What makes up a human identity is everything that makes them who they are. Everyone has a different identity because no two people are exactly alike. For example, some human identity could be a person's appearance, their personality, their job, their name, etc. A person can lose their identity by undergoing plastic surgery, changing their name, or dressing in disguise. It's not possible to fully lose ones identity because there's always going to be something of the person that remains the same and is impossible to change.
In The Handmaid's Tail, handmaids are the ones who are, in a way, losing their identity. In the book, when the Japanese tourist appears, Offred and Ofglen looks fascinated at the Japanese women in skirts, stockings, and high-heels. The Japanese women allowed their hair to flow and wore lipstick. Offred called this 'freedom'. Offred and all the other handmaids are having their identity taken away by all the rules of the society they live in. However, their identity is not being fully stripped from them because their eyes are still showing which helps others recognize them.
Human identity is made up of a person's moral values. Usually someone won't do something they believe is wrong unless they are forced to. Moral values makes a person make certain decisions around those values. No two people have the same identity because everyone is unique. One may lose their identity by denying their past, culture, or beliefs. If a person denies their past, then they are leaving behind what made them who they are now. And if a person denies their culture or beliefs then they are simply living a lie. It is impossible for someone to completely lose their identity because there's always going to be something pulling them back to their true identity, whether its moral values, past experiences, or their culture. Even if someone tries to become someone they're not, their roots are always going to stay part of them.
Adding on to Tiffany's response on the Handmaid's Tale, since the interpreters are rumored to be "Eyes", Offred and Ofglen couldn't express their amazement and awe at the women's skirts, nail polish, and shoes. This shows them being stripped of their identity because they are not able to express their emotions whatsoever. When Offred tells the Japanese tourists that they are very happy it is also an example of their identity being stripped because when she calls the women's privilege to wear skirts "freedom", she shows that she yearns forthe freedom that she had before she was a handmaid.
Human identity is what one makes them to be; who or what they think they are in relation to their surroundings. It’s who they are; their personality, characteristics, appearance, habits, the way they talk, they way they walk; A certain word that they use; What they wear; what they consider themselves to be, like a jock or nerd or something. But ultimately, human identity is what makes us not animals. We have a sense of identity. We can talk and think at a higher level than that of animals. To lose ones identity, one would have to be removed from a setting that they are comfortable in, and put in either a extremely foreign place which alienates them, or a place that is so mundane and dull that they slowly lose their own sense of identity and go insane.
Take the Holocaust for example. There were specific enclosed camps in which people were treated like animals, and subsequently were transformed to have the mindset of animals. Because of this, they lost their identities, and a clear understanding of who they were. “Night” by Elie Wiezel, a famous Holocaust survivor, describes how these people were slowly stripped of their human identities and turned into animals. There was one chapter in which a son bit and strangled his father to death over a crumb of bread. This “behavior” is similar to those of animals, hence the definition of losing ones human identity. The son would go to such lengths such as killing his father because he had been forced to dwell in a dehumanizing environment, in which he did not feel as if he were a human anymore, therefore losing his human identity.
However “The Handmaid’s Tale” , by Margaret Atwood shows that even though the human identity can be ripped away from a person through their environments like in “Night”, the fact that people are people will always remain, and even though some may act like animals, they will never really become one. Offred, the protagonist in the novel is oppressed by having “freedom from” rather than “freedom of”, and lives in a anti-feminist society in which women are kept under tight control. Even though she is in this kind of society, she still has all of her memories that cannot be erased, which contain her human identity. She remembers that she used to wear skirts and lipstick and smoked cigarettes- things that are now all forbidden. These things may help to more clearly define human identity, but even when taken away, one can still retain their understanding of who they are, because its already in their mind, and in such a society that wearing lipstick could get you killed, it’s better to just keep all those things in your head anyways.
Human identity is how one sees themselves, and who they think they are. It can be influenced by where someone is, and how they live, but in the end it is what they think of themselves. Someone will always have an identity, whether their culture, family, possessions, or even their name is taken away, they will always have their own thoughts, and morals, like Paola mentioned.
In the Handmaid's Tale" Offred's entire life is changed and controlled now. However she uses her memories to realize who she was, and who she wants to remain. Despite what the world wants her to be, "a national resource" (85), Offred finds time to be her past self, the one she still views herself as. Atwood displays flashbacks to include Offred's views of herself. When Offred is bathing she muses on the "ghosts" of her five year old daughter, and her husband Luke. These visions of "a girl who did not die" (84) and the "momentary" "condensed" (67) man she would wait for, are evidence that Offred was once a wife, and a mother. These nostalgic flashbacks also show that she has not lost what once defined her, that despite the laws, and requirments and expectations that people see her as now, she still views herself as a mother and wife.
That is human identity, being what you want, defining yourself, instead of being planned out by others. It is made up of thoughts, memories, actions, points of view, decisions, opinions, emotions. However one person feels about themself is the human identity they choose, and as long as someone sees themselves a certain way, then their human identity will never be taken away.
Jeffrey Witter Human identity can be defined as a combination of one's own personal feelings and morals, as well as how they react to society and all of its expectations. Specifically, human identity can also be defined as how much one differs from societal norms. The more a person diverges from what is considered acceptable by society, the more individualistic they are, and the more pronounced their identity. In The Handmaid's Tale, Offred is pressured by the totalitarian society to lose all semblances of individuality. I agree with Erin that the flashbacks serve as a reminder to the readers that Offred refuses to abandon her identity. To build onto Erin's ideas, I feel that the reminder to the readers is only part of the purpose of Atwood's flashbacks, I think they serve as a crucial part of the plot, as the flashbacks inspire Offred to keep her identity alive and not bow down completely to the expectations of the misogynistic society. One example of a flashback providing a reminder of a time where Offred had the freedom to choose involves choosing clothes, “I pull our dresses, black, blue, purple, jackets, skirts; none of them will do, none of them even fits, they’re too small or too big.” (96). This simple description of a time when Offred could choose what she wanted to look like, instead of wearing the red robes provides Offred with the strength to keep her identity alive. Atwood may include the concept of individualism vs totalitarianism as a larger metaphor for the ideological differences between the Soviet Union and the USA. The book was written in 1985, just as the Cold War began to end. Atwood helps to point out some of the flaws with a totalitarian government, and how damaging it can be to an individual. Just like Orwell's 1984, The Handmaid's Tale can be seen as a defense of individualism and the human identity against a society which desires conformity.
