The identity given to an individual is often erroneous or restricted as it is primarily constructed by the perceived notions of society. For instance, two very distinctive authors, Florence Nightingale and Olaudah Equiano, extended beyond the constrained image of their given identities. Although these two writers lived during different periods of time, - Equiano in the late 1700s and Nightingale during the late 18th century- they were both placed by society into a neat, rigid category, which limited the understanding of the complexity of their individuality. By analyzing their personal lives as well as their literary compositions, specifically The Interesting Narrative of Olauda Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, by Equiano, and Cassandra, …show more content…
In particular, having a connection and close relationship with God, allowed both of this individuals to find meaning and understanding in their existence. In Nightingale’s case, by experiencing various divine interventions, she believed it was her responsibility to be some type of savior for her gender, “…God who commanded her to be a savior and who justified her rebellion against the feminine morality of domestic duty and humble self-sacrifice;” and in such way, Nightingale assimilated a new side to her identity (Showalter 404). This is revealed in Cassandra as she references back to her personal beliefs: “…at last there shall arise a woman, who will resume, in her soul, all the sufferings of her race, and that woman will be the Saviour of her race” (Nightingale 1630). Similarly, Equiano, through his personal narrative, provides an understanding about his conversion to Christianity and the importance of defining himself in terms of this religion. In fact, he becomes so closely associated with his faith and Christian beliefs- as well as establishing a connection with the Quaker- that he is identified by others as an intersection between race and religious affiliation: “…they also styled me to black Christian” (Equiano 102). Notably, Equiano embraces and acknowledges religion as part of who he is and what distinguishes him. As an example, he openly mentions, in this case as an attempt to claim his freedom, his religious sacraments: “…besides this I have been baptized...” (Equiano
Equiano had many slave owners and two of them had a great influence in his life. Equiano had a horrible experience that he tried to end his life just to escape from being a slave. As days passed his life seemed to be getting easier. As a child Equiano and his sister where taken far away.
For Equiano to be able to make the readers see the reversal of perceptions about white people, Equiano needs to separate himself and produce this sense of exceptionalism through first person pronouns. Once he establishes himself
It is said that because of her father’s courageous acts and stories, Clara changed her field into nursing and later became known as the Angel of The Battlefield. Part of the reason Clarissa changed her idea was when she was only eleven years old, and “her brother David fell of the roof of a barn during a barn raising accident. David was treated by a doctor but needed care around the clock. This in which Clara gave him. She nursed David as though she was caring for a baby bird.
Edna Pontellier possessed something rich and unworthy. Edna’s disregard for the individuals and society’s opinion did not force her to remain oppressed in the parrot’s cage nor become reluctant to the ocean. Edna’s heroic individualism liberated the chains that plagued her from flying and swimming into freedom and the discovery of Edna’s identity. All individuals experience various sorts of transitions in their life, whether it’s emotionally, physically, or mentally. It was Edna Pontellier’s journey of a thousand miles, new experiences and beginnings that led to the benefit of self- rule and sovereignty.
A person’s identity is what defines them, it is their history and personality, it is what makes them the person they are, and yet sometimes it is sacrificed in order to attain something more. The giving up of a person’s race, when it is possible, is one of the clearest examples of this idea. When a certain race is oppressed, many would be willing to sacrifice their identity with the hopes of living free of oppression. The idea of sacrificing race and identity for a benefit is demonstrated in Charles Johnson’s novel Oxherding Tale and Nella Larsen’s novel Passing. In Oxherding Tale, the protagonist, Andrew, is born a black slave, but is half white and has a light skin tone.
