Thomas King Identity

Words: 1372
Pages: 6

Why is it so important to look at the bigger picture, and to not be ignorant towards anything? The authors explored this question in great detail. In “Borders”, by Thomas King and “Richard Cory”, by Edwin Arlington, Robinson demonstrates how others’ ignorance affects the protagonist's personal identity. Additionally, “The Dangers of a Single Story”, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and “Identities”, by W.D. Valgardson, both contribute an exquisite illustration that there is more to people's stories than what is clear to the human eye. In literature, authors explore the theme of personal identity by demonstrating how ignorance from other characters develops a protagonist's perception. In “Borders”, King starts by representing the mother as a strong …show more content…
The "Ma'am" - "Ma'am" Blackfoot," my mother repeated. The "Canadian" - "Is that a Canadian?" The "Blackfoot". It would have been easier if my mother had just said "Canadian" and been done with it, but I could see she wasn't going to do that (135). The judgment from the guards when the mother does not declare whether she is Canadian or American is shown very clearly. Throughout the story the mother is dealing with difficult encounters with the security guards, the concept that they do not take into full account is that the mother and her son are Blackfoot. The mother and son come from the land of Blackfoot and she feels as though that's all that should matter, the security guards chose to ignore the answers the mother was providing. Later in the story, it is mentioned that the boy had been talking to news reporters; “They mostly talked to my mother. Every so often one of the reporters would come over and ask me questions about how it felt to be an Indian without a country” (143-44). Most people may be offended by getting asked this question, but the boy did not see the