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Avatar of Elizabeth Sumerlin
Elizabeth Sumerlin
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2yr

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"Please don't judge me and I won't judge you because it could get ugly before it gets beautiful"
- Don't Judge Me by Chris Brown

Chris Brown states that while he has done negative acts in his past that will not define who he is in the future. It is not who he is now it is who he was. Taking those negatives and learning from them makes him a better him. Making him not who he was but making him a better then he was.

This applied to R+G because for them they dont have a past for people to judge them about all they have is the present. Therefore, what they show is all people can determine and what they can determine about themselves and who they are as a person.

Now one wants another individual to judge them on things they can not change from the past. Thats why there is a present and a future for you to define them as.

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"We can spend our lives letting the world tell us who we are. Sane or insane. Saints or sex addicts. Heroes or victims. Letting history tell us how good or bad we are. Letting our past decide our future. Or we can decide for ourselves. And maybe it's our job to invent something better."
- Chuck Palahniuk, Choke
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Many times in life, we get caught up in what we believe others want us to be. Other times, we think too much about what we have been "predetermined" to do in life by a higher power. In this quote, Chuck is trying to tell the world that no matter what we feel like we've been casted to do, there is always the possibility that we can create that future for our own selves. We do not have to listen to the past history, or what people say about the future. We have the capability to create our own future and be exactly who we want to be. However, in order for that to happen, we must have enough faith in ourselves to make that decision that could change our entire lives.

This relates to R&G because both of those characters were just knowingly allowing someone else to write our their lives and they had no thought to ever go against what the script said. They believed that no matter what, their lives had already been decided. Therefore, they never had the chance to make something more of themselves. They were never able to be happy.

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In the social jungle of human existence, there is no feeling of being alive without a sense of identity.

It is easy for individuals in this society to feel isolated from society and a result of that is definitely the sense of no identity. For Erikson to refer to the society as a jungle is accurate to the world now, because of how difficult it is to be socially acceptable. Without an identity, a person rarely can do anything with themselves except meet the basic needs for survival. It is evident that without identity there is not a feeling of being alive because of the lack of acknowledgement to individual emotions that occur within a person. Erikson brings up a great point because often we struggle to remember to account other people's feelings into situations, and when this is not done, it can leave a person feeling isolated. This isolation does not leave room for a person to develop an identity.

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"[in diary]Betty Finn was a true friend and I sold her out for a bunch of Swatch dogs and Diet Coke heads."

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"By the hurts we accumulate, we measure both our follies and our accomplishments"
-Arya, The Inheritance Cycle

This quote doesn't have anything to do with identity directly, but it's important in the formation of the idea of having an identity. Our experiences shape us, especially the not-so-pleasant ones. When we get physically hurt, we have marks or some type of tell that reminds us of that moment. The same goes for emotionally rough times as well. The events themselves don't shape us, but the way that we heal does. You can come back stronger than you were before, because now you're you're armed with the knowledge that you gained. And the marks aren't solely reminders of times of pain. You could have a scar from the time that you were wrestling with your sibling, or a bumpy nose from when you broke it playing football with your friends. These seemingly small experiences culminate into who you are right now. You are who you are because of your past. But if you're Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, you have no past, and therefore no identity, meaning that your life is a constant struggle to figure out what the heck is going on and all you want to do is go home and take a nap.

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"I don't blame the average seventeen-year-old punk-rock kid for calling me a sellout. I understand that. And maybe when they grow up a little bit, they'll realize there's more things to life than living out your rock & roll identity so righteously. "
-Kurt Cobain
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Kurt Cobain said this quote with an understanding that it is difficult for somebody to completely understand who they are. He states that they might grow up a little bit because identity isn't something that just happens over night. Identity is a feature that takes time for one to realize. Identity is also something that isn't restricted to one portion of one's life. Cobain only specifically talks about " rock and roll " identity, but he implies that there several. Everybody withholds an identity for each unique portion of them. From how they eat to the way they walk around, everybody carries a specific identity in every subject that comes together and becomes one major identity. Everybody will eventually realize who they are eventually, because every aspect of their lives will come together to form who they eventually will become.

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“It is easier to live through someone else than to complete yourself. The freedom to lead and plan your own life is frightening if you have never faced it before. It is frightening when a woman finally realizes that there is no answer to the question 'who am I' except the voice inside herself.”  - Betty Friedan                      ---------------------------------------------------  Friedan's quote captures the struggle that many individuals face each and every day.  Finding one's self or identity is often a struggle because from a young age, our each and every action is determined by another being.  As we gain maturity and face the trials of life we often lose ourselves and search for familiarity and salvation through others. This becomes detrimental because it is not until our darkest moment  that we finally realize what we was falsely believed was our identity was only the coalition of those around us. In fear of delving too deep in our own selves we piece together the parts of others, and it is then when finally realize the true answer to our identity is within ourselves. This quote relates directly to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as the two characters struggle greatly with identity because their each and every action is determined by someone other than themselves. Their heavy reliance on someone else to direct their every move caused both Ros and Guil to become oblivious, making it truly frightening when they finally realized the only thing that could have saved them was their own identity.

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RANGO
"Who am I? I could be anyone."
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This is a film about the struggle a lizard to find his identity and place where he belongs in the world. Rango is put into the world where he has  to constantly wonder around without a clue of whats going on.This makes Rango question everything about himself and adjust to each environment. Throughout the movie he becomes the new sheriff and is exiled from the town because he failed at his job. He then meets a spirit who informs Rango of who he really is and goes back to save the town. His identity crisis within himself is over and returns to the town to save he animals. He travels far and wide to find who he is and what he is put on earth to do. Like rosencrants and guildenstern,rango didnt have any direction in where he was going. The movie rango also had moments where he mentions that they are in a play when the spirit animal said,"you cant walk out on your own story" Through trial and error,rango attempts to find what he is supposed to be doing. Rosencrantz and guildenstern made many mistakes attempting to find out who they were and what they were sent for. I find it ironic how hes a chameleon and cant find his true identity. He constantly blends in to his surroundings not knowing which play he is suposed to be in.While we are young,we handed everything and have people telling us which direction we should go.We are also exploring many identities.When we are maturing,we find ourselves lost becasue there is noone to tell us who we are and where to go.we are left to find that independently. Rosencrantz and guildenstern didnt have a place in hamlets play, so they hopelessly wondered around wondering what was going on and rango hopelessly wondered around until trouble (death) stopped them. Its like seniors getting ready for college.We know we want to go to college,but most ous dont know where to go after that or what we want to sudy in school.We just follow along the path until something interesting happens and hopefully we will not end like rosenguild(on the wrong side of the rope). Noone really has an answer to "how to find your identity" it just happens.