Everything and anything can make up a person's identity. Whether it's how they see themselves as individuals or how others may them. Someone's identity can be their appearance,culture,personality and certain things they like to do. It is impossible for people to considered alike because there are certain aspects that are different, how matter how small the difference is. Someone can lose their identity either because he/she is forced to change or he/she decides to change themselves to fit in with their surroundings. A person's name, appearance,beliefs and etc.can change. Also, individuals are not able to be stripped of their identity because there is always going to be something to remind them of their old ways.
In The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood the handmaid's are stripped of their identity. In Offred's case she is being forced to change her identity to suit her new working environment. Working in the Commander's household causes Offred to change her appearance and limits her actions. Offred says that her daily outfit is, “ long and concealing, but with a bib over it and without the wings and the veil”(Atwood 12). When Offred goes to the market she has to wear everything red showing her job in the household. Offred's appearance is chosen for her which is a lose of identity because she is unable to choose what she wants to wear. Offred not being able to choose what she wants to wear restricts her from showing her creativity as an individual. Since Offred has to wear red she unable to distinct herself from other people because their appearance is similar to hers.
Name:Dan Response: Original post What makes up a human identity is having an individuality and to be able to freely express their individuality and feelings towards others. How one loses their identity is when another person is able to manipulate their words and actions, and cause them to fear what they say and how they express themselves. In the Handmaid’s Tale, the novel gives a great example of a society, the Republic of Gilead, with lost identities. Offred, the protagonist of the book, tells the Japanese tourist that “we are very happy” (39) when Ofglen does not respond to the tourist. She responds for Ofglen, as it is “as dangerous not to speak” (39). This indicates that Ofglen and Offred are being forced to say these nice things about the society they live in as she states that it is dangerous to speak negatively and also be silent about what they say to the foreigners. Thus, this shows a lost of identity as they are oppressed to speak about how they truly feel, and are manipulated by what they say and how they respond to others. However, this can’t be truly stripped from an individual. In chapter 17 in the novel, both Nick and Offred are in the sitting room making out. Both are not allowed In the sitting room at night and are not allowed to have any sexual feelings to each other. Offred makes an inner statement saying, “it is so good to be touched by someone, to be felt so greedily, to feel so greedy. Although this is a sexual feeling, it is what she longs for and that this is part of her identity. That by committing this act and breaking a rule, she is expressing herself. Therefore, identities cant be truly stripped, but it can be contained, as shown in the scene of the Japanese tourist.
Human identity is made comprised of individual thought and action. Human identity is made how a person acts, talks, thinks, etc. Something that can influence one's identity is culture, appearance, religion, beliefs, or role models. Human identity is important to an individual because it is the thing that makes people different from one another. Even if there could be some influence on someone's identity, they still wouldn't be 100% like the person, or thing. Human identity is unique among everyone, like how fingerprints are unique to humans, no two fingers are alike. Human identity is the freedom to express one's true nature.
One loses human identity when they are oppressed and forced to live a life they choose not to live. When one is placed with extreme limits, they start to forget who they really are. Since they forget to know who they are, they begin to lose their human identity. When someone is forced to live a life of limits, their human identity is stripped away from them because they arent able to fully express their "identity," instead their expressing what they are forced to express. Even how severe one is oppressed, they will never fully lose their human identity because they still have the memories from the past. Just like in the Handmaids Tale, Offred still thinks about her husband, even though she will never see him again. With this, human identity is also the freedom to think whatever you choose.
Human identity is made up of one's perception of him/herself. This is seen in one's image, thoughts, and attitude towards things. Individuality is a main component of one's identity. No two people are exactly the same. Individuality can be how one chooses to present oneself, or how one chooses to react to things. One's perception of themselves shows their individuality, making them unique, no matter how small the difference. In the Handmaid's Tale, human identity plays an important role for Offred as she lives in a society where women have very limited rights. Offred's identity is seen through her actions throughout the novel. When Offred says, "Shameful, immodest. I avoid looking down at my body, not so much because it's shameful or immodest but because I don't want to see it. I don't want to look at something that determines me so completely." (82),she shows that she is self-conscious about her body. Her self-consciousness reveals that she is someone who cares about her physical image. This makes up part of her human identity, how she perceives herself. Through the strict societal norms that Offred lives through, her identity is somewhat lost, but not gone. She is no longer the person who she was in the past. Although the strict societal norms hinder her freedom to express herself, her identity can never be fully stripped away.
Human identity is what makes individuals unique in society. It is comprised of anything and everything that makes them who they are, including but not limited to experiences, appearance, culture, beliefs and personality. Identity is a concept very important to people because it is what sets them apart from everyone else. However, one may lose their identity if all of their characteristics are controlled and made the same as everyone else. This could be achieved by taking away parts of someone that make up who they are, for example by forcing them to wear certain clothes, look a certain way or believe in certain things. To be truly stripped of your identity however is impossible, as there are some individual characteristics that can not be controlled or taken, such as your thoughts and memories.
In The Handmaid's Tale, the totalitarian government tries to completely strip the handmaids of their identity. An example of this in action is how they force women of the same social class to wear the same color in an effort to control their appearance. Offred, being a housemaid, is forced to dress so that “everything except the wings around [her] face are red”(Atwood 11). An element of what makes up her identity, in this case appearance, is taken away from her control. The government also attempts to control her experiences, another element of her identity, by not allowing her to venture outside of her house alone or by her choice. In the big picture all these efforts to strip her of her identity fail, because her thoughts and beliefs remained untouched. She revisits her memories and past experiences during the night, as she believes that it is “[her] own time, to do with as [she] will”(49). These flashbacks help set her apart from everyone else, and are evidence that she still has her own human identity.