For example, when he told of his arrival in Virginia when he was the last of his group left at a plantation with no one to talk to and no way to understand those around him. To the British readers, who thrived in their own daily social interactions, the thought of such a lonely situation created feelings of pity and understanding. Equiano thought that he was “worse off than any of the rest” of his companions and “was constantly grieving and pining,” because of his loneliness. The British readers related to his emotional distress and allowed themselves to see him as a person. Therefore, they were more open to his ideas on slavery as a whole, because they could relate to Equiano's
An awareness of one’s past is essential to the establishment of their personality and identity. James McBride’s, The Color of Water, is both a memoir and tribute to his mother, Ruth McBride Jordan. Throughout most of James’ life, he questioned who his mother was behind all her secretiveness and failure to educate him on her past life. Soon enough, she agrees to being interviewed by her son and continues by revealing every aspect of her identity. While being interviewed, she talks about the three names she’s lived by.
The appearance of the Atlantic world, especially to the eyes of Equiano, was one that could be described as interesting. We are introduced to a young colored man who has been forced into a new country due to the acts of slavery and is in fear of his life, while in the movie Black Robe, we are introduced to how a Jesuit priest comes to a new land in order to convert the natives of that country. In this essay, readers will be introduced to how a colored person sees a world differently unlike one who comes from such a country such as Europe. On page 91, Equiano starts off by explaining his conditions in his new master 's quarters and how he is shown the graphic details of being a slave, by seeing a woman, who is his own skin color, muzzled
17.1 Captivity and Enslavement, Olaudah Equiano, the interesting Narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano written by himself 1. What are Equiano’s impressions of the white men on the ship and their treatment of the slaves? How does this treatment reflect the slave traders’ primary concerns? Equiano’s first impression of these white men is a feeling of uncertainty and sorrow for the future. As his story goes on Equiano is afraid of these white men, but also he is wishing to end it all because of the conditions and treatment of the slaves.
The experiences on the ship “was central to his life story, as to millions of others” (108). Rediker explains the astonishment and terror in the slave ship and how all were stripped of their humanity, but Equiano had this saying that he came to understand, Igwe bu ke, meaning “multitude is strength” that replenished the idea of survival below the slave
In addition, the search for self-identity is viewed as important in today’s society. Thus, these confliction attributes lead the reader to identify Edna as morally ambiguous. Categorizing complex characters as purely good or purely evil is not one of the easiest of tasks. As a result, it is best to characterize them as morally ambiguous. In Edna’s case, she is morally ambiguous due to her romantic affiliations and role-defying actions, but both are immensely vital to Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening” as a complete whole.
Identity is often a cornerstone in a many important works of literature. The struggle of a protagonist to reconcile with their identity and the expectations or restrictions that accompany this struggle often mirrors real life endeavors and makes important critiques on social structure. The essay A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf makes an influential claim that a woman’s identity as lesser than a man’s in society prevents her from the opportunity to fill her role as a writer while the novel The Bell Jar written by Sylvia Plath describes a woman’s struggle to reconcile with her expectations as a woman in the 1950s. Both pieces make a statement about the impact of identity and its influence on the women faced with the consequences of these societal expectations.
Kate Chopin’s The Awakening is a piece of fiction written in the nineteenth century. The protagonist Edna is a controversial character, Edna rebels against many nineteenth - century traditions, but her close friend Adele was a perfect example in terms of a role of a woman, mother and wife at that time. Chopin uses contrast characters to highlight the difference between Adele and Edna. Although they are both married women in the nineteenth century, they also exhibit many different views about what a mother role should be.
Kimily Fernandes ELA 12 Ms. Petta Ms. Greene Ms. Perez How the people use race and social class to define a person’s character? In both works the authors lead the reader to question: How do people use race and social class to define a person’s character? While in spite of the similarities in both works, the authors provide different answer. In “Private Experience,” the narrator Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie tells the reader the difference between classes and the prejudgment, like when we made about people even we don’t know them.
11/23/2015 Florence Nightingale 1. Analyze the Applicability of the Theory a. Structure • This theory is based upon the concept of environment and 13 sub-concepts, which can be manipulated to prevent diseases. • The metaparadigms are well defined; however, the 13 canons/sub-concepts are not described that well. Hence lacking structure and clarity.