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Ayrial Washington (Cox Padlet not working)

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Ayrial Washington (Cox Padlet not working)

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"So all you see is what you lacking and not what you packing , Take it from a man that loves what you got , and baby girl you're a start and don't let em tell you're not "
(J Cole -Crooked Smile)

This quote from J Cole's song crooked smile deals with the question of identity because the girl in the song doesn't know her worth and he is trying to convince her that no matter what flaws she has she is still important in his eyes and should accept that . When is says "all you see is what you lacking and not what you packing " Cole is referring to the girl looking in the mirror and only noticing the thing that are wrong with her and not the good thing about her , "what you packing" . This quote relates to Rosencratz & Guildenstern are Dead because both characters are struggling to realize their place of importance in the play just like the girl in the song who doesn't realize her worth in society .

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My quote is from the book "The Giver"
"I don't know what you mean when you say 'the whole world' or 'generations before him.'I thought there was only us. I thought there was only now."

In this quote the main character is talking about how he thought his people were the first and only kind,  because they are not tall on those type of things in his society, but then he starts to learn new things and his mind and the way he perceives his  identity starts to change. This is also the same for R&G, every obstacle they went through it open their mind more and made them question situations, life, what dimension they are in, and even their own identity.

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"When I discover who I am, then I will be free"
-Ralph Ellison                               (Invisible Man)
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This quote from Ralph Ellison is extremely important to the question of indentity. In a world where there is a constant struggle to find purpose, the issue of self-identity has fallen by the wayside. When we have no base, or sense of self, we lose our consciousness and became 'sheep". We become the people who become blinded by finding where they are suppose to be in life, and without our identities, we have the tendency to bed led and swayed by the world. Knowing yourself is the key to breaking away from the mental slavery in which society has imposed on us. This is critical to know, especially as young adults, who will be entering into the world on our own this year. We as a people are constantly riddled with doubt and low self esteem, because we have not solidified who we are. Once that discovery is made, the world will seem a lot less chaotic and much less of a gamble as described by the player in "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead". Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were a victim to this awful fate, as they had no idea of who they were, let alone their own names. This uncertainty  led to their reckless behavior which ultimately led to their deaths.

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Questioning if he is truly supposed to become this horrible villain or not. He cannot come to terms with his fate which seems to be set in stone despite his attempts. He cannot come to terms   With his fate and similar to R&G who will not take no for an answer.

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“Every teenager in the world feels like that, feels broken or out of place, different somehow, royalty mistakenly born into a family of peasants. The difference in your case is that it's true.” -From City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

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In her series, The Mortal Instruments, beneath all of the action, romance, and angst, Cassandra Clare uses Clarissa Fray to attempt to answer the ever-so-important question: Who am I? Clarissa, known as Clary in the books, grows up believing she is a human girl until the evening of her seventeenth birthday, when her mother is kidnapped. It is then that she discovers and is forced to embrace that she is part of a world alongside the one she believed to live in. Throughout the series as a whole, Clary faces many different issues of identity, first with her identity as human or Shadowhunter, then as a sister to a brother she believed was dead, then as a girl with angel blood or demon blood; she is constantly faced with these issues. Clare attempts to have these questions answered for Clary, that she is a shadowhunter, she does have angel blood, her brother is really someone else, etc.
In the way she answers these questions, Cassandra Clare blurs the line of definitive answers. She shows that identity is not black and white, but greys and blurred lines. Clary is a Shadowhunter, but she is also a human. She has angel blood, but she also has a little bit of darkness in her.
There is no definitive, single, obvious answer to identity, rather bits and pieces of a puzzle that we put together throughout our lives and come up with as a whole.

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Questioning if he

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"You don't get it. Do you? I'm still here. I still exist. That means you still turn into me."
"Dan" Phantom(evil/older Danny), Danny Phantom the Animated Series

Throughout this show we constantly see Danny attempting to keep his identity secret and keep his double lives separate. This specific quote from the Danny Phantom movie, "The Utimate Enemy" is about Danny discovering he is destined to be the cause of his family and closest friend's deaths. Which leads him in the future to separate his human self from his ghost self and become a horrific villain known as "Dan Phantom" .
I found that I could related the character of Danny in this movie especially to R&G due to the fact that he is constantly trying to escape this fate and questioning if he sp

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"Your identity is your most valuable possession. Protect it."
Elasticgirl, The Incredibles

Identity is the one thing that lets the family in the movie "The Incredibles" be normal. Everyone has two identities. The first one is the one that very one can see and know. It is the on the people see in public, and the one people describes you as. But even as I'm saying that, you can have different public identities in public. The Incredibles were known by there original, daily names at work and through daily life, but they were also known as the Incredibles when they put on their mask and showcase their superpowers. It is a matter of perspective that showcases ones true identity. So many factors and situations always challenge our true identity, and that is why it is so hard to explain and talk about, or show our true identity in public. The other identity that we have is our true identity, that we only show to ourselves in the mirror. It is hard to show our true identity in front of everyone, due to the protection of family and protection of ourselves. Identity is the key to everyone's success, and the ability to stay sane and allow us to prosper and help others. The Incredibles couldn't show their true identity because that would promote danger in their personal lives. Our identity is who we are. If it is taken, we are no longer someone, and we are lost.

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"Okay honey, I won't be weird. I'll be whatever you want me to be." - Lester Burnham

American Beauty, 1999

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In American Beauty, the whole existential idea of the movie is discovering who you are because of your true desires and not because of what society and the "normal" ideals should be in life. Lester is bored with his stagnant 9-5 life and realizes that his life could be anything he wants it to be. He cares less of materialistic things. He quits his job and applies for fast food, just because he can.

In the quote above, Lester and his wife attend a high-scale dinner party. Lester greets a man who doesn't remember meeting him before.
Lester remarks, "It's okay, I wouldn't remember me either."
To which his life replies, *laughs nervously* "Honey, don't be weird."
To which Lester replies the final quote given above, "Okay honey, I won't be weird. I'll be whatever you want me to be."

Lester plays on the idea of, "Who am I?" He pushes the boundaries of what is expected from a middle aged man in his life. He leaves his unhappy life with his wife to follow his true desires. He is aware of his existence and the outcome of each of his actions. Thus, though this he can discover who he is.

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"We know who we are, but not who we may be."

-Shakespeare

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In this play, Hamlet continuously wonders about his fate, his purpose, and who he truly is/ what he represents. He asks this question directly here in this quote, but does it in "Hamlet speak", meaning that there is a deep message under his poetic words, like in his famous soliloquy. "Who we may be" represents the idea of what people evolve to become in the future, what their fate leads them to be. It also can be thought to mean that people know their names, their stories, and their background, but many people do not understand or are not aware of their full potential. Hamlet says this because even he, as wise as the Prince of Denmark is, questions what he is potential of, and what step he should take next. He struggles with the idea of having to choose whether or not to take vengeance on his uncle, and what would become of him if he decided to do so. When things all turn out in the end, and Hamlet lies dying, he seems to understand more than ever who he was in his life because the plot is resolved and his fate is revealed.

