an intense desire to be free from Jody's tyranny. Eventually, after Jody's death, she has won her price of liberty. In addition, after her third husband's (Tea Cake) death, she has definitely liberated herself from all the bondage entanglements in her life. The following quotations are the salient evidences wherein Janie consciously and successfully found her identity: 1. "Now that she is alone, she begins to examine her feelings and realizes that she hates Nanny for the values with which Nanny raised her" (ch. 9). Rationale/Analysis: She was able to identify her own values as distinct from that of her grandmother's, as a result of her experiences. 2. "She looks in a mirror and sees that she has aged but is still beautiful. She rips off her head-rag, freeing her imprisoned hair..." (ch. 8). Rationale/Analysis: Soon after Jody's death, she realized her worth and her new-found freedom through this symbolic act. 3. "[As she] trudges down the main road they envy her physical beauty, particularly her long, straight hair.... [but] she doesn't stop to talk to them" (ch. 1). Rationale/Analysis: This line from the story is actually the ending part, that is, the novel is just set to do a flashback. In this scenario, Janie was walking at the road in a carefree manner. After all that had happened, she has already found her true identity and therefore, she did not bother to care about what other people will think about her because she has now emerged as a confident and an empowered woman with a unique identity. The Search for identity as seen in "Run With The Horsemen" As Porter "Sambo" Osborne Jr., the protagonist in the story, sails his journey through adolescence, his search for identity can be regarded as a natural phenomenon. This is especially true in the developmental stage where he is into. According to Erik Erikson, a renowned developmental theorist whose works are constantly cited by