Identity is one of those words that can signify many
different things to different people. It can also be conformed from the idea of
place in history as well as a place that is memorable to who you are or who
your family is in the world. Country, and origin are strong formations of identity;
it helps create a sense of culture and familiarity with a group of people that
share common traditions and language. Although identity can be communal it is
also something very personal and singular. Identity is able transform and gives
you a sense of uniqueness when surrounded by people with whom you share many
similarities. Identity is who you are, as an individual and how you perceive
the same situations differently than the person next to you.
Much of what makes up our identity has been construed by our
surroundings; many of us have internalized our family’s perceptions of us
whether it is positive or negative. These perceptions have managed to make up
part of our identity and our behaviors.
In addition, in the poem Deathsleep written by Al Mahmud, he
explains his identity through the lens of his wife. He describes himself to be
a man that enjoys his solitude, I am unsure if he is in a type of comma, where
he is reflecting on the relationships with his family but not able to
physically interact or communicate with them. Mahmud says in his poem:
“How easily they have
arrived
At the real truth
about me
A person who has.
No party
No power
No movements,
Lives in our family.”
I think this particular quote is very informative of his own
perception of himself. Whether his family sees him as that, it is obvious that
he has formed his identity in part of what he thinks his family sees in him.
In a shorter poem When I Put My Hands in the Air It’s Praise
by Alysia Nicole Harris, she is able to narrate a stronger perception of the
characters identity. Through the decision of dressing in a tiger print dress
and wearing python skin shoes demonstrates that the character is somewhat
comfortable in a club environment and can be somewhat extroverted. We also can
see that she shares a common perspective of getting lost in lust… in love
seeing nothing else but living in the moment and the man she’s with.
Daisy,
ReplyDeleteI really liked what you said about identities being construed by our surroundings and I agree that we tend to internalize our family's perceptions and even our institutional climate. The quote you chose from that poem felt like an "aha!" moment for me, it brought me to a clearer understanding of how the poet sees himself through the lens of others. It almost felt out of place as well, because of it's political connotations however the rest felt very family oriented, and concerned with generational "failures" rather than individual power or strengths.
Daisy
ReplyDeleteDeathSleep is amazing poem where the narrator can't reach his own identity and from his deathsleep looks at how he is perceived. Your idea that he is looking through the lens of his wife's complaints really. I am not sure how they connect directly to the way you describe identity. It's pretty insular and i hope for the bigger connection
e