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"Come I want to show you my play room."

-Christian Grey
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In E.L. James's story of the billionaire and the virgin (50 Shades of Grey), Christian Grey the aggressive, peculiar, and almost bipolar character constantly questions who he is. Eventually the main character of the story Anastasia Steele asks Grey about his questionable experiences in discovering his seemingly dominant physical yet weak and needy emotional role, and the only justification for Mr. Grey's taste in relationships that is offered to the reader is a older woman friends to Greys mother, who taught Christian Grey the ins and outs of BDSM. Other than the provocative nature of this book, it holds its audience captivated by offering a mysterious, and seemingly bewildered main character, who often times is unpredicatable, yet constantly searching for his identity. By doing this 50 Shades of Grey utilizes the same tactic employed in Rosencratz and Guildenstern are dead. Hence, the similar hostage feeling within the audience/reader making them read/watch to the very END.

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"You realize we're nothing but sacks of meat and blood, and some bones to keep it all standing."

- Jaime Lannister

JaimeLannister was reflecting on identity in a more physical and cynical way than most. Instead of delving into the philosophy or ideas behind the brain and what makes us tick, he just accepts that it's only temporary and is really just a crude form of life. This is somewhat metaphysical because Jaime just embraces the notion of being so miniscule and unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

This related to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern primarily in style. Jaime notes that we are just body parts

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"Deadpool died, so Wade Wilson can live."

During the Original Sin event Deadpool learned that he had a wife and daugther that he didn't know about. Long story short he went to go look for them, thought they were dead but then found his daughter. He sends his daughter to live with his closest friend, who is a cyborg member of SHIELD. Ultimatum, great value version of Hydra, attacks his house and Deadpool decides to end this by killing everyone in Ultimatum and even himself so that he can live with his family in peace. Deadpool realized that having two seperate lives was affect the one that was most important to him and that one had to go so the other could live.

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Ben Lapointe (Cox's Padlet Wouldn't Work)

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Ben Lapointe (Cox's Padlet Wouldn't Work)

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"Identity is part of drama to me. Who am I, why am I behaving this way, and am I aware of it?"

-Mathew Weiner

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In this quote, Matthew Weiner takes a different approach on the topic of identity and says that we act a certain a certain way and we do in fact have knowledge that we do act the way we do, but questions why we behave like this. This is saying that we all know how we act, but we still can't find who we are nor discover why we act the way we do. This makes me think of fate, because he states that we all know how we act but also questions if he's aware of it, making it a situation where we are destined to act a specific way even if we aren't the slightest aware of it.

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" I don't want to know what time it is. I don't want to know what day it is or where I am. None of that matters." Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer This quote relates to the moves because time is completely irrelevant in this movie. Ros and Guil are desperelty trying to figure out the time to understand who they are. Time correlates to ones identity because life consists of the past, present, and future.

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"You don't get it. Do you? I'm still here. You still turn into me!"

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"Who do you become if you can't be yourself?"

- Alike, Pariah (2011)

Alike is a film about a teenage girl who is having difficulty expressing her sexuality being a lesbian. Alike can't express herself and dress or act how she wants because her mother doesn't approve of her being a lesbian due to her religious beliefs. Sometimes after school she would go to this club and dress like a guy then returning home she would put on the outfit her mother wanted her to be in which is girly. When trying to confront her mom about her sexuality she doesn't care to know. Relating to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern they both are on stage and feel trapped, "Ros: I want to go home."(Stoppard 37) Alike feels the same way being trapped her own home she can't express her sexuality.

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And now I see the face of god, and I raise this god over the earth, this god whom men have sought since men came into being, this god who will grant them joy and peace and pride.

This god, this one word:

“I.”

~Ayn Rand, from Anthem, published 1938

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Rand’s concluding words of the penultimate chapter of her novella, Anthem, discuss the realizations that the main character, Equality 7-2521, has regarding his identity. Throughout the preceding chapters of the book, Equality has referred to himself only with plural pronouns, such as “we” or “us”. The discovery of the word “I” marks a sort of self-actualization on Equality’s part, as he finally grasps the full significance of his personal identity, beyond the collective identity he has referred to throughout the book. This chapter of the novella reveals the relationships between a person’s social and individual identities, and then makes an argument as to which one is more important. Overall, Rand’s novella captures the difference between “Who am I?” and “Who are we?”

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"But his soul was mad. Being alone in the wilderness, it had looked within itself, and by heavens! I tell you, it had gone mad. I had—for my sins, I suppose—to go through the ordeal of looking into it myself. No eloquence could have been so withering to one's belief in mankind as his final burst of sincerity. He struggled with himself, too. I saw it—I heard it. I saw the inconceivable mystery of a soul that knew no restraint, no faith, and no fear, yet struggling blindly with itself." Heart of Darkness

In the end of Heart of Darkness we learn that Mr. Kurtz has gone mad. All throughout the book Mr. Kurtz was talked of so highly and everyone seems to know who he was. Marlow spends the whole book trying to figure out who Mr. Kurtz is. When Marlow finally meets Mr. Kurtz he is faced with trying to figure out what has happened to Mr. Kurtz. Mr. Kurtz is not the person Marlow had expected to meet. This quote shows Marlow faced with the question of who Mr. Kurtz is now and who he was. Marlow never figures out who Mr. Kurtz was and only learned of who he became a "savage" who was lost in the Ivory trade.

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"I am King Varian, but I am also Lo'gosh! "
- King Varian Wrynn of                            Stormwind.
World of Warcraft

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The revered king of the Alliance has split personality disorder due to being raised by slavers as a gladiator to fight in battles against his will. This shattered his mental state and essentially turned him into two people, the king the people love and Lo'gosh the gladiator. Whenever his character appears it is a question of who he is at any point in time. He creates the existentialism of Warcraft because of this. While Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are confused between who they are different from each other, Varian is confused about which of the two people he is within himself. While there are many things that could seemingly fix his condition, none of them work. He is a symbol of the human struggle for identity and there is no cure for the human condition.

