Race and Social Identity in On the Road and The Reivers...

Race and Social Identity in On the Road and The Reivers Whether around a group of friends or among total strangers, many people feel compelled to act in certain ways to please those around them; this part of our identity is labeled conveniently as social identity. A social identity can sometimes be very close to ones personal identity, but the differences between the two is caused by social pressures and obligations, and the extent to which it differs is based on many factors such as race, heritage, age, etc. Specifically, the pressures on minorities in a predominantly white society may cause them to behave in certain ways. Also, examining these pressures may help us further see the reasons for this behavior. Both The Reivers†¦show more content†¦Even though Sal and Dean are in a predominantly black part of town, and in predominantly black establishments throughout the night, they never once face any sort of tension due to race. When Dean and Sal actually interact with the black tenorman, they seem to do it with great ease, i.e., when Dean invites him out the car, the tenorman exclaims Yes! aint nothin I like better than good kicks ! (Kerouac 199). Suddenly the whole issue of race in social interaction becomes superfluous, in fact, race seems to be more of an issue for Kerouac in his description of the setting than a social issue. Sals only true exploration of his race comes when he is Denver looking for his friends, and after not having found them, does a hard days work. As Sal walks through a Denver ghetto, he describes his feelings of loneliness and despair about his identity: I walked...among the lights of 27th and Welton in the Denver colored section, wishing I were a Negro, feeling that the best the white world had offered me was not enough ecstasy for me, not enough life, joy, kicks, darkness, music, not enough night... I wished I were a Denver Mexican, or even a poor overworked Jap, anything but what I was so drearily, a white man disillusioned... I was only myself, Sal Paradise, sad, strolling in this violet dark, this unbearably sweet night, wishing I could exchange worlds with the happy, true-hearted, ecstatic Negroes of America. (Kerouac,

The True Meaning of Life Essay - 716 Words

There are thousands of enlightening pieces of literature to choose from, selecting one is a challenge. Many of these works are very important, but the novel Tuesdays with Morrie written by Mitch Albom is one work that everyone should study. However many students might miss out on the opportunity to read this book because of their school’s limited curriculum. This work is just as important to read as any Shakespearean piece. Even though this book is not yet considered a classic novel, it is still significant because it teaches readers about valuable lessons of friendship, demonstrates how to deal with difficult situations and understand the true meaning of life. It is a novel that should be read by everyone, including the incoming†¦show more content†¦Mitch sat next to Morrie every Tuesday, when Morrie was sick, and talked to him about different topics of interest. This demonstrates real friendship, Mitch knew that Morrie needed him and wouldn’t leave his si de. Life is more enjoyable when you have a friend who will help you deal with your problems. Dealing with a life threaten situation can be hard and unmanageable. Morrie had to deal with a life threatening illness, when he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. He started to see the affects of the disease and had to deal with no longer being able to walk or do every day activities by himself. In time Morrie realized that he had an incurable disease and had to make the best of the situation. This is very admirable because he knew that he was going to die from this disease, but he dealt with his condition and made every moment count. Morrie taught the reader that even the worst of situations can be turned around for the better. While Morrie was slowly dying, he tried to teach Mitch about life and its values. He explained that helping others and doing things that you love gives your life meaning. Having a job and making money are important, but they should not encompass your whole life. It doesn’t take long hours of work and a lot of money to make a person’s life meaningful. Being with theShow MoreRelatedThe True Meaning Of Life1370 Words   |  6 Pageswill is going to be frustrated, that this will all end, that we will die. Furthermore, we have to live with the sense that our lives, our conscience, will no longer exist – the worst thing that could perhaps happen to us, our will. This is the true meaning of what is means to be mortal. So, it is fully logical to see why some would want to live forever, to become immortal. For instance, on one side of a spectrum, there is the non-human animals, which possess the same will as humans but do not possessRead MoreThe True Meaning Of Life1880 Words   |  8 PagesThe true meaning of life comes in many different ways depending on the individual. As we grow older, we begin to contemplate what our true purpose is. 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November 25, 1996 Essay Example For Students

November 25, 1996 Essay They Cant be the SameIn communication between men and women, the two genders always communicate differently. Traditionally men communicate facts directly and are less likely to discuss details that have little to do with the conversation. Women traditionally are more careful about what they say and seek to build relationships by the way they communicate. These two forms of communication, direct (traditional male) and indirect (traditional female), are consistent throughout most cultures. There are cases where the men communicate indirectly and the women directly but not where both the genders communicate in the same way. (Lakoff 627) If the two genders do communicate in the same way, there is bound to be serious conflict that usually involves violence. The movie Thelma and Louise tells the story of two women who have run away from their traditional roles as women. They have been put under too much pressure from society and especially men. Both Thelma and Louise feel a need to change their position in society and they do it by changing the way they communicate. This change in communication between men and women causes the women to take on a stronger and more direct language which also included robbery and murder. They change from the traditional female forms of communication to a more masculine form of communication. Once they change, the men who they come into contact with change the way they communicate as well, or they face serious consequences. This demonstrates the fact that men and women are bound to communicate differently. In the movie, Thelma and Louise react violently to men who communicate directly to them after they have changed their form of communication. These violent reactions are a result of the men breaking the cul tural ideal that men and women are bound to communicate differently. At the beginning of the movie Thelma and Louise, Thelma and Louise were women who lived lives of typical American women and communicated like one would expect a woman communicate. They were concerned mainly about their relationships with men and tried not to make them mad. However, they needed a break from their lives and the two women decided to take a quick vacation. Their lives change when Thelma is raped by a man she meets at a bar. When Louise shoots and kills the rapist, after he mocks them, they change the way they communicate and act with other men. They can no longer afford to seek or further emotional ties with men because they are forced to make quick and decisive decisions. This creates a clear goal they must achieve, and that is to get to Mexico to avoid being caught by the law. Once they have this clear and concise goal (a trait that a man would have), they begin to communicate with men more directly. They are less concerned with the emotional ties they have with men, and they become focused on a single goal, which is leaving the country. The two cases where Thelma and Louise cause serious pain and sorrow to men are the result of men not understanding that Thelma and Louise have changed the way they communicate. These cases are when the Thelma and Louise pull the truck driver over and when Louise shoots the rapist. The only chance any man has to convince them of something, was if a man communicated like a woman usually would. But since Thelma and Louise have changed their communication style to a more direct style, they see the direct form of communication towards them as a threat and act to eliminate that threat. In the case of the rapist Harlen, he got caught in the cross over. Louise decided to communicate very directly to the rapist which included shooting him in the heart. By threatening to shoot him, it displays that she changed from an indirect form of communication to a direct form of communication. Though violence is not generally thought a form of communication, it conveyed the her feelings towards him very directly and clearly. Harlen did not know that Louise had changed her form of communication and preceded to communicate to her very directly by insulting her and using very obscene language. When she changed the