Identities

English essay-Identities

  Have you ever been stereotyped before? A man driving a Mercedes Benz through a rough neighborhood sets the back drop of this short story Identities by W.D Valgardson illustrates 3 main elements, stereotype, symbolism and juxtaposition. This story is about the discrimination and stereotypes that “good” people make all the time.

He illustrates stereotypes when the man “is driving in his grey Mercedes Benz” that he is quite wealthy. Another way the other shows stereotyping is when he describes this group of people standing by the corner store in the darkness; the leader having a “beard” and wearing “sunglasses” and having “a fringed leather vest” on shows the stereotype of them being a tough gang. One more way he describes stereotypes is when the author points out that the “girl is [way] better looking then she should be for such companions”. This shows a stereotype where the author believes the girl is better than the other members of the group.

There are many ways the author illustrates symbolism. Especially when the man is reaching for his wallet to show the officer his “identity”; his “identity” is both his identification to the police as well as whom he is as a person: an affluent, middle class, responsible family man. Another way he shows symbolism is when “he is driving a grey Mercedes Benz”; this symbolizes status, that he is a very wealthy man. The author shows juxtaposition when the man is driving through the neighborhood and notices the contrast that the houses have no “artificial divisions”, “there is room enough for everyone. [But] now as he passes grey stone gates, the yards are all proscribed by stiff picket fences and quickly certain untidiness creeps in.” This is showing the contrast from him driving past the ghetto and then through the suburbs.

The author, W.D Valgardson uses the element stereotype in his theme; the “good” side and the “bad” side. The officer is a good example of how stereotypes are formed by fear and discrimination.