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"Will you Return?"
I don't want to live, but I sure don't want to die.
I'm stuttering again and telling' her goodbye.
Oh m-m-my, Good-b-bye. Will you come again? Its hard to say.  I surely hope so."
-The Avett Brothers
http://www.metrolyrics.com/will-you-return-lyrics-avett-brothers.html
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The Avett Brothers discuss how uncertainty replaces confidence once we realize we have no control. After the author was approached at his door by a girl he was lost for words as well as intellect. This moment of embarrassment although one he couldn't have foreseen caused him to weigh out life and death. What the songwriter failed to realize is that every moment in our life does not define who we are. This implies that fate similar to the play of "R&G are Dead" lies within the hands of a greater being one that is out of his control.

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But it's true. No matter how hard I try to be strong like you... I'm just a Pearl... I'm useless on my own... Ineed someone to tell me what to do... When we fuse, I can feel what it's like to be you..! Confident and secure and complete... You're perfect... You're the perfect relationship... You're always together... I just—I wanted to be a part of that...” Pearl--Steven Universe.
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In the show Steven Universe Pearl  is a character who usually takes the passenger seat in most situations. She usually leaves most decisions to the team leader Garnet. In context with the quote, Pearl lied to be closer with Garnet. In the end, the lie ended up hurting Garnet badly and caused a strain on their relationship. The two didn't talk for a while and it wasn't until they were in a sticky situation that Pearl explained her reasoning to what she did. In the quote Pearl reveals some of her deepest insecurities. She feels that without a leader she is useless, without there physically being someone to tell her what her next action is, she's lost.  Besides Pearl being apart of an amazing team, she has no identity. This is not because she is insignificant, but more so because Pearl has not learned to use her inner strength and guide her own life. She believes she was created to serve and that's why she puts herself behind strong people like Garnet. This connects with Rosencratz and Guildenstern because even though, the two characters know they are apart of something bigger than themselves, they rely heavily on "someone" creating the script for them. Pearl, Rosencratz, and Guildenstern all look for someone else to tell them what the next move is, and that is why they feel so small and useless within their world. None of these characters have decided to take charge of their life and lead, and this is why they don't know who they truly are.

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"Who am I?"
-Peter Parker, Spider-Man

Peter Parker through out the entirety of  the film, he is trying to find out who he is and who he stands for. There isn't just one big event that determines what he eventually is , it is all of the individual situations and choices that determine the man that he would become. With the death of his Uncle, to the killing of his Uncle's murderer, to the defending of New York City, he finds out that he doesn't want to be the person who stands aside and let innocent people die like he let his Uncle die. This is a perfect example for what happens in our lives. In more cases that not, how we turn out is not on based on one big event in our life but all the little events that determine who we are. We might mess up every once and a while like Peter Parker did, but as long as we make more right decisions than not, it will lead is on the right path. This connects to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern due to all the wrong steps that those two take throughout the play. There are so many times they could have noticed the true reason of Hamlet's actions, not listened to everything Claudius and Gertrude told them to do, or even not taking Hamlet to his supposed death which was really theirs. Just like Peter Parker found out who he was, we can find out who we are through all the many choices we make.

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"Slow down, baby
You're going too fast
You got your hand in the air
With your feet on the gas"
~ India Arie

In India Arie's song "Slow Down" she attempts to explain how recklessly we move through life and how we need take time out to recognize what we are doing, for what reason. People often plunge forward without even a thought to what can/will occur. Rosencratz and Guildenstern are us, people who move with little thought to what is next attempting to but often failing to discover ourselves due to the speed with which we run into things we may never come to fully, if at all, understand. Discovering one's self takes a lot of time and patience that most people don't have. Some lack patience and demand answers only to end up more confused than when they began while others run out of time, just like Ros and Guil, to figure it out and are left with many more questions than answers.

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“No more questions. Don’t ever question this, you already are the answer.”
-Rose Quartz

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On the show Steven Universe on Cartoon Network Garnet is one of the main characters, she is depicted as the "leader", strong and reliable. Later on in the series it is revealed that garnet is not one whole gem, but rather made up of two gems, Ruby and Sapphire. In the society that they come from, it is taboo to "fuse" with any other gem that is not identical to oneself. Ruby and Sapphire however do accidentally fuse. It was never considered that two different gems could fuse and it is believed that Garnet was the first. They not only get a new body, they became a new experience with different thoughts and ideas that they have to merge and become comfortable with.
The relationship that Rose and Garnet shared was significant because Rose supported the intimate aspect of fusion and the fact that Garnet is the living representation of Ruby's and Sapphire's relationship. Rose tells Garnet not to question the experience that she's having because they both enjoy it together.
When Rose "dies" all of the Gems mourn her "death". Rose taught Garnet to accept the way she is and is able to remain strong and assume the role of leader amongst the Crystal Gems. However for Pearl who had deep feelings of attachment and love. In Their society gems are made for a purpose, Rubies and Quartz to fight, and pearls as accessories. Without rose Pearl has lost her sense of purpose and identity, throughout the series it is eminent how much her confidence and mental state are destroyed after her loss.

Although Rose tried to develop and help the other Gems grow on their own, without her it is hard and they have to depend on each other.

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"No more questions. Don't ever question...

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"No more questions. Don't ever question this, you already are the answer."-Rose Quartz

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"Voices keep haunting
They cloud a point of view
Making us feel
There's nothing we can do

Fate departed,
Lost and all alone
Brokenhearted
And looking for a home

Look into the mirror
And tell me what you see
You're vision's getting clearer
And suddenly you're free

You don't need convincing
Believe what you believe
No more second guessin'
Be who you want to be"
-Bethany Mota
"Be Who You Want To Be"

The question of identity consists of both circumstances and choice- Circumstances you have no original control over. Choice is completely in your hands. You can choose what you do, say, and yes- even think and feel with the determination to follow through despite unfavorable circumstances. Perhaps Rosencrantz and Guildenstern can't change the fact that they will die in the end due to Hamlet's trickery, but they may choose how to react to that reality, and that is a factor to their being, their identity. After all, choice is the larger component of identity. They can fail gracefully or they can fail miserably. But, for better or for worse, their names- which were given to them when they had no say in the matter- still belong to them, and are also a part of their identity. So when presented with the demand to "unfold themselves", they should simply answer this:
Rosencrantz: "Rosencrantz"
Guildenstern: "Guildenstern"
And follow up with anything about themselves they consider important for others (or themselves) to know.

