Lost in Identity Essay

Through public opinion, prejudices and stereotypes, whizs identity is subject to change. If wholeness is incessantly criticized and put d have for their physical port or their actions, they result purify to switch themselves to outfit the norm, and to match the majority. In the triplet pieces, Barbie fowl, Siddhartha, and disgraceful Men and habitual infinite, they process that done gilds expectations and stereotypes, ones identity will be challenged and thus inhibited. besides when ones receive determination and perseverance pulls through, will they discover their true self-importance.In twain pieces Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, and Black Men and Public Space by Brent Staples, the records were oft seasons seen changing and reevaluating their current positions in family. In Black Men and Public Space, Staples recalls his medieval connection with extracurricular opinions and stereotyping. Black manpower are repeatedly labeled as dangerous and suspicious, so in the evening, women would void him and the policemen would often pull him over wholly due to the color of his skin. Because of his constant mistreatment, Staples is conned into accept he is some sort of ill being who threatens all(prenominal)one around him. In the obliterate, alternatively of conveying his true identity, he tries to elucidate everyone else around him face more homy by learning to move astir(predicate) with care, and to flow wide berth to queasy heap(Staples). Staples ultimately mutates himself into someone so passive that his only purpose in behavior is to satisfy others.In Siddhartha, Hesses portrayal of Siddhartha illustrates the epitome of conquering egotism and on a lower floorstanding ones own identity. At first, Siddhartha attempts to fight back after-school(prenominal) pressures, however he likewise go into the trap. As Staples journeys through New York and Siddhartha through India, the paths they decide to take are sort of similar. Fo r example, soon after parting slipway with Govinda, Siddhartha travels to a juvenile township with alert obstacles waiting to be overcome. Upon arrival into the new town, Siddhartha owned no worldly possessions withdraw for the clothes on his back. Siddhartha soon meets the towns very own have it off mistress, Kamala, and she in constructs him that he will non be permitted to study love from her unless he attains leash things expensive clothes, shoes and a house.Although Siddhartha soft could have dismissed her conditions, he felt as if he was obligated by societys standards to live a wealthy action. Staples on the other devote also lives a scripted life because he alters everything ab stunned himself, from his standing propinquity to even wasting extra cartridge holder to make sure others dont feel as if he is pursual them. In the end, Siddhartha grows wary of societal expectations and learns that it should not govern what he does. If Siddhartha were to advise Staples, he would tell him that instead of enduring straight racial inequalities, he should take time to look deep at bottom himself in order to reestablish the inner peaceableness that would eventually pull him away from outside expectations.Another common theme turn to in these iii pieces is the idea of competent into societys archetype. In Barbie doll by Marge Piercy, her character would give some(prenominal)thing to look good and fit into the crowd. alike in todays society, women are continuously pressured to match a veritable role and look a specialized way in order to feel welcome. It doesnt make sense why healthy, intelligent and strong women crumble under the low self-esteem of others. Women are acquire so torn up by their peers critiquing that they focus more on the constant negative reminders, quite an than their positive qualities.At the end of the young Siddhartha, Siddhartha ends up reaching Nirvana by conquering his Self and learning to cave in free from societys hold. On the contrary, the ending in Barbie Doll, Piercys character could no longer handle any more criticism so she narrow off her nose and legs and offered them up(Piercy). Only then did society recognize her violator, the beauty of the painted on undertakers cosmetics and the turned-up putty nose(Piercy). Even though Siddhartha wouldnt judge Barbie Doll on her looks, he would however critique her on how she gave into outside pressures. kind of of letting societys expectations take root and fester within, like Staples, she should have listened to her Self, and lived her life through the true beauty show inside.Staples mistake in Black Men and Public Space is closely intertwined with Barbie Dolls in that they both are caught in societys grasp and they have stretch forth clawing their way back out. Since Staples has grown so accustomed to the design of other people governing his every motion and every thought, the idea of putting his foot mound and standing out from the crowd seems totally inconceivable. If this attitude persists, the only foreseeable progeny is one that will lead to his undoing. Barbie Doll resembles Staples ever-growing uncertainty with his life. If Staples continues his charade and prolongs his constant mistreatment, he will ultimately turn out like Barbie Doll, someone who was so thirsty to taste her real identity that in order to escape from the hole she dig herself into she had to kill herself. For Staples, it is not too late.Towards the end of Black Men and Public Space, he admits to whistling melodies from Beethoven and Vivaldi(Staples). Staples is under the thought that a mugger wouldnt be warbling bright, delightful selection from Vivaldis Four Seasons, so by finding a way to cope with his situation, Staples suppress identity leaks out through the form of music (Staples). Siddhartha suggests that ones own identity will never be lost, no matter how far one might venture from it, they will of all time cycle back to it in the end. So with Staples, however dormant his former Self remains, the return is inevitable.As people articulate through outside influences as come up as their own need to fit in, the connection with their identity will fight down to return. As a result, people travel even more detached from realism and live as if they do not have a mind of their own, except like a machine that is programmed to do as others tell it. In the three pieces of literature, Barbie Doll, Siddhartha, and Black Men and Public Places they try to warn their viewers of the dangers of becoming too attached to what other people debate. Instead of listening to others and obeying their every command, we must think for ourselves and create our own guidelines and expectations to live by. oneness must find the source within ones own self, one must possess it. Everything else is seeking- a detour, error(Siddhartha 5).Works CitedHesse, Hermann. Siddhartha. New York Bantam Classics, 1981.Piercy, Marge. Barbie Doll. Circles on the Water Selected Poems of Marge Piercy. Ed. Alfred A. Knopf. New York Knopf, 1982.Staples, Brent. Black Men and Public Space. The Norton Reader 11th Edition. Ed. Linda H. Peterson and John C. Brereton. New York W. W. Norton and Company, Inc., 2004.