Defining one's Identity

Defining a person is not as easy as looking through a dictionary. Inferring, thinking, and a thoughtful mind are all required in illustrating the true person. The shaping of one’s identity is all based on events that happen to a person. Many sources of literature prove that the major aspect in shaping one’s identity is memories. In literature, they include the fundamentals of memories in their morals. The importance of memories is significantly shown in The Outsiders when Johnny acts differently because of his abusive childhood; in S.E. Hinton’s Letter, when she talks about how her wish of becoming a writer became her future and her true identity; and Julian Baggini’s lecture, where he directly said that memories shape who “you” are. Johnny’s abusive past and S.E.’s longing for a life away from social struggles all shaped who they later became. The uniqueness of a person’s personality is determined mainly on one’s memories.
One of the many sources, The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton exhibits that memories are important in defining a person. Two of the most prominent figures in the book are Johnny and Ponyboy. Ponyboy recalls Johnny’s background information that shaped who he saw as a friend. Ponyboy once said that “I remembered Johnny-his face all cut up and bruised, and I remembered how he had cried when we found him, half-conscious in the corner lot. Johnny had it awful rough at home-it took a lot to make his cry” (Hinton 4). Ponyboy’s considerate companionship with Johnny is all defined by his past. Johnny’s pitiful stature makes Ponyboy a more proactive person. His new protective attitude towards Johnny depicts both of their new identities. The fact is that at home, Johnny’s “…father was always beating him up, and is mother ignore...

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... be the same person no matter the circumstances of the memory transplant. This quotation illustrates the importance of each factor in shaping a person. He stresses that a loss of memories can affect a person dramatically so having a heart transplant could not ever match up. Memories are clearly defined as the most influential factor to one’s identity.
Multiple sources have proven that memories are important in establishing one’s identity. In The Outsiders, Johnny’s violent and rough past affected the way people see him and the way he views himself. S.E. Hinton wrote about her memory of dreaming to be a writer, her true identity. Finally, in Julian Baggini’s lecture, he introduces the idea that multiple factors shape a person. Appearance may paint what a person looks like on the outside, but memories help incorporate emotion and movement to a painting of oneself.