You Are Who You Pretend To Be - 815 Words

I recently was introduced to a Kurt Vonnegut quote by a friend. It was mentioned only in passing and was likely meant only to carry the conversation on, but I have come back to it many times in my thoughts. The quotation was a warning: â€Å"Be careful who you pretend to be because you are who you pretend to be†. The truth behind this sentiment is far more pertinent to our lives than we might like to think. We all have visions of who we are based on what we know, how we compare ourselves to others, and how we attempt to act, but the actuality of who we are exists independently of that personal ideal. The truth of the matter is that, regardless of our apparent individuality, the way we act around others, how we dress and talk, and our general†¦show more content†¦When we actively pursue our desires, we take on traits favorable to the completion of our goals. The assimilation of those traits into our personality may be little more than a result of repetition, but they b ecome a basis upon which our identity might change or, more consequentially, be judged. This idea of the formulation of identity is not unfounded, and, although not overtly present in literature, can be witnessed in certain characters just as in the real world. In order to keep this essay at least somewhat on topic with the class, I would like to relate this idea to at least some works which we have read. To observe such formulations of identity in literature, it is usually unwise to look at the main character. Although that is the main place to find character development, it wouldn’t be a good novel if the character were to constantly change his ideas and behaviors. The first character who I believe shows just how this idea of identity holds true is the ever despised Arthur Chillingworth. The very nature of his character is action. Though he is not a character who we see as active physically in obtaining his goals, without his drive for revenge on Hester and Dimmesdale he would not be noteworthy at all. Unless he was a peculiar individual in his life before the story of the scarlet letter, it could be assumed that he was not previously driven by revenge. It is understandable, then, to look at him as an individualShow MoreRelatedLiving with Strangers by Siri Hustvedt934 Words   |  4 Pagesdescribing to the reader, how one was expected to behave, where she grew up. Whenever you encountered someone on the road, whether you knew them or not, you should always greet them. If you didn’t, you would be considered both rude and a snob, which was pretty much the worst thing, you could be in that part of rural Minnesota. Therefore, Siri Hustvedt quickly felt the difference between these two places, when greeting everyone you meet in downtown New York simply isn’t practical. But Hustvedt does not onlyRead MoreLiving with Strangers Analysis1219 Words   |  5 Pagescloseness belonged exclusively to boyfriends and family.† (Ll. 16-17) To survive these transcendent experiences the New Yorkers follow the unspoken law â€Å"PRETEND IT ISN’T HAPPENING†. Siri Hustvedt tells three stories where either she or someone she knows has experienced the pretend-it-isn’t-happening law. The first story is from her friend who had just arrived to New York when a lady wearing only a flimsy bathrobe entered the bus he was on. In a smaller city the almost naked woman would have drawnRead MoreSocial Psychology Final Paper1734 Words   |  7 Pages But I have decided for myself that a soul exists within the science that I am made up of, and somewhere in there my ancestors have left me with the idea of a controlling society. A society, a culture, which labels you human and sex. A society that hands you everything you need to survive. But not everyone is that fortunate. In non western culture people must fight to survive. They don’t have the luxury of a grocery store to collect food at, a variety of clothing to protect their skinRead MoreDramatic Play As A Great Developmental Learning Tool1380 Words   |  6 Pagesplay area. In dramatic play children pretend to be someone or something different than themselves. Dramatic play can be a great developmental learning tool because it allows children to develop skills in areas such as abstract thinking, literacy, math, natural and social studies, specially helps them to socialize with other children. The dramatic play area was located in the right corner of the class. The dramatic play area consisted of a small kitchen and pretend food, a cash register with cash andRead MoreHardest Things in Life1097 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the hardest things in life to do is trying to accept yourself for who you are. Unfortunately most people don’t get to the accepting themselves stage until they are older. Even at childhood itself, you wouldn t feel much comfortable in your academics when comparing with a brilliant pal in your class. There comes a certain time in your life when you just say ‘I can’t please everybody, so I am going to be myself’ and you accept yourself. It’s a very powerful thing to be able to do this, it’sRead MoreAnalysis Of Inventing The University By David Bartholomae713 Words   |  3 Pagesone should speak and write a certain way, and if they cannot, they should pretend to- meaning that, in an academic setting, if one wishes to become a scholar and converse with other scholars, they must imitate the discourse of the privileged until it becomes natural to them. The discourse- a way of speaking, writing, and thinking, or an identity kit- is only available to those who â€Å"must learn to speak [their] language. Or [who]...dare to speak it, or to carry off the bluff, since speaking and writingRead MoreGender Stereotypes In Disney1523 Words   |  7 Pagespreschool girls interpret the gendered stereotypes shown through Disney Princess media, through both the young girlsâ €™ pretend play behaviors and the discussion of the princesses. Golden and Jacoby performed this research project in order to examine the perception of young girls in relation to princesses and awareness of gender-role stereotypes, a different research study found that girls who lived and accepted gendered stereotypes, in believing that women should avoid leadership roles and constantly beRead MoreHoward W. Campbell, Jr.871 Words   |  4 Pages We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be. This saying fits perfectly with a certain character that goes by the name of Howard W. Campbell, Jr. The narrator and protagonist Howard Campbell is an American playwright living in Germany with a German wife as World War II breaks out. Campbell is persuaded to remain in Germany, cultivate the Nazis, and become an American Agent. Throughout the novel â€Å"Mother Night† you get to see different sides of Howard. As the novelRead MoreSocial Roles By Imaginary Play907 Words   |  4 Pagesbeneficial for the emotional development of children. Pretend play is a lot more complex than what is seen, it requires advanced thinking strategies, communication, and social skills. By engaging in pretend play, children learn to do things such as negotiate, consider others’ perspectives, transfer knowledge from one situation to another, delay gratification, balance their own ideas with others and use planning strategies. The same skills used in pretend play are also used in an adult work project. Read MoreYou Can Do This Annie. Be Brave. Essay example1426 Words   |  6 Pagesthe small of my back and leads me to a group of teenagers. She surprises me by hugging me. â€Å"Please tell me you won’t get reaped.† Something in my mind begins to click. I’m standing in the crowd of kids with two about to get reaped. This is the Hunger Games. I’m Annie Cresta. This woman who is hugging me is my mother, or is a fake mother. I’m in District 4. Now, where’s Finnick? â€Å"I promise you, Mom, I won’t.† I say. Mom gives me a reassuring smile, then tucks back into the crowd with my ‘father.’