As far as I am concerned, the chapter that caught my attention the most in this book is chapter 18 entitled “Barroom Sociology”. This chapter depicts a rhetorical confrontation between a bartender named Gerard Andrew West and Brew. This passage in the book is crucial because it formulates the difficult question of whether individual identity is something that can be chosen and defined by people themselves or is ultimately something that depends on external elements (skin color, nationality, spoken language, physical features, etc.) that are outside the will of individuals.
The character of Gerard is interesting because he embodies the ambiguity of identity, being a characteristic that should be defined by the individuals themselves, but which ultimately cannot be controlled by them. In the first part of the chapter, he defends the human right to choose one’s own identity according to his or her instincts. He states that : “I feel that the racial Instincts hat are the strongest in a person enjoying this rich mixture are the ones that -uh- should be followed”. Even more interestingly, in defining his own identity, Gerard emphasizes cultural affinity rather than nationality or ethnic or racial elements. For example, he says: “I feel sort of spanish-ish. I have always had a great admiration for Spanish culture and traditions -er- yes – I feel rather impulse toward things Spanish”. Gerard therefore presents his identity in such a way as to show that for him it is a choice that depends on his own will and that is disconnected from imposed external features. However, in the face of the Brew’s hostility, Gerard ends the conversation by saying “I look white, I think white, therefore I am white”. This is a radical change of perspective. Now Gerard defines his identity according to the colour of his skin, which is an uncontrollable characteristic related to birth and parents. So, we see a surprising shift in Gerard’s assertions from defining identity as a choice totally dependent on individual agency (a cultural affinity rather than a “blood” tie), to a given characteristic that determines his culture, his ideas, his way of acting in society, etc. This is why this and the following chapters underline the ambiguity of identity. On the one hand, since identity belongs to the individual, it should be defined by the individuals themselves. However, in the end, this identity depends mainly on uncontrollable external elements that are attributed to the individual.
Throughout the book, Piri is faced with this dilemma of whether this identity can be a choice or is imposed. He would like to be able to choose his own identity, since in the first part of the book he rejects his black identity by defining himself as a Puerto Rican. However, as the book progresses, he realizes that external elements are also components of his identity and that he cannot ignore them. Piri, through his autobiography, shows us the need to accept these elements of birth “imposed” on the individual. He ends up, after a long process of hatred and rage, by accepting his black identity. This is clearly demonstrated by the confrontation with his father, whom Piri accused of living in a fantasy world because he acts “like a white man” when he is a black man (Chapter 16). Even more interesting, Piri reinvests and affirms this identity in the episode of the “cathouse” (Chapter 19). He first presents himself as a Puerto Rican before confirming his black identity. Therefore, he shows that identity should not only be imposed but also appropriated by the person herself. In this way, by accepting his identity, the individual reaffirms his agency over identity.
Aurélien
Yes, this is a thoughtful set of observations on the issue of identity as Piri explores it in the book. And I agree that Gerald is an interesting and perhaps key figure in the narrative–not least because he is a writer, or is writing a book, as Thomas ends up being.
The episode in the brothel is also interesting, not least because here Piri seems to see the advantages of his uncertain classification. Before, that uncertainty was the cause mostly of confusion and even despair. Here, he sees that he can put it to use, to enact a kind of vengeance. Yet we might argue that he hasn’t necessarily chosen his target well; there is also something machista, perhaps also implicitly racist, about this fantasy of revealing himself to be the black sexual threat of some kind.
Salut!
This line that you wrote stood out to me:
“This passage in the book is crucial because it formulates the difficult question of whether individual identity is something that can be chosen and defined by people themselves or is ultimately something that depends on external elements.”
I think that that’s what’s happening in our world nowadays, specifically regarding gender orientation. People are fighting for their right to claim who and what they are and if you say something against it then you are pretty much committing a hate crime. It’s interesting where the line gets drawn. Maybe one day we will hear of people claiming that they are not the age they are biologically, to be able to do things illegal or beyond their age limit :/
Yes, this is very interesting. On one hand, identity can be shaped in our development as children and then, when in adolescence and the young adult years, we take our own paths. This is the fundamentalist stream we were talking about in class. I would like to add to your comment the aspect of religion. That it is also a source of identity for many people. Not only that, that it can surpass the boundaries of race, ethnicity and nationality. Under Islam or Christianity (both mentioned in the book), each body of believers consists of a family, they are all “brothers in Faith”. I believe that it really impacted Piri in this way. There is an acceptance there, a recognition, that went beyond skin colour or accent. I think this is an interesting aspect to add to the discussion.
– Maria
Your post really relates to what we were talking about in class on Tuesday. I agree that this episode in the bar between Brew, Piri and Gerard is quite interesting to read and analyze. In this scene Piri encounters two distinct ways of facing his issue with his self identity. Before meeting Gerard, Piri was only familiar with one way of facing his issue of identity which was accepting and living with society’s view of one’s racial background. He is a witness of this perspective through his relationship with Brew. What he later encounters is that not everyones has to follow this perspective. He learns that Gerard faces the same kind of issue as him but Gerard has decided to face his identity confusion in a different manner. Gerard made his own decision and chose his true identity. This opens up a new world to Piri, ultimately one’s identity is not based on what other people think but instead on what one chooses to be.