The Importance Of Self Identity And Individuality

The Importance of Self Identity and Individuality Stereotypes have been around since the beginning and continue to hurt the lives of certain people in society. Due to stereotypes and prejudice made by certain people, the author, Evan Hunter, successfully demonstrated through the story â€Å"On the Sidewalk Bleeding† the consequences of stereotyping. The story focuses on a sixteen year old boy named Andy, and his last moments being alive after being stabbed by a rival gang known as the Guardians. Andy was stereotyped because of his purple jacket that identified him as a member of the Royals. While he is reflecting on his life, four people come by but do not take the time to help. The drunk man†¦show more content†¦There were so many things to do. He wondered why he’d never thought of them before, wondered why the rumbles and the jumps and the purple jackets had always seemed so important to him before. Now they seemed like such small things in a world he was missing, a world that was rushing past a t the other end of the alley† (Hunter, pg 6-7). The tone shown through this is sadness and grief because he is realizing all of the things he will never be able to do because he missed out on them and he realizes that there are many more things important to life than the purple jacket. This realization suggests that if he had not chosen the stereotyped identity of others in the gang that wear the purple jacket, he would not have been killed. If he had thought of the outcomes of his decision, he may of seen that it was not the best choice to join the Royals. It seems that he had thought more about the rewards of pride and respect than the things that would effect him. Which is another example as to why the tone is sadness and grief because he is regretting things he had chosen to do. In addition, the feeling and emotions towards the subject also happen when it is described that â€Å"If he had not been wearing the jacket, he wouldn’t have been stabbed. The knife had no t been plunged in hatred of Andy. The knife hated only the purple jacket. The jacket was a stupid meaningless thing that was robbing him of his life† (Hunter, pg 7). Once again, this tone ofShow MoreRelatedThis Side of Paradaise by F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay1414 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican youth, always struggling between individuality and the desire for acceptance. But also we get glimpses of situations in which he seems to be the embodiment of America itself – of old European heritage, struggling with his uniqueness in a world where, to survive, he must fit in. Fitzgerald described the novel as a â€Å"quest novel† that focuses on Amory’s journey to self-understanding. The three primary elements that influence Amory on his road to self-realization are convention, women, and moneyRead MoreImportance Of Race Ethnicity : An Exploration Of Asian, Black, Latino, And Multiracial Adolescent Identity Essay1047 Words   |  5 PagesHatice Kara September 12th, 2015 Dr. Wang Article Critique #1 Importance of race-ethnicity: An exploration of Asian, Black, Latino, and Multiracial adolescent identity Article source- Charmaraman, L., Grossman, J. M. (2010, April). Importance of race-ethnicity: An exploration of Asian, Black, Latino, and Multiracial adolescent identity. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 16(2), 144-151. doi: 10.1037/a0018668 (a) Contextual information about the purpose/intention of this study:Read MoreStrictly Ballroom - Perspectives on Belonging1637 Words   |  7 Pagesconformity to rules, or belong to a place where you find inspiration to express your own sense of individuality. The film Strictly Ballroom, directed by Baz Luhrmann portrays many different perspectives in regards to belonging. The opening scenes of Strictly Ballroom explore aspects of not belonging and non-acceptance. To belong to the world of ballroom dancing means sacrificing self-expression and individual identity. Scott Hastings represents the individual who repels against the group as it threatens toRead MoreAnthem Individuality Essay847 Words   |  4 PagesIndividuality in Anthem Ceaseless collectivism is not something that can be forced upon a community. Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem conveys this through the writings of Equality 7-2125, a man willing to stand up to the collectivism of the society he is confined to. Anthem not only shows how dull and lifeless a society can be with a lack of individuality in its people, but also reveals how one person can significantly impact a community. This novel displays the importance of individualism through Equality’sRead MoreThe Search Engine By Sherman Alexie1074 Words   |  5 Pagesto one’s identity is an interesting thing because it becomes such an important aspect of one’s view of themselves. The New York Times covered this topic in a video called â€Å"Dream Catchers†. Through the perspectives of four different people, the impact of a college education is explored. In Sherman Alexie’s short story, â€Å"The Search Engine†, the same theme is explored through the character of Corliss. Through these examples, and my own experiences, the themes of individuality, independenceRead MoreHumor And Science Fiction By Kurt Vonnegut1298 Words   |  6 Pagesthe most recurring themes discussed by Vonnegut in his work is individuality. He constantly highlights the importance of individuality in an ironic way; by displaying the negative repercussions of an extreme social equality. In this paper I will analyze the topic of individuality in some of Vonnegut’s acclaimed short stories. The first story is â€Å"Harrison Bergeron†, which is probably the most famous of his stories regarding individuality. In the story, the government suppresses all creativity and talentRead MoreThe Group to Which We Belong to Provides Us with Our Identity1200 Words   |  5 Pagespeers, circle of friends and work colleagues also contribute to deciding our characters. Groups shape our identity significantly and the fact that we belong to a certain group sometimes defines who we are, although our own identity may need to be compromised in order for us to belong. Our sense of self is usually shaped and influenced by communities we are part of, however, our individuality is constantly altered and adjusted by the world beyond us as we come to interact with people whose perceptionRead MoreAnalysis Of John Stuart Mill s Flags, Anthems, Art, And Traditions1693 Words   |  7 Pagesdetermining one’s self image and identity. These are all formed from experience and relationshi ps between other citizens from your nation. Many people are naturally inclined to have a strong sense of nationalism towards the country in which they were born. Others may change their customs and beliefs when moving to another nation or develop preference to another nation’s customs. It is in the hands of the individual to make this ultimate decision. John Stuart Mill believes that identity is an importantRead MoreBelonging - Strictly Ballroom1203 Words   |  5 PagesRoger Holt, revolves around the individual Timothy whose individuality is suppressed by his fathers’ expectations. The song, â€Å"Where we belong†, by Steven Curtis Chapman, explores whether individuals are deemed worthy to belong. Hence, these texts are important in broadening our understanding of the negatives and positives of belonging and not belonging. The film, â€Å"Strictly Ballroom†, demonstrates the difficulty in expressing one’s individuality because of the rules and regulations enforced by culturesRead MoreThe New World And Fahrenheit 451 Essay864 Words   |  4 Pagesbelonging, and sense of community all stem from the realization of self identification. Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451 both depict a futuristic society where self identification is either being stripped from citizens or has been completely eradicated altogether. The rise of technology in both societies has usurped the importance of knowledge and personal experiences in regards to personal identity formation. This war on self identity is no coincidence, both novels depict government’s that wish to