Essay Comparing The Color Of Water And Hamlet

In James McBride's book "The Color of Water" and in Shakespeare's "Hamlet," the idea of being seen as different has a big impact on how characters see themselves and develop their own identities. Both authors use characterization to show how other people's views can deeply affect an individual's sense of self. The theme of feeling like an outsider is key to understanding how the characters in both "The Color of Water" and "Hamlet" think about themselves. Experts on society emphasize how important this concept is when it comes to figuring out who fits into which group in our communities (Bauman). According to Mead, we don’t just have a social identity naturally. It forms over time as we interact with others and reflect on ourselves. Our dealings, …show more content…

Ruth deeply feels the impact of what society thinks and racism on how she sees herself. When thinking about her Jewish background, Ruth says, "I just didn't see myself as white." Rejecting the label society gave her a struggle between how others see us and who we think we are. This struggle shines a light on how much influence outsiders can have on how we view ourselves. Also, Ruth being in love with someone from another race goes against the usual rules and racial thoughts people have. McBride shares her words, "I loved that boy to death and he loved me." Who cared that he was black? He was the first man other than my grandfather who ever showed me any kindness in my life" (McBride). Here, Ruth shows she doesn’t care about what people expect of her relationship, which emphasizes once more the strong effect outsiders have on our self …show more content…

She says in her book, "It wasn’t long before I fell for him... just like I left home. One day, I walked out of Bubeh’s apartment and never went back" (McBride, The Color of Water). This text shows Ruth's bravery to go against what society expects and make choices that are true to herself. Likewise, in "Hamlet," Shakespeare delves into the tricky subject of who we really are by using ideas about madness and trickery. Hamlet pretends to be crazy so he can deal with the dangerous politics in Elsinore without showing his real plan. This makes it hard to tell what’s actually happening from what seems to be happening. When Shakespeare writes, "I am mad north northwest, when the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw" (Shakespeare, Hamlet), he points out how uncertain our sense of self can be in a world full of