Human identity is a blend of how a person chooses to present themselves, how well they interact with their surroundings, and how they are seen through society’s eyes. Although it can be altered or hidden, it is something that is given at birth, the start of one’s life. A person’s identity may be known through a spectator’s eyes, ears, and even tongue. A person may be seen, heard, or even talked about which may shape and change someone’s opinions and thoughts about them and who they really are. One may lose their identity by moving to a foreign place where they can start brand new. There it would be possible to change their name, their past mistakes, their personality, and even the way they look. To lose one’s identity, one must be away from the place they seem the most comfortable in and be in an environment where they are not familiar with anything. In The Handmaid’s Tale, Offred seems to see herself as someone who is being degraded through her own thoughts, “I thought I was sounding like that, voice of a monotone, voice of a doll. She probably longed to slap my face. They can hit us.” (21) She is stripping herself from who she really is and becoming someone who is controlled by her surroundings. She is allowing herself to think that it's okay for someone like the Commander's Wife to do such things to her due to the fact that she is under their control and ownership. Although portions of who someone really is may disappear, one’s identity cannot truly be completely stripped from an individual. No matter where a person is, no matter how a person changed, who they really are cannot be concealed from their own selves. By completely losing an identity, I think one would have to forget about who they really are through some sort of condition such as amnesia. As long as someone remembers their past and are aware of the things they are doing to change their identity, their identity remains the same for they know who they really are and are conscious of things they are doing.
Human identity is the individuality of a person that makes them unique. The personality and distinctiveness of a person sets them apart from others as well. A person can lose their identity by keeping their past concealed, slowly letting go of their culture or traditions, and even changing their outside appearance. A person can't completely be stripped of their identity because there will still be a part of them that may never change. Such as a birthmark or scar, this can help someone identify a person, therefore, ones identity can't be taken away because it's not as simple as changing an appearance or personality. There will always be something about a person that can never change and can be recognized because of it, so they will always carry their identity with them as long as they have their distinctive marks that is a reminder of their identity.
In The Handmaid's Tale, Offred's identity is stripped away as she lives her "new" life as a handmaid. The society that Offred is living in forces her to change her identity and blend in with the others as it takes away her identity. She is stripped of her identity along with her freedom, by not being able to dress the way she would like and avoiding eye contact with foreigners or anoyone else around. Not having the freedom to do as she please and make her own decisions, Offred struggles keeping her true identity, although she maintains her "new" identity in order to survive in this new society. She sacrifices not being herself in front of others when she hides her beauty and personality so that she wont be punished for her actions. She has limitations as to what she is able to speak about and her actions. Though, she tries to comply with these restrictions, there is one thing tht she has that doesn't comepletely take away her identity and it's her eyes, they are the first thing that people can remember or recognize her by, that she still hasn't lost.
Human identity is the independent collection of actions, emotions, mentality, and characteristics that make up a human being and makes them individually unique. Physical and mental characteristics will always be part of a steadfast human identity. Although human identity is persistent, it is possible to temporarily lose your identity in ways such as masking yourself, being stripped of certain rights, losing something that defines you, etc. It is possible to strip human identity from someone through horrific tragedies or trauma but no matter how severe the cause is, there will be a part of human identity that remains within an individual until death.
In The Handmaid's Tale, the Republic of Gilead relinquishes the rights of woman and only leaves them as a role for reproduction (Handmaids). One of the handmaids, Offred struggles to take a new identity as a reproductive slave, but still she is steadfast to her past identity before the Republic of Gilead was conceived. However, in order for Offred to adapt and survive in this new male chauvinist society, she reminds herself that "I must forget about my secret name and all ways back. My name is Offred now, and here is where I live,"(185). Since she is reminding herself that she is now Offred, she cannot remove her previous identity from her life. Seeing that her previous identity remains vital in her life, Offred must now coexist with these identities to survive in the Republic of Gilead.
A human identity is made up through the use of free actions and the freedom to do as one pleases. In “The Handmaid’s Tale” the protagonist Offred is unable to expand her horizon due to her being a Handmaid. It characterize at one point in her life when she saw Serena Joy on TV she was able to form the foundation of her identity. She was young and looking for cartoons on TV which many adolescent youth do. The TV influences highly on one’s identity because they learn from the plot of the stories and use it in their everyday life. Her watching TV displays the freedom as a child to gather the materials to form the foundation of her identity.
Now that she doesn’t have the power to watch TV as she did in her youth displays the changing society and how the Housemaids are stripped of their identity. People lose their identity when the basic necessities to build onto their foundation is stripped away and when their freedom is took away from them. This is evident in “The Handmaid’s Tale” when Offred talks to Serena Joy. Offred calls her ma’am and Serena Joy replies with “Don’t call me ma’am… you’re not a Martha” (Atwood 21). Ms. Joy’s words to Offred is a prime example of how one is stripped of their identity. Instead of calling one by their name they are given a code name, or in this case how others are called Marthas. In addition, Joy never bother’s asking for Offred’s name because it doesn’t matter to her. It doesn’t matter because her identity is invalid to her cause which thus steals the identity of the protagonist and dehumanizes her.
The human identity can be easily stripped from and individual. It happens everyday in the world through racial slurs, stereotypes, and many other ways. Most of the time it isn’t purposely given. It usually happens in a form of sarcasm that is then taken into consideration. Many are dehumanized without them even knowing it.
Name: Alwin Response: myself/original I was thinking the actual definition of “Human Identity” and decided to break it down into the two separate words, put the dictionary definition, and see if that makes any more sense. Human: [hyoo-muh n or, often, yoo‐] –adjective 1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or having the nature ofpeople: human frailty. 2. consisting of people: the human race. 3. of or pertaining to the social aspect of people: humanaffairs. 4. sympathetic; humane: a warmly human understanding.
(Dictionary.com)
Identity: i•den•ti•ty [ahy-den-ti-tee, ih-den-] –noun, plural -ties. 1. the state or fact of remaining the same one or ones, asunder varying aspects or conditions: The identity of thefingerprints on the gun with those on file provided evidencethat he was the killer. 2. the condition of being oneself or itself, and not another: Hedoubted his own identity. 3. condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is:a case of mistaken identity. 4. the state or fact of being the same one as described. 5. the sense of self, providing sameness and continuity inpersonality over time and sometimes disturbed in mentalillnesses, as schizophrenia. 6. exact likeness in nature or qualities: an identity of interests. 7. an instance or point of sameness or likeness: to mistake resemblances for identities.
