Discussion

The last question in your exam assignment asks you to write a short essay in which you discuss the importance of your background in creating your own identity while relating your essay to the short story “With His Own Two Hands” by Albert Garcia.

As we cannot know your personal story, we will only give you some points for discussing the importance of background for creating an identity in the story. We will also make a few recommendations of other literary texts that might be useful in your discussion.

Background versus identity

Identity refers to the way people define themselves according to various criteria. People are not born with a certain identity but rather form a sense of themselves based on their personal experience and background. However, people often include their racial/ethnic/national background as a component of their identity.

The story “With His Own Two Hands” by Albert Garcia illustrates the way the Mexican background of the narrator influenced his early and adult life.

Because the narrator was of Mexican origins but grew up in the US, part of his identity was influenced by t...