Gender and Identity
The story of Lynara, a teenage black female.
Identity
I believe I am very "street smart" for me being as young as I am. I say that because I make smart decisions and choose who I become friends with very wisely. I am a sister and aunt to 3 different individuals. I live with both of my parents which to me is very rare for my race. I enjoy being with my friends and taking vacations. I don't really like making new friends because i don't exactly like talking to people i don't know. My favorite subject in school is math. I want to have a profession in business or mathmatics. I like sports but I dont really enjoy playing them. When it comes to that I'm more of a spectator than an actual player. I attended Eisenhower Academy which wasn't exactly the most diverse school but I liked it there. I enjoy helping my mom cook but i don't exactly enjoy helping clean but, i do it anyway. So that's a little about me as a person.
Cesario/Viola is a very independent person since as far as he knows his twin brother Sebastian is dead. After the shipwreck Cesario/Viola had to pretty much take matters into his own hands and do whatever it took to survive. He is very sensitive to the feelings of those who he care about and is very nonchalant to others. He is also very smart and good with his words. Cesario is a boy who is basically alone in the world trying to find his way to love to end his lonliness.
"I am the man. If it be so, as ’tis,
Poor lady, she were better love a dream.
Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness,
Wherein the pregnant enemy does much"(II.ii.23-25).pg2
This quote shows Cesario feeling bad for Viola because she fell in love with his disguise.
Gender
I live in a house with 6 other females and two males. Gender plays a huge role there. Usually the females do all the house work from the cooking to the cleaning. To me this is a little unfair because I believe that everyone should have input on cleaning the house. Although there arre a few negatives about being a female in my house the positives definitly out weighs the negative. Because there are more females in the house than males, we are never out voted. This comes to the rescue when it is time to pick whats for dinner.
Gender definitly plays a role with Cesario because Cesario is really Viola in a disguise. She started off wanting to get a job with Lady Olivia as her servant. But lady Olivia is not willing to see anyone because she is mourning her brothers death. So this is where Cesario had to put on a male disguise. Duke Orsino came to Cesario's rescue and hired him. This shows how gender play a role because if viola never went into disguise she wouldnt have gotten a job.
"I prithee—and I’ll pay thee bounteously—
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I’ll serve this duke"(I.II.49-53).pg2
This quote is illustrating how Viola wanted to go under disguise to work for Duke Orsino.
Perception
Generally peoples perception of me is pretty negative. Most people think that I am a stuck up, ghetto, black girl when in reality i'm not. I think people are very stereotypical and judge me and catergorize me before they even meet me. Not only do I think my peers does that but also adults. I live on the Eastside of Joliet. Alot of my friends are surprised when they see where I live. Yes it is a lot of violence on my side of town at times but i don't believe that where you live makes who you are. It's a choice to get tied up into the wrong things and I feel that you can do that anywhere. A lot of my white friends say that I act "white". This really offends me because I don't think being civilized should be referred to acting "white" I think it should be called what it is and that is acting civilized.
When people look at Cesario they think of a poor man that looks very femenine. In reality Cesario is a woman and he is not that bad off financially. People like Olivia think that his femenine features are attractive. Then there are people like Sir Toby and Sir Andrew who thinks that the femenine features are something they can use against him. The fool In fact insults him because he does not have facial hair. People are viewing him like that because they arent aware that he is a female.
"Now Jove, in his next commodity of hair, send thee a beard!"(III.i.39).pg3
In this quote the fool is saying that he hopes god sends Cesario hair for a beard. He is basically trying to insult him because he doesn't have facial hair.
Similarities and differences
Cesario and I are similar because we are both independent. I do not like others doing things for me I'd rather take care of it myself. I am also considerate of my friends feelings even though I know they're wrong just like Cesario is with Orsino.
On the other hand Cesario and I are different because I dont disguise who I am for no one or nothing. Another way we are different is he keeps secrets from people that trust him such as Orsino. He still has not told him that Olivia is in love with him.