So with those definitions I would say that human definition is the condition of being a human. And how one would sense themselves to be viewed from an outside perspective. Human Identity, is WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE.
Human identity is a combination of features that composes each individual and makes them unique. Identity can be compiled out of many features such as appearance, background, emotions, values, abilities, rights, personality, names, memories, etc. It is what makes two people different from another, even twins. This distinction helps showcases who a person is in general and how is he/she different from other people.
However, someone’s identity in some cases may be altered, lost, or overall stripped entirely from them. In the novel, The Handmaid’s Tale the main character Offred is a handmaid and like other handmaids in the Republic of Gilead, are forced forget their past and live a new identity. The identities of these handmaids are stripped away from them in order for them to fulfill their duties for reproduction purposes and are carefully watched over from the authorities, mainly the Eyes of society. Firstly, the readers are introduced to the handmaids’ required attire in the Gilead: dull draping red dresses that cover all the way down to their toes and plain white “wing” hats that conceal their eyes from others. This is one example, though small of a right that is taken away from the handmaids’ identities. Prior to the drastic change in society, handmaids were allowed to dress freely without any consent but alter in the dress code took one influential element of identity away from the handmaids. They were no longer able to be distinguished for who they individually are but now were only seen for their status as handmaids. As Offred looks in the mirror in her handmaid attire she realizes she cannot recognize herself as she states, “myself in it like a distorted shadow, a parody of something, some fairy-tale figure in red cloak” (At wood 11). Clearly, the quote shows Offred doesn’t state that she is comfortable with her new identity but feels as if she is a different person. She feels as if she is now only a carbon copy of another figure she has seen before. This shows Offred is no longer beholds her own true self but is caught forced to live within the authorities ideal ways of living for them. Therefore, Offred and other handmaids have greatly lost their identities and aren’t allowed to recreate them. Other elements of their identity such as their name and rights were forcefully taken from the handmaids.
Identity is created by a persons actions and beliefs. The way a person chooses to act towards a situation or others depicts who they are.However, Some traits that make up an identity cannot be chosen by the person. For example, in "The Namesake" we saw how Gogol could not escape his Indian heritage. Although a persons identity is mainly how to represent themselves to others and thereselves, there are other factors, such as culture or names, which they cannot control.
In the "Handmaids Tale" status is acknowledged by clothing. Red for handmaids, black for Commanders, green for Marthas and so on. There are no formal greetings which include names from past lives. Offred is never addressed by her actual name, and neither is her daughter. This dominance over her shows the lack of power she has and how she cannot even be her own person. Offred is not given a name because she represents the hadmaids in general. Women who are being stripped of their identity. There is no individuality in the "Handmaids Tale". The characters allow their status to become their identity. They allow themselves to become just handmaides, or just Marthas. The actions of the characters recreates their identity. Individuality is not required to determine ones identity. Whether a person decides to let others control them or not, or whether they decide to follow the crowd instead of being independent determines who they are.
I feel that the human identity is something that makes you. It is who you accept yourself as in human society and it is the way you look at yourself. Most of all it is like what alwin said it is who you think you are. also identity is how you do what u want so basically your identity is the courage you have to express yourself and it shows how much a person is an individual. For example a crook is a person who people identify as a robber or someone who steals and this is only possible through the fact that most humans create labels and titles to other humans. An effect of equilibrium now causes the person who stops, punishes, or captures the crook to be a hero savior or up-stander. This shows that a human identity is the path a person takes in their life that they are not afraid to show to the eyes of the public.An example on how human identity is used in the novel was the part in the end of chapter 4 when she "moves" her "hips a little" as they passed the guards at the gates(30). From this fact about the author we can deduce that she is a very confident woman with some pretty assets that the men may agree is also pretty. this helps to characterize the author as a woman who is seductive. This also help to show that women at the time may be considered powerful with their seductive actions.
Although I believe that human identity is what you let society believe who you are. I believe that a person's identity cannot be stripped away or lost unless they never expose themselves to the world and its inhabitants. Human identity can be considered a choice in life that a person makes. For example in middle school you can be a nerd when you go to high school you can be identified as something else through choices you make and who you befriend. This proves that identity is who you decide to expose yourself as to certain people.
The human identity is the perception of a person. To lose your identity is to lose your perception of self, thereby causing internal conflict. It is difficult to say whether a person's identity can fully be stripped. Even if you are unable to verify your identity, others will always be present to impose one upon you, even if those others aren't necessarily human, such as a dog imposing the identity of caretaker upon its owner. With this in mind, it can be said that the society of "The Handmaiden's Tale" works to impose one identity upon a population. One such example of this is when "we stop, together... to see them" (Atwood 42). Here, though there is no show of an identity being imposed, there is a sense of former identities being oppressed. As mentioned, passerby are supposed to notice the corpses, which serves as an unsaid warning to comply or face termination. By doing so, it serves to impose an identity upon those viewers so as to make them more alike to the ideal image of the society in the novel.
Human identity is everything that makes a person unique, from their way of thinking to their reactions to certain stimuli. It makes up our personalities and character.
One can lose the portrayal of their identity when force is involved. In the case of Offred, she is unable to render her true feelings and emotions due to the strict enforcement of societal norms and for fear of harsh punishment. Thus, she loses her indivuality and her importance of being a person. She is now simply a part of her commander's household. Even her new name invokes a sense of ownership over her, making her little more than just a piece of property.
No one can sincerely lose their identity. Despite how one acts in the face of force and power, thoughts and emotions matter too. The very act of feeling anger and resentment against a particular person or idea makes up who you are, even if one is forced to outwardly act in a certain manner. In the novel, the readers can view Offred's true identity despite the fact that she loses all individualism and Gilead society.
Name: Tiffany
ReplyDeleteResponse: Original posting
What makes up a human identity is everything that makes them who they are. Everyone has a different identity because no two people are exactly alike. For example, some human identity could be a person's appearance, their personality, their job, their name, etc. A person can lose their identity by undergoing plastic surgery, changing their name, or dressing in disguise. It's not possible to fully lose ones identity because there's always going to be something of the person that remains the same and is impossible to change.
