There is a saying that a person does not simply “receive” his or her identity and that an identity is more than a face but rather something people must create for themselves. To many this is true, to others this is fake. People can determine who they are, which is their identity, without allowing outsiders influence them. It is just a matter of the heart. In the book In Cold Blood authored by Truman Capote, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith were normal men before they turned into criminals. Although, Perry was reluctant about the plan of robbing the Clutters, observing the home makes him enter a state of frustration and resentment. The Clutters then become unfortunate victims of his wrath. Dick came up with the plan to raid the Clutter’s house,
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He had an experience once while walking down the streets at night. A woman in front of him kept glancing back at Staples and was increasing her rate of movement. Eventually she ended up running away. “It also made it clear that I was indistinguishable from the muggers who occasionally seeped into that area from the surrounding ghetto” (Staples 384). It was due to that event, Staples that he realized that an image and identity was created from him before he had the chance to make one for himself. His identity to other people, women especially was to be a mugger, a rapist, or worse. Another time a lady excused herself and brought a huge red Doberman pinscher after Staples just to protect herself. So how does Staples distinguish himself? “Over the years, I learned to smother the rage I felt so often being taken for a criminal” (Staples 386). Staples too precautions to make himself different, less threatening. He dressed as an educated person would and kept his hands in his pockets. He started to whistle melodies from famous musicians such as, Beethoven and Vivaldi, due to the account that everybody’s perspective of a mugger was not classy, educated or smart. This was how he determined his identity for himself and others. Staples was born with a stereotype to his identity, however, that did not mean it was his …show more content…
She is a cripple and she chose this name to call herself because it is the truth so why not accept it. She doesn’t care what she called besides, “differently abled.” Mairs thinks that words describe no one because "Society is no readier to accept crippledness than to accept death, war, sweat, or wrinkles" (Mairs 245). She says she fears "...that people are kind to me only because I 'm a cripple" (Mairs 250). She does not like that society is obsessed with a physical image and ordinariness. She quotes that, “In our society, anyone who deviates from the norm had better find some way to compensate" (Mairs 251). This creates the image that she knows the American society has high standards. She informs the reader she is adjusting to having Multiple Sclerosis and how she does not feel sorry herself about being a cripple. Overall, she has recognized that life is what anyone can make it to be. Mairs like Staples had her identity changed, but she did not let it take over. She adapted to keep the old image as close as possible. Yet her true self (identity) did not
He had an experience once while walking down the streets at night. A woman in front of him kept glancing back at Staples and was increasing her rate of movement. Eventually she ended up running away. “It also made it clear that I was indistinguishable from the muggers who occasionally seeped into that area from the surrounding ghetto” (Staples 384). It was due to that event, Staples that he realized that an image and identity was created from him before he had the chance to make one for himself. His identity to other people, women especially was to be a mugger, a rapist, or worse. Another time a lady excused herself and brought a huge red Doberman pinscher after Staples just to protect herself. So how does Staples distinguish himself? “Over the years, I learned to smother the rage I felt so often being taken for a criminal” (Staples 386). Staples too precautions to make himself different, less threatening. He dressed as an educated person would and kept his hands in his pockets. He started to whistle melodies from famous musicians such as, Beethoven and Vivaldi, due to the account that everybody’s perspective of a mugger was not classy, educated or smart. This was how he determined his identity for himself and others. Staples was born with a stereotype to his identity, however, that did not mean it was his …show more content…
She is a cripple and she chose this name to call herself because it is the truth so why not accept it. She doesn’t care what she called besides, “differently abled.” Mairs thinks that words describe no one because "Society is no readier to accept crippledness than to accept death, war, sweat, or wrinkles" (Mairs 245). She says she fears "...that people are kind to me only because I 'm a cripple" (Mairs 250). She does not like that society is obsessed with a physical image and ordinariness. She quotes that, “In our society, anyone who deviates from the norm had better find some way to compensate" (Mairs 251). This creates the image that she knows the American society has high standards. She informs the reader she is adjusting to having Multiple Sclerosis and how she does not feel sorry herself about being a cripple. Overall, she has recognized that life is what anyone can make it to be. Mairs like Staples had her identity changed, but she did not let it take over. She adapted to keep the old image as close as possible. Yet her true self (identity) did not