Everybody has an identity. This was the subject that stuck out to me most in our discussions. It’s because I’ve had real life problems with my identity, and I also noticed the theme in some media I consume. Whatever media you like, there’s always some talk of identity. This paper expands on the ideas I shared during Half-Life and adds real-life examples and Star Wars examples. Half-Life will allow me to explore ideas concerning identity. Then, I will look at identity in Star Wars: The Force awakens.
Half-Life is about two little girls who live together with their father after a mysterious death in the ocean. The reader learns that the mothers and daughters are selkies. These are a mysterious creature which can be transformed into humans by shedding their seal skins. The story is centered on identity and is told and portrayed in a way that keeps it interesting and mysterious throughout. Astrid & Clarinda’s mother moves to the ocean and the girls learn their true identities. Clarinda is scared that the girls will follow their parents’ lead. When his daughters ask him for a story (Oshcner 403), he smiles at them and begins to tell them about the selkies. This is something the girls know, but still love. A key part of maintaining identity is having something you can relate to. The way this story is written makes it even more solid. The story is a deeply personal one that the girls attach to. This is similar to real life, especially for people from marginalized communities. People that fall within these categories are more likely to be drawn to stories with characters who aren’t very often represented in media. These stories are held close to their hearts by them, much like the selkie story. Sometimes these stories help people accept and deal with their identities. Glee, a TV show that helped me identify my identity, is an example. People’s identities are not only important if there is representation in the media, but it is also crucial if they feel marginalized. Star Wars: The Force Aswakens has a few examples that show the truth of identity and how you can reject it. Rey is a teenage girl who was born on a deserted planet and raised by her grandparents. She is taken away from her home planet Jakku by a series of events that lead to her leaving. Maz Kanata, another character, gives Rey an lightsaber. Maz advises Rey not to open her eyes. She tells her to feel the light. It will lead you.” Rey is furious and snaps at her, saying that “[she] does not want any part” of the fate that has been handed to her. After not having been associated with the Jedi identity her whole life, Rey was given it. It is quite shocking to be given a new identity. This also applies to your own identity. People prefer to be able to find their own identity and not to have others tell them. Rey embraces her Force-powered identity and uses her new identity to her advantage. She uses her newfound strength to defeat Kyloren. Although it was helpful for her, she found someone to help guide her toward a new identity. In real life, however, it isn’t always like that. Star Wars was a fascinating series. Although it doesn’t seem like something that you associate with Star Wars, the discovery of identity through Star Wars is very interesting.