In The Handmaid's Tail, handmaids are the ones who are, in a way, losing their identity. In the book, when the Japanese tourist appears, Offred and Ofglen looks fascinated at the Japanese women in skirts, stockings, and high-heels. The Japanese women allowed their hair to flow and wore lipstick. Offred called this 'freedom'. Offred and all the other handmaids are having their identity taken away by all the rules of the society they live in. However, their identity is not being fully stripped from them because their eyes are still showing which helps others recognize them.
Paola
ReplyDeleteHuman identity is made up of a person's moral values. Usually someone won't do something they believe is wrong unless they are forced to. Moral values makes a person make certain decisions around those values. No two people have the same identity because everyone is unique. One may lose their identity by denying their past, culture, or beliefs. If a person denies their past, then they are leaving behind what made them who they are now. And if a person denies their culture or beliefs then they are simply living a lie. It is impossible for someone to completely lose their identity because there's always going to be something pulling them back to their true identity, whether its moral values, past experiences, or their culture. Even if someone tries to become someone they're not, their roots are always going to stay part of them.
Adding on to Tiffany's response on the Handmaid's Tale, since the interpreters are rumored to be "Eyes", Offred and Ofglen couldn't express their amazement and awe at the women's skirts, nail polish, and shoes. This shows them being stripped of their identity because they are not able to express their emotions whatsoever. When Offred tells the Japanese tourists that they are very happy it is also an example of their identity being stripped because when she calls the women's privilege to wear skirts "freedom", she shows that she yearns forthe freedom that she had before she was a handmaid.
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ReplyDeleteHuman identity is what one makes them to be; who or what they think they are in relation to their surroundings. It’s who they are; their personality, characteristics, appearance, habits, the way they talk, they way they walk; A certain word that they use; What they wear; what they consider themselves to be, like a jock or nerd or something. But ultimately, human identity is what makes us not animals. We have a sense of identity. We can talk and think at a higher level than that of animals. To lose ones identity, one would have to be removed from a setting that they are comfortable in, and put in either a extremely foreign place which alienates them, or a place that is so mundane and dull that they slowly lose their own sense of identity and go insane.
ReplyDeleteTake the Holocaust for example. There were specific enclosed camps in which people were treated like animals, and subsequently were transformed to have the mindset of animals. Because of this, they lost their identities, and a clear understanding of who they were. “Night” by Elie Wiezel, a famous Holocaust survivor, describes how these people were slowly stripped of their human identities and turned into animals. There was one chapter in which a son bit and strangled his father to death over a crumb of bread. This “behavior” is similar to those of animals, hence the definition of losing ones human identity. The son would go to such lengths such as killing his father because he had been forced to dwell in a dehumanizing environment, in which he did not feel as if he were a human anymore, therefore losing his human identity.
However “The Handmaid’s Tale” , by Margaret Atwood shows that even though the human identity can be ripped away from a person through their environments like in “Night”, the fact that people are people will always remain, and even though some may act like animals, they will never really become one. Offred, the protagonist in the novel is oppressed by having “freedom from” rather than “freedom of”, and lives in a anti-feminist society in which women are kept under tight control. Even though she is in this kind of society, she still has all of her memories that cannot be erased, which contain her human identity. She remembers that she used to wear skirts and lipstick and smoked cigarettes- things that are now all forbidden. These things may help to more clearly define human identity, but even when taken away, one can still retain their understanding of who they are, because its already in their mind, and in such a society that wearing lipstick could get you killed, it’s better to just keep all those things in your head anyways.
Human identity is how one sees themselves, and who they think they are. It can be influenced by where someone is, and how they live, but in the end it is what they think of themselves. Someone will always have an identity, whether their culture, family, possessions, or even their name is taken away, they will always have their own thoughts, and morals, like Paola mentioned.
ReplyDeleteIn the Handmaid's Tale" Offred's entire life is changed and controlled now. However she uses her memories to realize who she was, and who she wants to remain. Despite what the world wants her to be, "a national resource" (85), Offred finds time to be her past self, the one she still views herself as. Atwood displays flashbacks to include Offred's views of herself. When Offred is bathing she muses on the "ghosts" of her five year old daughter, and her husband Luke. These visions of "a girl who did not die" (84) and the "momentary" "condensed" (67) man she would wait for, are evidence that Offred was once a wife, and a mother. These nostalgic flashbacks also show that she has not lost what once defined her, that despite the laws, and requirments and expectations that people see her as now, she still views herself as a mother and wife.
That is human identity, being what you want, defining yourself, instead of being planned out by others. It is made up of thoughts, memories, actions, points of view, decisions, opinions, emotions. However one person feels about themself is the human identity they choose, and as long as someone sees themselves a certain way, then their human identity will never be taken away.
Jeffrey Witter
ReplyDeleteHuman identity can be defined as a combination of one's own personal feelings and morals, as well as how they react to society and all of its expectations. Specifically, human identity can also be defined as how much one differs from societal norms. The more a person diverges from what is considered acceptable by society, the more individualistic they are, and the more pronounced their identity. In The Handmaid's Tale, Offred is pressured by the totalitarian society to lose all semblances of individuality. I agree with Erin that the flashbacks serve as a reminder to the readers that Offred refuses to abandon her identity. To build onto Erin's ideas, I feel that the reminder to the readers is only part of the purpose of Atwood's flashbacks, I think they serve as a crucial part of the plot, as the flashbacks inspire Offred to keep her identity alive and not bow down completely to the expectations of the misogynistic society. One example of a flashback providing a reminder of a time where Offred had the freedom to choose involves choosing clothes, “I pull our dresses, black, blue, purple, jackets, skirts; none of them will do, none of them even fits, they’re too small or too big.” (96). This simple description of a time when Offred could choose what she wanted to look like, instead of wearing the red robes provides Offred with the strength to keep her identity alive. Atwood may include the concept of individualism vs totalitarianism as a larger metaphor for the ideological differences between the Soviet Union and the USA. The book was written in 1985, just as the Cold War began to end. Atwood helps to point out some of the flaws with a totalitarian government, and how damaging it can be to an individual. Just like Orwell's 1984, The Handmaid's Tale can be seen as a defense of individualism and the human identity against a society which desires conformity.