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"Who am I?"
- Charlie, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (on numerous occasions)

The show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a form of satire which is very well known for it's idiotic and moronic plotlines, although there is a wealth of social commentary. Throughout the series, the characters are always finding new ways to make money, have a relationship, or to have fun among themselves, although there never seems to be any major consequences despite miniscule bits which do not alter the course of the show. Each character is trying to find themselves in a multitude of ways. The character of Charlie is a perfect example. The man is showcased as a village idiot, and while he may not actually be the brightest, he quickly molds into whatever role the other characters have thrust upon him, much like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in the play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead, when he is not being told what to do, he is often just wandering throughout the set, doing things that he is almost unaware of. The character of Dennis could be compared to the character of Hamlet; incredibly arrogant and needing to be in charge of everything even though he has no real control and the audience sees him as a nuisance. He is also a raging narcissist, thinking every woman is in love with him... Literally. Dee is the "dumb blonde" stereotype who is rarely shown in hr true brilliance, which is ironic considering the instance of "Why don't we go to the park?" said by her, and another character suggesting the same idea and suddenly the idea is brilliant, as if when Dee said it, it was nothing but an idiotic babble. Mac is seen as the dumb and strong womanizer, only focused on human urges, completely oblivious to simple things, except "hanging with his bros." Frank, the father of Dee and Dennis is a secret million/billionaire, but is living as a pauper for an unknown reason. All of the characters' personas seem to be interrupted by the actor pulling himself out of the script and speaking out of their own mind, which gives to the metatextual and absurdist theme of the show, and also relates to the play of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead quite beautifully. All characters also suffer from identity crises in each episode, some more than others in different scenarios. Charlie is the main "crazy" one who tends to have moments of brilliance and also moments of "Who am I and why am I doing what I tell them to?" I am quite confident that his character does not have a script and just does what he wants and the rest just try to do their best to keep to their scripts while incorporating his behavior. The whole of the show is based off of identity crises much like R&G, as well as metatextual bits and pieces.
This obscure show is similar to R&G in many ways.

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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. (12.4)

Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid's Tale. New York. O. W. Toad, Ltd. 1986.
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In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale the author captures a major idea that is critically relevant to modern society: the idea that the person we are is defined by physical characteristics or conditions that is presented of us to the world. Throughout the entire novel women are consistently subjected into groups that are determined through the physical functions of their body. The main character, Offred, is fertile, therefore is placed into the position of a Handmaid, one she does not seem to have much choice of being or not. These handmaids are not even addressed by name, because the only use they are seen for is for their bodies and their ability to reproduce. Their identity is stripped away from them as the person they are is completely disregarded. Much like how Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are placed into this play without a sense of control or choice against fate, these women are put in a similar position as they are practically forced into a lifestyle that seems unavoidable. However, it is the idea of identity in both the novel and the play that keep the characters going. Instead of easily letting go of their identity, they make a sort of effort to find it on their own.

In a holistic approach, we as humans must focus more on what actually defines a person without regards to physical standards, or simply a name. We are not simply that. Although we are a small part of a bigger picture it is significant for us not only to understand the impact we have on those that surround us, but also the impact that those surrounding have on us. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are impacted by other plays within their own play, while they as well are impacting another play. The Handmaid’s, and every other member of the fictional society, are impacted by the choices and conditions of others. No one person can find their identity alone because we as humans are so heavily impacted by one another. It is each person, event, and story that has occurred in our lifetime that makes up the person we become. Through the opinions of others, we can also form individual opinions of our own, and get a better understanding of who we are individually and the approach we have toward life itself. In the Handmaid’s Tale, an entire society thought of fertile women as just baby makers, but it was each handmaid that had to decide whether or not they would see themselves as just a baby maker through fate, or believe they had a choice, or even a fate, to be more. Although the person we are is impacted by those that surround us, the conclusion lies within ourselves and understanding who we are, regardless of who others think we are.

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"Isabelle limped after them. "I am the Nightingale!" she called out.
The door slammed in her face. She hobbled to the cell's window, clutching the rough, rusty bars. "I am the Nightingale!" she screamed."

Hannah, Kristin. The Nightingale. New York City: St. Martin's Press, 2015. Print.
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Isabelle is yelling to save her father but this is also a way for her to come to terms that she is the person the Nazis have been looking for. She is coming to terms with being caught and that she can not save anyone else but she is trying to save the one person that she knows she can before she gets deported. This shows that us as humans have things we keep secret and we let them out only when we really have to. We say them to save the people we love and also to set free the built up pressure it causes within us. This qoute really connects to the play because it goes back to the idea that Ros and Guil cannot tell the difference between each other. By the end of the book they just want to know who is who do they can finally be there own person and come to terms with who they really are.

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"Dear Kanye
Don’t let us fall
You’re at the diplomatic dinner
With fine china and all
You got the silver fork in your hand
But still you spit and gnaw
Greatness is a glass elevator, and so you are, if I recall
So use it make some real change
Not just advertisements at the mall"

"Dear Kanye" by Ben Sollee

Ben Sollee is trying to bring to rapper/songwriter Kanye West's attention that he has lost himself and who he really is. He had lost his identity, this isn't the Kanye the society know or remembers. Sollee is expressing to Kanye he has more potential then he sees and he's letting it go to waist.

Relating to the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern , they are unaware of who they are and what "importance" they hold..

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"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who don't matter mind and those who matter don't mind."
- Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss' thought process behind ignoring pessimist while supporting the ideas of optimist introduces a positive perspective on how to handle the opinions of others while still remaining confident in who you are as an individual. It promotes the idea of showcasing who you are vocally by not refraining from what you have to offer to society. This idea also relates to "Rosencratz and Guildenstern are Dead" because it emphasizes the constant battle that Rosencratz and Guildenstern face when attempting and gradually discovering their place within the play.

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"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."
- Oscar Wilde, De Profundis

De Profundis is a letter written by Oscar Wilde to his lover "Bosie" (Lord Alfred Douglas), during his time in imprisonment. In this particular part of the letter, Wilde discusses the tragedy of individuals not being able to come up with things on their own, but rather mold the ideas and thoughts of those before them. He is saying that many people do not have their own original thoughts. People are hesitant to say things out of the ordinary and would rather stick to what everyone else is going by. This connects with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern for their lines were already written out for them, they had no original thought throughout the entire play but merely the thoughts of others. They went by what others were telling them to go by, never implementing any original thoughts or actions.

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“If you can’t see anything beautiful about yourself, get a better mirror, look a little closer, stare a little longer, because there’s something inside you that made you keep trying despite everyone who told you to quit.”
-Shane Koyczan, "To This Day"

Shane Koyczan was like many students roaming the school hallways today that question who they are because of the overwhelming amount of voices saying you have to be a certain way to fit in. The constant pressure to conform and be accepted in the slightest bit inspired Koyczan to write his spoken word poem “To This Day.” It has become normal to enter any public place and be labeled as a certain type of person because of the way you look and the way you carry yourself. No matter where you are, someone, somewhere is always watching and critiquing every single move you make. What many people fail to realize is life isn’t about fitting in. As the old saying goes, “why fit in when you are made to stand out.” Koyczan embraces this perspective in his beautifully written poem. In this specific quote, he answers this frequently asked identity question. It is not about what everyone else sees. It’s not the labels, the opinions, or the stereotypes. It is all about what each person sees in his or her self. It’s the fire that burns inside each and every person that keeps them hopeful and driven towards something regardless of what anyone else thinks. This poem ties in to "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead." There is always an audience watching characters every move. There is a set script that must be followed. Actors become someone they are not for each and every performance. The labels and stereotypes are equivalent to the actors scripts. In order to prevent chaos, the script is followed. The world is the audience. It is nearly impossible to go one day without being questioned, critiqued or criticized for something. Like Koyzcan emphasizes, it’s what each person sees in his or her self and not what the world chooses to see.

