cadi's english blog!

    What is identity? Is it how others perceive you, or is it how you perceive yourself? Is it how you present yourself, or could it be a combination of these ideas?       I found Invisible Man 's ambiguous and experimental viewpoint regarding the concept of identity really interesting. The book is an exploration of the concept of identity and it never solidly defines what identity is, but it seems to imply that a person's identity can vary depending on whose perspective you're looking through. For instance, from a reader's perspective, Invisible Man 's narrator's identity is comprised of (presumably) nearly every part of himself, while to the Harlem community, he's known only as a community leader who's part of the Brotherhood.      Another context in which I've been seeing many identity-related questions is college apps. Some portals have "identity" sections where applicants answer questions relating to their background influences and...

     As the narrator's career with the Brotherhood progresses in Invisible Man, he becomes increasingly prominent within the Harlem community. Although the he feels content with the job and how it allows him to express his ideas and passions, the narrator becomes recognized only for the version of himself he's supposed to present as part of the Brotherhood—not his actual self. In fact, his "brothers" express disapproval for even being too personal. As a people-pleaser, he doesn't question his forced identity shift and transitions smoothly, but as a result, he doesn't register that his newfound recognition and identity relies almost solely on the Brotherhood. His obliviousness seems a little concerning since the Brotherhood may not always be on his side. The narrator is so oblivious and caught up in his job that he doesn't even realize that he's selling part of his identity—his past—for it. Even if the narrator does feel genuine and enjoy his new identi...