Reasons behind Lucas´ Suicide in Good Hair

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There are three reasons Lucas commits suicide, and each reason teaches an important lesson to Alice. The first reason is that Lucas felt that he had no identity and did not fit in with his peers and other social groups. Secondly, Lucas was not able to commit to relationships. The final reason is that Lucas felt a lot of guilt for attempting to rape Alice. While all of these reasons negatively affected Lucas and were the reasons behind his suicide, they also taught Alice valuable lessons which allowed her to make improvements to her life. If it was not for the lessons in identity, cultural perspective, and self worth, Alice would not have been able to move forward with the changes in her life.

In the story of Good Hair, Lucas’ lack of identity was one of the main reasons that he committed suicide. In his suicide note, Lucas references not being able to fit in with any of the cultures in his school. This made it difficult in his life and created issues with Lucas dealing with who he was and where he belonged in society. This issue with his lack of identity created hatred and tension internally because of the people he surrounded himself with. “I felt I could never find a place where I could be myself and be accepted”, said Lucas in the letter. This statement shows the loneliness that Lucas felt with not being able to be a part of a group. His identity and the label that he tried to pigeonhole himself into did not exist and because of it, he could not feel complete. Also, Lucas states in his letter, “...trying to fit in, pretending I was something I wasn’t”, was what persuaded him to buy the sailboat that racked up the credit card debt for his parents. The push to feel accepted by associates and his parents was something that he wi...

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...re hurting her in society and in her personal relationships.
The commitment of Lucas to share his last words with his sister shows a deep love and respect for the one that he caused so much pain. The identity that he created in his death is one that shows weakness and a falsehood of what success truly is. Alice’s healing of her own scars starts with her realization that denial of the events of her past have also stopped her from living for the future. With this final set of circumstances, Alice, now can become the person that she truly sees her self to be; An independent black professional woman who does not fit the mold that society has carved out for her to be. Lucas has given her the freedom to create her own identity and the freedom to use his life mistakes as lessons for her own well being and survival of identity issues, societal views, and her relationships.

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