Revelations: Persona

In his enduring 1952 novel, Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison illuminates the concept of identity not by making statements, but by raising questions. Throughout the course of the story, the unnamed narrator encounters a variety of characters and societal institutions that each shape the narrator’s understanding of himself and his position in society. Though these encounters differ in significant ways, they each contain three defining elements: the pursuit of a goal within the confines of an institution

On the surface, Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home seems simply to be a memoir of her journey towards discovering her own identity, and in the process, uncovering her father’s. However, the novel is far more complex. The graphic novel is not linear in the least, and mimics memory as it moves backwards and forwards in time, or returns to specific situations repeatedly. This is layered with the numerous references to previous literary texts in an interesting manner; combined, it provides emotional and informative

have become “a connoisseur of masculinity at a young age” (95). Neither of them fit their stereotypical role within the family; Bruce didn’t act like a macho-man dad, and Alison wasn’t playing dress up with all the other little girls. Though their personas seem compatible, the stark difference in their gender affiliations was a source of great tension between Alison and her father. Not only does Alison approach herself and her father as “inversions” of each other, but she

life. Being that I was raised on the south-side of Richmond, I was brought up around my fellow black children, however, I was sheltered away from understanding how they lived their life in order to keep me veering towards this clear-cut and defined persona. As I approached the end of my fifth-grade year, I was asked to take a placement test for the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Lucille Brown Middle School. By the grace of God, I was selected. This opportunity exposed me to advanced teaching

out at least physically seeing as her outfit changed and she cleansed herself of her indiscretions leaving only what is repressing her on the inside left being her last obstacle. So Elisa came to terms with her femininity and sexuality with the revelation of her new outfit, but does that really mean that her story of repression truly ended where the pen and paper departed one

the main characters of the tale. These two may seem like an unusual pair but are a storm to be reckoned with and in these selfish times it is unlikely for men of the kind to be friends. Within these difficult trials and the every-man-for-himself persona that is taken up by every personality; their relationship is seen as odd. Accompanying the characters, Candy; a useless one handed janitor, Crooks; an exiled and beaten black farmhand, and Curley’s Wife; a desperate lonely housewife, are all used

this illusion shattered by the revelation that in fact Parts One, Two, and Three were penned by none other than the 77-year-old Briony Tallis. This epilogue, and what it divulges about the events we have just read, turns the book into a metafiction. A close rereading of the book turns up multiple references to the fact that it is in fact a manuscript written by the elderly Briony. McEwan’s metafictional

“Half of the time I don't know what they're talking about; their jokes seem to relate to a past that everyone but me has shared. I'm a foreigner in the world and I don't understand the language.” Once said Jean Webster. The common mindset of most is to be uncommon and special but that doesn’t necessarily apply to everyone. Some are forever outsiders and don’t understand the norms that are such a constant for us but a stranger to them. Sir William Bradshaw is a character that promotes a better nationhood

However, during the hypnosis, another revelation arises. Mary and Grace are the same person, but not in a Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) regard. After analysis of the texts, I view Grace Marks as an incredibly intelligent individual, who understands how to manipulate a conversation, in her

“The Truman Show” can be described as a grand experimentation of how a person interacts based on the environment he or she is in. While reality TV stars have to be self-conscious about maintaining their status and persona, this does not apply to Truman, as it is the actors and the production’s responsibility to make sure every step moves forward as smoothly as possible. In order to commercialize this show, the show would constantly utilize product placement that has