Most people have a sense of who they are and their identity. This means they all have their own opinions and beliefs. Several people often debate the source of the personality of a person. Some believe a person’s identity comes from their ancestors’ origins and their own past. While these factors may play a small part in a person’s personality, most determine who they are by something other than their race and past. In Everything That Rises Must Converge, Flannery O’Connor uses her character Julian to show that people are not born knowing who they are and how they should be, but instead determine who they are with their own minds, choices, and actions. In Everything That Rises Must Converge, Julian’s mother has very bigoted, old fashioned,
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He says, “‘True culture is in the mind, the mind,’”, which means culture is not just something one is born into, but it is also a choice (O’Connor 450). This quote shows how Julian’s perspective differs from his mother’s. Discriminatory thoughts are not built into the human brain. Racism does not occur as a natural process. Certain views such as sexism and racism only rear their ugly heads because they are taught. In today’s society, people cannot deny the ever present feeling of social classes, regardless of whether or not certain countries promote equality. Due to the history of the past, there will always be racism and discrimination. In a perfect world, everyone would accept one another and their differences and everyone would live in harmony. However, people are entitled to their own opinions, even if those opinions are racist, sexist, ignorant, or just plain …show more content…
He feels having a sense of self identity is not that important. His mother responds by saying, “‘I most certainly do know who I am,’ she said, ‘and if you don’t know who you are, I’m ashamed in you’” (O’Connor 449). There is no shame in taking time to discover self identity. When Julian accuses his mother of not knowing who she is, perhaps he says that because his mother is a product of her time and society. Julian’s mother talks of slavery and segregation. Had those topics not been so widely accepted and popular during her youth, maybe she would not have such discriminatory opinions. Furthermore, Julian may not want a self identity due to his mother’s values. However, in disputing his mother’s words, Julian shows his own strong opinions and beliefs, possibly unknowingly proclaiming his self
He says, “‘True culture is in the mind, the mind,’”, which means culture is not just something one is born into, but it is also a choice (O’Connor 450). This quote shows how Julian’s perspective differs from his mother’s. Discriminatory thoughts are not built into the human brain. Racism does not occur as a natural process. Certain views such as sexism and racism only rear their ugly heads because they are taught. In today’s society, people cannot deny the ever present feeling of social classes, regardless of whether or not certain countries promote equality. Due to the history of the past, there will always be racism and discrimination. In a perfect world, everyone would accept one another and their differences and everyone would live in harmony. However, people are entitled to their own opinions, even if those opinions are racist, sexist, ignorant, or just plain …show more content…
He feels having a sense of self identity is not that important. His mother responds by saying, “‘I most certainly do know who I am,’ she said, ‘and if you don’t know who you are, I’m ashamed in you’” (O’Connor 449). There is no shame in taking time to discover self identity. When Julian accuses his mother of not knowing who she is, perhaps he says that because his mother is a product of her time and society. Julian’s mother talks of slavery and segregation. Had those topics not been so widely accepted and popular during her youth, maybe she would not have such discriminatory opinions. Furthermore, Julian may not want a self identity due to his mother’s values. However, in disputing his mother’s words, Julian shows his own strong opinions and beliefs, possibly unknowingly proclaiming his self