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"I admit it was a good life until my parents cut me off. And suddenly I realized. I don't know how to do anything." -Prince Naveen, The Princess and the Frog

Prince Naveen from the Princess and the Frog had an identity crises when his parents cut off his money supply and he realized he couldn't do anything for himself. Prince Naveen found himself through working with Tiana, the princess, trying to get her restaurant and also trying to  become human again. The two worked together with friends they found on the way and Prince Naveen found himself through working with others.

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"Jason Bourne is dead, you hear me? He drowned two weeks ago. You're gonna go tell 'em that Jason Bourne is dead, you understand?"

-Jason Bourne, The Bourne Identity

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Bourne is tired of being who he is and dealing with the situation he has found himself in. He does not like the constant drama and pain that surrounds him just because of who he is. He decides to reject the fundamental law of identity by trying to choose his identity and killing his former self. He is much like Rosencratz and Guildenstern in the sense that they too are starting to grow tired of who they are and the stressful situation that they have found themselves in, and they blame their identities for roping them in to a situation that will ultimately result in the termination of their lives. They discuss this idea, but neither are smart enough to come to the conclusion that they should change their identities completely to save themselves.

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"-Who am I?
-24601!"

-Jean Valjean, Les Miserables

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After trying to escape his troubled past as a convict, Valjean becomes a successful mayor of an industrial town. After reinventing himself, a man bearing his resemblance is brought to trial for the crimes Valjean committed years prior. At the trial, afflicted with guilt over the possibility of an innocent man serving his punishment, Valjean unveils his true self, a convict by the number of 24601.

In life, there are times when everyone must pull an inner Valjean and embrace play the hand they were dealt. It's this acceptance of fate that drives Valjean, and is often a motivating factor for many in life. Much like Rosencratz and Guildenstern, there is little that can be done to change fate. For Jean Valjean, this acceptance of his true identity means accepting the life of a fugitive. For others, accepting their fate is not as easy, and is often times a constant struggle. Much like Valjean's struggle in accepting his life as a common thief, the lessons one gets in accepting fate can be a formative experience that drive  revolutions of both soul and government.

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"I'm not who you think I am.  I'm not Resistance. I'm not a hero. I'm a stormtrooper. Like all of them, I was taken from a family I'll never know. And raised to do one thing. But my first battle, I made a choice. I wasn't gonna kill for them... I was ashamed of what I was. But I'm done with the First Order. I'm never going back."

- FN-2187 (Finn), Star Wars Episode VII

Rebel scum isn’t the only thing you’ll find the Stormtroopers missing. After ditching the First Order, FN-2187, later christened ‘Finn’, struggles with his sense of self. He grew up a sanitation worker who occasionally picked up a blaster, far from the most exciting upbringing. On top of that, when he was asked to carry out direct orders and do what he’s meant to do (kill), Finn finds himself alone in a crowd of murderous people who never questioned why they do what they do. Needless to say, Finn has an existential crisis which leads to whole chain of events that unfold in The Force Awakens.

Our ability to relate here is simple: so often we fin ourself jsut following some path that was laid out for us, instead of making our own. This lack of originality and self-generated identity can be a dangerous concoction, leading to the death of others. Often times, some big event is just what it takes to snap the person out of it, and jolt them into forming their own identity.

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"You're a wizard, Harry." -Hagrid

Rowling, J. K.. Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. New York : A.A. Levine Books. 1998. Print.

While J.K. Rowling conveys an interesting tale of how a boy became a powerful wizard, one of Rowling most interesting themes underlining the story is the theme of finding one's identity. In J.K. Rowling novel Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone, Rowling tells of the story of a young boy by the name of Harry Potter. Raised by an abusive aunt and uncle, Harry Potter doesn't know anything about his past or what his future holds. But, Harry's future is forever changed when he is greeted by Hagrid and tells Harry that he is wizard destined to attend Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Almost immediately, Harry agrees to attend and his life is forever changed. Overall, Rowling's story deals with the question of identity because Harry Potter must learn about his past in order to overcome challenges that he must face. Before Harry faces off against the first stage of Voldemort, Harry knew nothing about his real family nor did he knew who he REALLY was. Before his confrontation, Harry Potter always came off as a confused kid, one that seemed to know very little about magic and never seemed to appreciate his own skills. However, by the end of the novel, Harry has fully accepted his destiny and has appeared to be a changed individual. In the end, Harry has come full circle, fully accepting his past and only seems more determined to avenge his family and defeat the villainous Voldemort.

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"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."

-Albert Einstein

Throughout the course of his life, Einstein constantly struggled with the idea of what his position was in society. With the developments he discovered in the fields of mechanics and astrophysics he became an instant star among his peers. The fame that ensued was not to Einstein's liking. As a profound Christian in the field of science, Einstein was constantly posed with questions regarding the origins of the universe. The belief of Creationism came with the title of "Christian" while the idea of the Big Bang held true to physicists. Maintaining his personal beliefs as well as educating the public on the most likely scenario is something that troubled Einstein deeply. In order to balance his upbringings in the church along with his trust in the truths of science, Einstein is quoted as to have said, "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind".

As Einstein's fame grew he became an advocate for equality among people of all origins, races, nationalities, and sexes. While struggling to define his role in society, he realized that the fame he so greatly dreaded could be put to even greater use than he ever imagined. The quote that "everyone is a genius" originated in a time of mass persecutions based off of the differences among races and religions. Einstein speaking out in the form of this quote not only showed that he had finally realized his importance as a revolutionary role model, but it also gave hope to the persecuted and fuelled the fires of rebellion in Europe.

Einstein's work has impacted humanity on many levels, but his views of human rights have been just as important. None of which would have happened if that daydreaming teenager hadn't seen himself, and everyone else, as a genius in their own right.

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“Your story may not have such a happy beginning, but that doesn't make you who you are. It is the rest of your story, who you choose to be. So, who are you, panda?”