Name: Kim
ReplyDeleteResponse: Original Postig
Everything and anything can make up a person's identity. Whether it's how they see themselves as individuals or how others may them. Someone's identity can be their appearance,culture,personality and certain things they like to do. It is impossible for people to considered alike because there are certain aspects that are different, how matter how small the difference is. Someone can lose their identity either because he/she is forced to change or he/she decides to change themselves to fit in with their surroundings. A person's name, appearance,beliefs and etc.can change. Also, individuals are not able to be stripped of their identity because there is always going to be something to remind them of their old ways.
In The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood the handmaid's are stripped of their identity. In Offred's case she is being forced to change her identity to suit her new working environment. Working in the Commander's household causes Offred to change her appearance and limits her actions. Offred says that her daily outfit is, “ long and concealing, but with a bib over it and without the wings and the veil”(Atwood 12). When Offred goes to the market she has to wear everything red showing her job in the household. Offred's appearance is chosen for her which is a lose of identity because she is unable to choose what she wants to wear. Offred not being able to choose what she wants to wear restricts her from showing her creativity as an individual. Since Offred has to wear red she unable to distinct herself from other people because their appearance is similar to hers.
Name:Dan
ReplyDeleteResponse: Original post
What makes up a human identity is having an individuality and to be able to freely express their individuality and feelings towards others. How one loses their identity is when another person is able to manipulate their words and actions, and cause them to fear what they say and how they express themselves. In the Handmaid’s Tale, the novel gives a great example of a society, the Republic of Gilead, with lost identities. Offred, the protagonist of the book, tells the Japanese tourist that “we are very happy” (39) when Ofglen does not respond to the tourist. She responds for Ofglen, as it is “as dangerous not to speak” (39). This indicates that Ofglen and Offred are being forced to say these nice things about the society they live in as she states that it is dangerous to speak negatively and also be silent about what they say to the foreigners. Thus, this shows a lost of identity as they are oppressed to speak about how they truly feel, and are manipulated by what they say and how they respond to others. However, this can’t be truly stripped from an individual. In chapter 17 in the novel, both Nick and Offred are in the sitting room making out. Both are not allowed In the sitting room at night and are not allowed to have any sexual feelings to each other. Offred makes an inner statement saying, “it is so good to be touched by someone, to be felt so greedily, to feel so greedy. Although this is a sexual feeling, it is what she longs for and that this is part of her identity. That by committing this act and breaking a rule, she is expressing herself. Therefore, identities cant be truly stripped, but it can be contained, as shown in the scene of the Japanese tourist.
Name: Alfie Rafael
ReplyDeleteResponse: Original
Human identity is made comprised of individual thought and action. Human identity is made how a person acts, talks, thinks, etc. Something that can influence one's identity is culture, appearance, religion, beliefs, or role models. Human identity is important to an individual because it is the thing that makes people different from one another. Even if there could be some influence on someone's identity, they still wouldn't be 100% like the person, or thing. Human identity is unique among everyone, like how fingerprints are unique to humans, no two fingers are alike. Human identity is the freedom to express one's true nature.
One loses human identity when they are oppressed and forced to live a life they choose not to live. When one is placed with extreme limits, they start to forget who they really are. Since they forget to know who they are, they begin to lose their human identity. When someone is forced to live a life of limits, their human identity is stripped away from them because they arent able to fully express their "identity," instead their expressing what they are forced to express. Even how severe one is oppressed, they will never fully lose their human identity because they still have the memories from the past. Just like in the Handmaids Tale, Offred still thinks about her husband, even though she will never see him again. With this, human identity is also the freedom to think whatever you choose.
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ReplyDeleteName: Vincent Gepila
ReplyDeleteResponse: Original Response
Human identity is made up of one's perception of him/herself. This is seen in one's image, thoughts, and attitude towards things. Individuality is a main component of one's identity. No two people are exactly the same. Individuality can be how one chooses to present oneself, or how one chooses to react to things. One's perception of themselves shows their individuality, making them unique, no matter how small the difference. In the Handmaid's Tale, human identity plays an important role for Offred as she lives in a society where women have very limited rights. Offred's identity is seen through her actions throughout the novel. When Offred says, "Shameful, immodest. I avoid looking down at my body, not so much because it's shameful or immodest but because I don't want to see it. I don't want to look at something that determines me so completely." (82),she shows that she is self-conscious about her body. Her self-consciousness reveals that she is someone who cares about her physical image. This makes up part of her human identity, how she perceives herself. Through the strict societal norms that Offred lives through, her identity is somewhat lost, but not gone. She is no longer the person who she was in the past. Although the strict societal norms hinder her freedom to express herself, her identity can never be fully stripped away.
Alex Tsang
ReplyDeleteOriginal Posting
Human identity is what makes individuals unique in society. It is comprised of anything and everything that makes them who they are, including but not limited to experiences, appearance, culture, beliefs and personality. Identity is a concept very important to people because it is what sets them apart from everyone else. However, one may lose their identity if all of their characteristics are controlled and made the same as everyone else. This could be achieved by taking away parts of someone that make up who they are, for example by forcing them to wear certain clothes, look a certain way or believe in certain things. To be truly stripped of your identity however is impossible, as there are some individual characteristics that can not be controlled or taken, such as your thoughts and memories.
In The Handmaid's Tale, the totalitarian government tries to completely strip the handmaids of their identity. An example of this in action is how they force women of the same social class to wear the same color in an effort to control their appearance. Offred, being a housemaid, is forced to dress so that “everything except the wings around [her] face are red”(Atwood 11). An element of what makes up her identity, in this case appearance, is taken away from her control. The government also attempts to control her experiences, another element of her identity, by not allowing her to venture outside of her house alone or by her choice. In the big picture all these efforts to strip her of her identity fail, because her thoughts and beliefs remained untouched. She revisits her memories and past experiences during the night, as she believes that it is “[her] own time, to do with as [she] will”(49). These flashbacks help set her apart from everyone else, and are evidence that she still has her own human identity.
