Ap_English_Language_Synthesis_Essay

Mike Sanders 12-7-09 AP English Language Synthesis Essay Identity is a precarious feature of the human persona. It is made by the user to be the perceived appropriate exterior to complement one’s interior. According to James Baldwin, “…it is best that the garment be loose, a little like the robes of the desert, through which ones nakedness can always be felt, and sometimes, discerned”. A wiser perception could never by synthesized. The three ladies from Dorris’s A Yellow Raft In Blue Water all experience struggling conflicts with their own identities. Young Rayona is a prime example of the teenage struggle to craft her identity; she must define her wants and needs, while also balancing her family struggles. Christine never found the right “fitting” identity for herself; as the reader gains perspective from her story, it becomes evident she never felt comfortable with the identity she created for herself. Ida is the sole character from the story that truly remains satisfied by her identity. She is the perfect example of the importance of self-reliance and proper expectations. Marcelle from Russell Banks’ Trailer Park gives a perspective to the importance of balancing self worth with the image you chose to create for yourself. She seems truly comfortable with her appearance both physically and socially, yet she disregards the importance of her own well being. The identity crises weaved through these stories intensifies the truth held within James Baldwin’s quote. Rayona is a not-so-typical teenage girl with very quintessential identity problems. She is a young teenager. As a young teen, her view of the world will change abruptly and often, while her identity rushes to catch up. The result is a skewed relevance to her perceived comfort, and what she views the world’s appropriate predetermined comfort for her to be. The two do not match. This causes the normal teenage symptoms; angst, frustration, and rebellion. She even relates her life to the lives of others, like when she finds the letter that expresses a life that she wants to live. “This scrap of paper in my hand makes me feel poor in a way like I just heard of rich. Jealous. What kind of a person would throw it away'” It is not until Rayona accepts that the world’s view of herself is not as important as her own, that she begins to develop an identity more suitable to her needs. The teenage identity is the perfect example of a “loosely fit” identity. Rayona is constantly feeling the vulnerability of having her emotions being exposed, and therefore has a more interactive identity. The story of Christine is that of self-conscious thoughts coupled with an ill spent youth. Christine was extremely popular and was pampered with a generous amount of attention. It isn’t until Dayton rejects her that she begins to feel vulnerable and unfit. This event stays with her for an extenuated period of time. She lives with this uncertainty of herself, and it shows. She becomes a tad jaded, and begins to carry herself as if the world owes her something. Christine changed her identity to cover up the damage that Dayton caused her. Instead of focusing on what was most important to her happiness, she focused all of her time and energy in covering up what she thought the world would reject her for (I saw my greatest hits, the K-Tel Christine Taylor album, offered on a late show commercial: two or three bittersweet C&W cuts of Lee, a rhythm-and-blues section starring Elgin, a war dance song for Aunt Ida, and some rock and roll for my teenage adventures. Rayona was all ballads.). This creates an identity in which the individual lacks any sense of comfort with appearance they carry. The only counter to her feelings is Rayona, who she views as the sunshine of her life. “Rayona gave me something to be, made me like other women with children. I was nobody’s regular daughter, nobody’s sister, usually nobody’s wife, but I was her mother full time.” Christine is a prime example of the inevitable danger of wearing one’s identity too loose. You take the risk of getting hurt. Ida is the example that proves the importance of self-respect and comfort. From the beginning, Ida has this sense of her place in the world. This provides her with a comfort that allows her to mature as a person more steadily. Ida’s identity, as a result, does not appear to be as dynamic. However, the only reason for this misconception is the fact that she does not need to change her identity as often. Ida is comfortable with herself, and therefore finds it unnecessary to change her appearance to the outside world. This defining image was nurtured through her faith; she expresses its importance many times throughout her narrative (When I stuck a plaited palm behind [a religious calendar] at the end of Lent I would realize the pages had not been turned and bring it up to date. Then I’d forget again. In my house, Christ was always being born or rising from the dead). Ida’s example proves the effectiveness of self worth and dignity in relation to an Identity. The outspoken woman from Trailer Park shows one the importance of self worth. She is very comfortable with herself, but does not care much how the outside world sees her (The world’s got enough problems, real problems, without people going out and inventing new ones…). The result is her basically being naked to the outside world. She is who she is; no more, no less. This creates a dangerous situation. It is obvious that she harms her body because she lacks the money and motivation to take care of herself. Her identity is nonexistent to the ones around her. They see her for who she is. It is important to have a dynamic identity. It provides others with a general view of ones personality. Having an identity that is too unrevealing can cause distress, and distance an individual from others around him. An identity that is too loose runs the risk of driving others away. A happy median can be reached through trial and error. The examples from the story display a wide variety of identities. The most successful being the ones that are the most dynamic.