-Soothsayer from Kung Fu Panda 2

In Kung Fu Panda 2, Po struggles to find out his past and where he came from. His lack of knowledge about his origins bother him to the point where it endangers himself and others. By letting his past bother him, he lacked the focus he needed to defeat several of his opponents at pivotal moments. However, through Shifu’s lesson on finding “inner peace” and guidance from the Soothsayer, Po is able to recall his dark past and put his troubles to rest. Po also finds his identity by remembering the important events that changed his life for the better, such as becoming the Dragon Warrior.

We can relate to Po because sometimes we let a negative event define who we are and decide our future.  Our identity is defined by who we choose to be and be content with it. What happens now is much more important than what happened in the past because the present defines the future.

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"For if the world treats you well, Sir, you come to believe you are deserving of it." -Alias Grace

Atwood, Margaret. Alias Grace. New York: Nan A. Talese, 1996. Print.

Margaret Atwood conveys the struggle between the world and identity through Grace Marks and her tragically hopeful life. Grace grew up fulfilling the roles as mother, sister, maid, friend, and acclaimed murderess. After being sentenced to life in prison, Grace begins to believe that she must be a murderer, a liar, a retard incapable of remembering her horrendous memories, as this is how she is treated. When Grace receives a pardon, she does not know how to live or even who she should be. Conforming to society's commonplace standards, she marries, starts a family, and tends her own farm. Throughout the forty years of life that Alias Grace details, not once does Grace find who she is. But instead, like many others, she finds herself fulfilling the role that the world assumes her to be in. In this one sentence, Atwood is able to acknowledge humanity's quest to discover an identity and reveal that one is who they are believed to be by others,  and that how one is treated by others determines self-identity. For it is not the self that finds identity, it is the interactions with others that discovers one's identity.

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"It's not who you are underneath. It's what you do that defines you."

-Christian Bale (Bruce), Batman Begins

In the movie Batman Begins, Bruce Wayne runs into a childhood friend named Rachel Dawes that he has not seen in 7 years. As he is still playing the role of a "playboy" figure to disguise that he is Batman, Rachel looks at him with disappointment. Bruce tries to convince Rachel that what she sees is not the real him, but that there is more inside of him. Rachel then enlightens Bruce that his actions speak louder than his words. At this point in their discussion he cannot reveal his other persona, Batman. In later events of the movie, Batman (Bruce Wayne) rescues Rachel from two henchmen and when she asks Batman who is he behind the mask, He replies to her, "It's not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines who you are." After Batman disappears, Rachel recalls their previous conversation and she realizes that her oldest friend Bruce is the caped crusader himself. In several ways, Bruce represents how identity can be looked at differently. That the idea of perception is reality, isn't always the case because Rachel sees him as a billionaire wasting away his parents fortune when really that is just the persona he has to pull of to hide who he really is. This also ties into how the actors work in Rosencrauntz and Guildenstern Are Dead because they hide their true identity behind the roles they have to play in exchange for being known for what they do.

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“A world grows up around me. Am I shaping it, or do its predetermined contours guide my hand?”

-Dr. Manhattan (Jon Osterman), Alan Moore, Watchmen

Moore, A., & Gibbons, D. (1987). Watchmen. New York: Warner Books.

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In a world of masked heroes, the threat of Armageddon (both nuclear and sociological) causes severe disturbances in the perception and understanding of those individuals who understand identity best, or do they? The masked individuals of Alan Moore’s Watchmen constantly struggle attempting to understand their identity and role in the world.

Dr. Manhattan—a nuclear physicist turned god—poses many questions of existence throughout the graphic novel, the one I’m choosing to focus on being represented by his quote: “A world grows up around me. Am I shaping it, or do its predetermined contours guide my hand?” Manhattan has the powers of a God, the omnipresence of a God, and yet he himself still questions his ability of free will. As a character, he sees all of time (past, present and future) all at once, so he knows better than anyone how decisions are made and affect other decisions. However, he also sees all possible timelines at once, which begs the question: “Does free will exist?” This graphic novel answers no questions, and provides no understanding, which is frustrating. That in and of itself begs more questions, and is one of the most entertaining and thought-provoking stories I have ever read.

This quote and story relate directly to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead in the sense of Ros and Guil’s conversation regarding their remembrance of their past and their understanding of the force that drives their decisions. Their constant struggle to gain understanding into their own existence is a central part of the play (the entity of their existence). The idea of free will crops up in the play frequently, along with many other metaphysical and philosophical concepts.
Both Stoppard and Moore analyze these concepts within the confines of their respective works in an attempt to provoke thought and bring light to unknown “truths” regarding human experience that most people never consider.

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“Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

Throughout Martin's work, he uses one character, Tyrion Lannister, as an example of just how badly the world can challenge you, and that the truest test of your character is to resist and overcome everything the world opts to throw at you.  Life is, according to Martin, horrifically and depressingly unfair, but the greatest pain one can suffer is one only they can inflict upon themselves, forgetting who they are.  You must steel yourself and always hold onto your ideas and accept your shortcomings, for the ability to do that means that you will never be at a disadvantage.  Your identity is more valuable to you than any material good the world has to offer, and it should never be for sale or subject to change on the whims of those who despise you.

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"We know what we are, but not what we may be." Hamlet, Shakespeare

In Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, Shakespeare uses hamlets unfortunate life to discuss mortality, revenge, and issues with family. When Hamlet says the quote that I used as my example, he says it because he doesn't know what the future may hold. He knows his current situation and that is all he can possible know, the only other thing he can do is wonder about what could happen if he did one thing rather than another and how it could've changed him and his situation.

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You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of Life.  -Mufasa's ghost, Lion King
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The story of Lion King is about the lion cub, Simba, accepting who he is after experiencing the loss of his father. The overall story is an adaption of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which is about revenge and identity. The Lion King retains many of these themes, but in a much less violent manner. In the movie/ story of Lion King, Simba struggles with the issue of who he should be, on one hand he was destined to take his father’s place at Pride Rock, but on the other hand Simba does not want to return to Pride Rock, because he feels like that he was responsible for his father’s death. This is not that different from how Hamlet plays out, except Hamlet learns that his Uncle did the deed by way of King Hamlet’s Ghost, whereas Simba learns from Nala, a lioness who fled Pride Rock when she learned the truth.

Both of these stories deal with the issue of who we should be, whether we live the life that we may be "destined" for or to live that the life that we want to.

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"It feels like you're waiting for me to remember something that is never going to come" -Blindspot

Blindspot is show about a girl the police found in a bag in New York covered in tattoos that help lead and solve criminal cases and corruption. The girl has drug induced amnesia but every so often begins to remember something. They call her Jane Doe.
When she starts to remember things Jane struggles with who she is now and glimpses of who she was as well as everyone's expectation of who she should be.
Just as Jane struggles with identity it shows that starting over is never easy or a clean road. While she remembers nothing she creats new friends and adapts a diffrent personality because she has now past to shape her decisions. This new life created expectations that Jane doesn't want to let down but cant help but to as her past starts to form.
Our identy is created by the pasts we have lived through and the experiences we have seen. with out them we are confused as well as allowing new experiences shape who we are.

