Andrew Solomon argues that there are two kinds of identities that humans possess: a) “vertical” ones
Readings:
“Son,” Andrew Solomon, NHR 369-90.
You may choose the second reading from the following:
“An Elephant Crackup?” Charles Siebert, NHR 351-67.
“The Power of Context: Bernie Goetz and the Rise and Fall of New York City Crime,” Malcolm Gladwell, NHR 148-164.
“Homo Religiosus,” Karen Armstrong, NHR 1-23.
In “Son,” Andrew Solomon argues that there are two kinds of identities that humans possess: a) “vertical” ones, like those that connect us to the members of our families; and b) “horizontal” identities that humans “acquire…from a peer group” (Solomon 370). Though much of our class discussion has focused thus far this semester on aspects of human consciousness, to some extent, issues of identity have presented in all of those conversations.
You must use Solomon AND one [1] of the first three [3] authors we read, i.e. Siebert, Gladwell or Armstrong, to construct an essay that responds to the following question:
To what extent do human beings construct their identities?
» What is an identity? Is it stable? Does it change?
» What aspects of identities are out of people’s own control?
» How much of your “self” have you authored? How much are other entities responsible?
» To what extent is the self a reactive entity? To what extent is it a creative one?
» On what grounds can one describe the self as an illusion?
……………..Answer Preview……………..
In his article “Son” as published in his book “Far From the Tree”, Andrew Solomon talks about the difficulties that come with a person being different from their parents in behavior and physical features. According to Solomon (2012), those who possess these differences sometimes suffer at the hands of their own parents before the parents finally agree that their children are different from them and they give their children support in finding their own identity. He notes that the peace is only found when this stage is reached because then the people around an individual with difference in character learn to accept such an individual and the individual can then thrive in the society as a being. He also notes…..
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