Essay On Enviroment

Have you ever felt like you were a social outcast? Like you didn't fit in with your enviroment? Like you had to change your identity or adapt just to fit in? This is an example of how your enviroment shapes your identity. If your identity is not right for the enviroment you are forced to adapt, this is sometimes a consious effort, but sometimes not. Say for example you bullied over how you act. You would adapt, and try to consiously change your identity so you no longer got bullied over it. But to what extent does your enviroment shape your identity? Take for example Thandie Newton, a well known actress, even she had to adapt to her enviroment. Thandie admits that she was "the black aitheist girl in an all white Catholic school." She didn't fit in, and often felt left out because of her differences. She became depressed, stating that "My self was a car crash, and I wound up with Bulimia on a therapist's couch." However, if she was just placed in a different enviroment, with people that are more similar to her, then she wouldn't have felt left out. This proves that the people you are around (your enviroment) can have an effect on your
hapiness and well being.

Enviroment has a pretty big role on your identity in how you act.
For another example we'll take Jack, from The Lord Of The Flies by William Golding. Jack had been forced to maintain his composure constantly because of School rules, and Laws. But after he was taken out of that enviroment, and given the freedom to let his true identity show unfiltered, he became gruesome. He viciously slayed pigs just to prove that he should be leader, even though the survivors on the island hadn't even had a shelter yet. He wanted power, so he seperated from the main group, and started his own group where he disgustingly slaughtered a pig, decapitating it, and impailing the pig's head with a stake. Leaving it as a peace offering for the "beast." Because Jack was no longer goverend by moral impulses he could release his true colors, letting them
show.
But not all enviroments can create bad personalities, and identities. For this we will use Piggy, another charecter from Lord of The Flies by William Golding. Piggy was bullied, and physically abused by Jack. He was shoved to the ground, breaking one lense of his glasses. His emotions were completely disregarded by a hateful and un-caring Jack. However, as previously stated jack left the main group of surviors to start his own, and after this event piggy completely changed. He was more confident, and aquired more respect. He was able to start anew, becoming almost a co-cheif of the tribe. He enjoyed the freedom that came with jack being gone. And was finally happy. Well, as happy as you can be on an abandoned Island.
The extent of how your enviroment shapes your Identity is massive. It effects anywhere from your hapiness, to your self worth, to the way you act. So if you ever feel as if you dont like the way you feel, or act, don't be afraid to change enviroments. It might be for the better.