Human identity is a blend of how a person chooses to present themselves, how well they interact with their surroundings, and how they are seen through society’s eyes. Although it can be altered or hidden, it is something that is given at birth, the start of one’s life. A person’s identity may be known through a spectator’s eyes, ears, and even tongue. A person may be seen, heard, or even talked about which may shape and change someone’s opinions and thoughts about them and who they really are. One may lose their identity by moving to a foreign place where they can start brand new. There it would be possible to change their name, their past mistakes, their personality, and even the way they look. To lose one’s identity, one must be away from the place they seem the most comfortable in and be in an environment where they are not familiar with anything. In The Handmaid’s Tale, Offred seems to see herself as someone who is being degraded through her own thoughts, “I thought I was sounding like that, voice of a monotone, voice of a doll. She probably longed to slap my face. They can hit us.” (21) She is stripping herself from who she really is and becoming someone who is controlled by her surroundings. She is allowing herself to think that it's okay for someone like the Commander's Wife to do such things to her due to the fact that she is under their control and ownership. Although portions of who someone really is may disappear, one’s identity cannot truly be completely stripped from an individual. No matter where a person is, no matter how a person changed, who they really are cannot be concealed from their own selves. By completely losing an identity, I think one would have to forget about who they really are through some sort of condition such as amnesia. As long as someone remembers their past and are aware of the things they are doing to change their identity, their identity remains the same for they know who they really are and are conscious of things they are doing.
ReplyDeleteName: Charmaine B.
ReplyDeleteResponse: Original post
Human identity is the individuality of a person that makes them unique. The personality and distinctiveness of a person sets them apart from others as well. A person can lose their identity by keeping their past concealed, slowly letting go of their culture or traditions, and even changing their outside appearance. A person can't completely be stripped of their identity because there will still be a part of them that may never change. Such as a birthmark or scar, this can help someone identify a person, therefore, ones identity can't be taken away because it's not as simple as changing an appearance or personality. There will always be something about a person that can never change and can be recognized because of it, so they will always carry their identity with them as long as they have their distinctive marks that is a reminder of their identity.
In The Handmaid's Tale, Offred's identity is stripped away as she lives her "new" life as a handmaid. The society that Offred is living in forces her to change her identity and blend in with the others as it takes away her identity. She is stripped of her identity along with her freedom, by not being able to dress the way she would like and avoiding eye contact with foreigners or anoyone else around. Not having the freedom to do as she please and make her own decisions, Offred struggles keeping her true identity, although she maintains her "new" identity in order to survive in this new society. She sacrifices not being herself in front of others when she hides her beauty and personality so that she wont be punished for her actions. She has limitations as to what she is able to speak about and her actions. Though, she tries to comply with these restrictions, there is one thing tht she has that doesn't comepletely take away her identity and it's her eyes, they are the first thing that people can remember or recognize her by, that she still hasn't lost.
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ReplyDeleteName: James Cheung
ReplyDeleteResponse: Original Post
Human identity is the independent collection of actions, emotions, mentality, and characteristics that make up a human being and makes them individually unique. Physical and mental characteristics will always be part of a steadfast human identity. Although human identity is persistent, it is possible to temporarily lose your identity in ways such as masking yourself, being stripped of certain rights, losing something that defines you, etc. It is possible to strip human identity from someone through horrific tragedies or trauma but no matter how severe the cause is, there will be a part of human identity that remains within an individual until death.
In The Handmaid's Tale, the Republic of Gilead relinquishes the rights of woman and only leaves them as a role for reproduction (Handmaids). One of the handmaids, Offred struggles to take a new identity as a reproductive slave, but still she is steadfast to her past identity before the Republic of Gilead was conceived. However, in order for Offred to adapt and survive in this new male chauvinist society, she reminds herself that "I must forget about my secret name and all ways back. My name is Offred now, and here is where I live,"(185). Since she is reminding herself that she is now Offred, she cannot remove her previous identity from her life. Seeing that her previous identity remains vital in her life, Offred must now coexist with these identities to survive in the Republic of Gilead.
Andrew Pagan
ReplyDeleteOriginal Post
A human identity is made up through the use of free actions and the freedom to do as one pleases. In “The Handmaid’s Tale” the protagonist Offred is unable to expand her horizon due to her being a Handmaid. It characterize at one point in her life when she saw Serena Joy on TV she was able to form the foundation of her identity. She was young and looking for cartoons on TV which many adolescent youth do. The TV influences highly on one’s identity because they learn from the plot of the stories and use it in their everyday life. Her watching TV displays the freedom as a child to gather the materials to form the foundation of her identity.
Now that she doesn’t have the power to watch TV as she did in her youth displays the changing society and how the Housemaids are stripped of their identity. People lose their identity when the basic necessities to build onto their foundation is stripped away and when their freedom is took away from them. This is evident in “The Handmaid’s Tale” when Offred talks to Serena Joy. Offred calls her ma’am and Serena Joy replies with “Don’t call me ma’am… you’re not a Martha” (Atwood 21). Ms. Joy’s words to Offred is a prime example of how one is stripped of their identity. Instead of calling one by their name they are given a code name, or in this case how others are called Marthas. In addition, Joy never bother’s asking for Offred’s name because it doesn’t matter to her. It doesn’t matter because her identity is invalid to her cause which thus steals the identity of the protagonist and dehumanizes her.
The human identity can be easily stripped from and individual. It happens everyday in the world through racial slurs, stereotypes, and many other ways. Most of the time it isn’t purposely given. It usually happens in a form of sarcasm that is then taken into consideration. Many are dehumanized without them even knowing it.
Name: Alwin
ReplyDeleteResponse: myself/original
I was thinking the actual definition of “Human Identity” and decided to break it down into the two separate words, put the dictionary definition, and see if that makes any more sense.
Human: [hyoo-muh n or, often, yoo‐]
–adjective
1.
of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or having the nature ofpeople: human frailty.
2.
consisting of people: the human race.
3.
of or pertaining to the social aspect of people: humanaffairs.
4.
sympathetic; humane: a warmly human understanding.
(Dictionary.com)
Identity: i•den•ti•ty
[ahy-den-ti-tee, ih-den-]
–noun, plural -ties.
1.
the state or fact of remaining the same one or ones, asunder varying aspects or conditions: The identity of thefingerprints on the gun with those on file provided evidencethat he was the killer.
2.
the condition of being oneself or itself, and not another: Hedoubted his own identity.
3.
condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is:a case of mistaken identity.
4.
the state or fact of being the same one as described.
