Middlesex+journal+entry+5

- I think an accumulation of all of the social identifiers, culture, etc make up one's identity (or my identity personally). I think I am a lot of what I have learned from those around me; relationships strongly affect my personality and kind of make her who I am. (Ironically this is also what my term paper is focusing on!). Even my passions began with a little influence from others; these passions have become a large part of who I am. I do also agree that your actions do define a lot about you. After certain experiences, I have tried to change aspects of my identity (usually things I can actually control) because I see them as flaws. These changes/transformations have been both trivial and strong. I think it would be easiest to "reinvent" yourself when you are moving somewhere else - for example, college would allow you to start with a new slate and be whoever you want to be because no one has to know your history. Personally, I think it would be hardest to convince myself that I am a different person because there is always that voice in the back of my head that reminds me of my true/original identity. I also think that my family would be very skeptical if I tried to reinvent myself because they have known me my entire life and have seen me grow and gradually mature - so coming back as a "different person" would be hard/interesting/weird for them to accept/grasp.

1. Fezze: I actually did not know what a "fezze" (on page 143) was. Although the book did briefly describe it, I wanted to make sure I was thinking of the right thing. It is felt hat either in the shape of a cone or a cylinder. And it usually has a tassel. It is of Greek decent (which is what I inferred from the text). Also, this is completely irrelevant but I thought it was interesting/weird that "urban dictionary" (the completely informal social colloquial dictionary) defines a "fezze" "A Person who is an undefined ethnic dissent, but claims he is black. Usally hangs out with a white kid commonly know as a wangster. they have a high voice and fail at most life skills." So offensive! And this is the first definition that popped up on google..Kids these days.. Yacub: He is the Arabic version of Jacob/Prophet of Islam. (Which makes sense as Fard refers to him in the text).

8. At first I thought that Desdemona was in a liminal state as she started to hear the voice of Fard from floors below (but then things started making sense and I realized that he was actually there). I think Desdemona is kind of in a liminal state because she uses this voice and this faith that she is still learning about to guide her through. Desdemona feels like she is getting a connection with something more abstract than the work she has in front of her. This chapter was interesting but I was a little offended by the religious beliefs and the principles (of the blue-eyed devils and everything) that Desdemona was listening to..Jimmy was not what I was expecting at all either!