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"It's like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story."
- Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

In Patrick Rothfuss' fantasy The Name of the Wind there are a lot of questions involving identity. The identity of many characters-most notably the chandrian- are called in to question. The hero in this book has started to lose the identity that he built for himself. To 'wake him up' his friend drew a man who records stories. This is one of the quotes that he uses to try describing the fading of his friend and mentors' identity. In this book Kvothe (the hero) is telling the story of who he used to be. When he started as a teenager the best rumors about him were the ones that he started himself. In this period of his life he was given great respect and became a legend. Once he went into hiding as a common inn keeper he lost the view he had of himself and instead became what he was pretending to be-a failed inn keeper. The way that Rothfuss approaches identity is this book is that you create yourself as an image for others to see. This ties into the idea of, "believing makes it so," from Hamlet. This view ties in to other themes in TNOTW such as the power of thought and the danger of belief. Belief is identity. That is this authors' perspective in a nutshell.

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Your problem is how you are going to spend this one and precious life you have been issued. Whether you're going to spend it trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over circumstances, or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it and find out the truth about who you are.
- Anne Lamott
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In this quote by Lamott she is stating that a problem in life is how will we show/identify ourselves. Will pretend to be who we aren't and act  like we have kind of control over our lives but in reality like everyone else there is no control. It is also stated that we cannot play pretend and explore ourselves and see who we truly are even if it reveals we lack control but with that life can truly be enjoyed. This author believes that when it comes to finding your true self you have to get rid of that illusion of having power and get a feel for your identity and who you truly are and not what others expect you to be. If you spend your life living in that illusion there's going to be no enjoyment out of it since you never found your true identity or chose to embrace it versus if you get rid of that illusion and take to being to yourself  there's more enjoyment in it. When it comes to identity pretending to have control and power isn't what is going to have you enjoy your one and only life but it's going on a journey to find your identity and accepting it is the enjoyment and you'll live a happier more at peace life.

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Paige: Thank you.
Leo: I didn't do anything.
Paige: You did everything. You accepted me for who I am, and not for what you wanted me to be.
~ The Vow
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The Vow is a book-turned-film in which a married couple get into a car accident, leaving the husband, Leo, shaken up but okay, while the wife, Paige, cannot remember the life she has with him. Leo tries everything to rejog her memory, but to no avail. In this dialogue, Paige thanks Leo for finally accepting the "new" her. This sparks an important argument in terms of identity because in society, people can tend to be disapproving of people if they do not resemble themselves. They say "birds of a feather flock together," which is what happens when we only associate with people like us and ignore or judge those who may stray from our norms. Because of this, people try to change themselves to fit what other people desire or expect, stifling their true being. In The Vow, Leo gets frustrated with Paige because she is not acting how he would expect his wife to act, but he has to come to terms with the fact that she cannot act as his wife anymore, she can only act how she really is inside. This aspect of identity can be found in RAGAD in the fact that Ros and Gil can be themselves "off-stage," but when called upon to play in Hamlet scenes they must take on entirely new character roles.

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“You are not your job, you're not how much money you have in the bank. You are not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You are not your khakis. You are all singing, all dancing crap of the world. This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time.”
― Chuck Palahniuk
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The book, Fight Club is a novel and film adaptation about anti-consumerism, but has high notes of self identity. Tyler Durden/Narrator explains that we are not the things we own, we are our shared experiences. Tyler explains that just because things own us, ex. technology, money, sex, etc, means that we have to be something more than that. We are the product of shared experiences and people we've met. We have to stop surrounding ourselves with materialistic items, so our real selves can shine. In parts of Ros and Guil are Dead, they have the same issue of identity problems. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?... Do you think it matters? Doesn't it matter to you? Why should it matter? What does it matter why? Doesn't it matters why it matters?" (Stoppard, 44). One of the bigger existential ideas in life is "When I die, will I be remembered?" Palahniuk and Stoppard have exactly the right ideals about this. We have to come to terms that in the grand scheme of things, we are small and worthless, unless we make ourselves worthwhile, and make our lives memorable.

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"In the gentle fall of rain from Heaven I hear my God, but in the thunder I still hear Thor. That is my agony." - Athelstan, The Vikings

"The world is changing and we must change with it." - Ragnar Lothbrok, The Vikings
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Athelstan, a Christian priest, and Ragnar Lothbrok, a curious Viking King are friends in the wrong era. While on a raid, Ragnar imprisons Athelstan who later becomes his beloved best friend as well as teacher. Ragnar struggles with his identity in that he wants more than to be King. He wants to be remembered as a God. However, when introduced into the world of Christianity, Ragnar sees the world, as well as himself, from a different perspective and understanding.

Like Ragnar, we are in many ways the same. At some pivital point in life we will have to make a decision on who we want to believe and who we want to be-- good or bad. Eventually we will have to question the only world we know and venture out into the unknown and undiscovered. In the end, Ragnar must take on a different persona as a means to experience life from an outsiders perspective. Likewise, as a human, we must make the decision to be open minded and to be willing to experience things that are different from our culture as a means to find ourselves. Otherwise, you will never give yourself the opportunity in truly deciding who it is you want to be, instead you will remain the person society told you you were all along.

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"I am a piece of all I have met" Tennyson, "Ulysses"

Tennyson, speaking through Ulysses from The Odyssey is an old man. He has come to the realization that he isn't really a person, but he's a little bit of every person he's ever come in contact with. His mind, soul, identity has been created by all the human contact he has had in his life- good or bad. We are all a piece of someone else -biologically through DNA, emotionally/mentally through culture and metaphorically through a shared human experience.

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"I am not the special... I'm just a regular ordinary guy."

Chris Pratt (Emmet), The Lego Movie

*NOTE* Major spoilers are in this.

For those of you who have seen the Lego movie you understand the quote and its meaning around the plot. Emmet is an ordinary guy living in an ordinary world with everyone else the same. With all of this it becomes difficult to understand what makes him different than they guy or gal next to him. Even after he is told he is something special he cant believe it because he has been living in an ordinary life for so long. It takes many events for Emmet to finally realize he is special.

In many ways Emmet is like a lot of us. He has ideas that he thinks are amazing to him but others think they are bland. He knows he can do better but doesn't want to leave the comfort of ordinary. He is acting like someone he is not because he is afraid of what life may be like when it is not ordinary.

The connection between this and identity is that humans will take the identity that society gives them before expressing the one they want to be seen as.