5.
the sense of self, providing sameness and continuity inpersonality over time and sometimes disturbed in mentalillnesses, as schizophrenia.
6.
exact likeness in nature or qualities: an identity of interests.
7.
an instance or point of sameness or likeness: to mistake resemblances for identities.
So with those definitions I would say that human definition is the condition of being a human. And how one would sense themselves to be viewed from an outside perspective. Human Identity, is WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE.
Clarissa Silvestre
ReplyDeleteResponse: Original
Human identity is a combination of features that composes each individual and makes them unique. Identity can be compiled out of many features such as appearance, background, emotions, values, abilities, rights, personality, names, memories, etc. It is what makes two people different from another, even twins. This distinction helps showcases who a person is in general and how is he/she different from other people.
However, someone’s identity in some cases may be altered, lost, or overall stripped entirely from them. In the novel, The Handmaid’s Tale the main character Offred is a handmaid and like other handmaids in the Republic of Gilead, are forced forget their past and live a new identity. The identities of these handmaids are stripped away from them in order for them to fulfill their duties for reproduction purposes and are carefully watched over from the authorities, mainly the Eyes of society. Firstly, the readers are introduced to the handmaids’ required attire in the Gilead: dull draping red dresses that cover all the way down to their toes and plain white “wing” hats that conceal their eyes from others. This is one example, though small of a right that is taken away from the handmaids’ identities. Prior to the drastic change in society, handmaids were allowed to dress freely without any consent but alter in the dress code took one influential element of identity away from the handmaids. They were no longer able to be distinguished for who they individually are but now were only seen for their status as handmaids. As Offred looks in the mirror in her handmaid attire she realizes she cannot recognize herself as she states, “myself in it like a distorted shadow, a parody of something, some fairy-tale figure in red cloak” (At wood 11). Clearly, the quote shows Offred doesn’t state that she is comfortable with her new identity but feels as if she is a different person. She feels as if she is now only a carbon copy of another figure she has seen before. This shows Offred is no longer beholds her own true self but is caught forced to live within the authorities ideal ways of living for them. Therefore, Offred and other handmaids have greatly lost their identities and aren’t allowed to recreate them. Other elements of their identity such as their name and rights were forcefully taken from the handmaids.
Name: Genesis
ReplyDeleteResponse: Original post
Identity is created by a persons actions and beliefs. The way a person chooses to act towards a situation or others depicts who they are.However, Some traits that make up an identity cannot be chosen by the person. For example, in "The Namesake" we saw how Gogol could not escape his Indian heritage. Although a persons identity is mainly how to represent themselves to others and thereselves, there are other factors, such as culture or names, which they cannot control.
In the "Handmaids Tale" status is acknowledged by clothing. Red for handmaids, black for Commanders, green for Marthas and so on. There are no formal greetings which include names from past lives. Offred is never addressed by her actual name, and neither is her daughter. This dominance over her shows the lack of power she has and how she cannot even be her own person. Offred is not given a name because she represents the hadmaids in general. Women who are being stripped of their identity. There is no individuality in the "Handmaids Tale". The characters allow their status to become their identity. They allow themselves to become just handmaides, or just Marthas. The actions of the characters recreates their identity. Individuality is not required to determine ones identity. Whether a person decides to let others control them or not, or whether they decide to follow the crowd instead of being independent determines who they are.
I feel that the human identity is something that makes you. It is who you accept yourself as in human society and it is the way you look at yourself. Most of all it is like what alwin said it is who you think you are. also identity is how you do what u want so basically your identity is the courage you have to express yourself and it shows how much a person is an individual. For example a crook is a person who people identify as a robber or someone who steals and this is only possible through the fact that most humans create labels and titles to other humans. An effect of equilibrium now causes the person who stops, punishes, or captures the crook to be a hero savior or up-stander. This shows that a human identity is the path a person takes in their life that they are not afraid to show to the eyes of the public.An example on how human identity is used in the novel was the part in the end of chapter 4 when she "moves" her "hips a little" as they passed the guards at the gates(30). From this fact about the author we can deduce that she is a very confident woman with some pretty assets that the men may agree is also pretty. this helps to characterize the author as a woman who is seductive. This also help to show that women at the time may be considered powerful with their seductive actions.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I believe that human identity is what you let society believe who you are. I believe that a person's identity cannot be stripped away or lost unless they never expose themselves to the world and its inhabitants. Human identity can be considered a choice in life that a person makes. For example in middle school you can be a nerd when you go to high school you can be identified as something else through choices you make and who you befriend. This proves that identity is who you decide to expose yourself as to certain people.
Name: Matthew
ReplyDeleteResponse: Original Post
The human identity is the perception of a person. To lose your identity is to lose your perception of self, thereby causing internal conflict. It is difficult to say whether a person's identity can fully be stripped. Even if you are unable to verify your identity, others will always be present to impose one upon you, even if those others aren't necessarily human, such as a dog imposing the identity of caretaker upon its owner. With this in mind, it can be said that the society of "The Handmaiden's Tale" works to impose one identity upon a population. One such example of this is when "we stop, together... to see them" (Atwood 42). Here, though there is no show of an identity being imposed, there is a sense of former identities being oppressed. As mentioned, passerby are supposed to notice the corpses, which serves as an unsaid warning to comply or face termination. By doing so, it serves to impose an identity upon those viewers so as to make them more alike to the ideal image of the society in the novel.
Michael Tamin
ReplyDeleteOP
Human identity is everything that makes a person unique, from their way of thinking to their reactions to certain stimuli. It makes up our personalities and character.
One can lose the portrayal of their identity when force is involved. In the case of Offred, she is unable to render her true feelings and emotions due to the strict enforcement of societal norms and for fear of harsh punishment. Thus, she loses her indivuality and her importance of being a person. She is now simply a part of her commander's household. Even her new name invokes a sense of ownership over her, making her little more than just a piece of property.
No one can sincerely lose their identity. Despite how one acts in the face of force and power, thoughts and emotions matter too. The very act of feeling anger and resentment against a particular person or idea makes up who you are, even if one is forced to outwardly act in a certain manner. In the novel, the readers can view Offred's true identity despite the fact that she loses all individualism and Gilead society.