Will Grayson Identity

Discovery is to simply find a path and walk. As you walk, run, stumble, and fight you discover your strengths, and how to overcome your weaknesses, your likes and dislikes, and a way to find your inner peace and happiness doing what you love. “Will Grayson, Will Grayson” is an example of discovery with adolescents going through a meaningful self-discovery.
“Will Grayson, Will Grayson” is a novel, written by John Green and David Levithan. The story is about two boys with the same name but is completely different, from their personality to their way of life, well maybe not completely different. Both of these boys have to go on a journey of self-discovery to get where they are on the final page of the novel. The language form of the novel is
in first person and in alternating chapters. Green writes about the first Will and Levithan writes about the second Will. The two Will’s identities and lives intertwine and discover themselves and each other.
The themes in the novel are sexuality, identity and love. When both Wills first discover each other, they are shocked; the reader is able to experience the rush of shock and confusion that these two teenagers faced when they learned that they both shared the same name. One Will is homosexual and quiet, and is hesitant to respond to the straight Will. This scene can be analysed to understand the anxiety and fear that LGBT-identifying youth face in high school, on an almost-daily basis. This is experienced by Will having no one to talk to regarding his discovery of being gay, which people experience this in real life.
The first Will Grayson is written by Green, with proper grammar and capitalised ‘Will Grayson’.
He feels in the shadow of his best friend Tiny Cooper, "the world's largest person who is really, really gay". Tiny is stereotypical flamboyant as he is writing and starring in a musical about his life. “When I was little, my dad used to tell me, "Will, you can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose."… but it turns out to be incorrect on a few levels. To begin with, you cannot possibly pick your friends, or else I never would have ended up with Tiny Cooper.” Even though Will is scared of emotions and scarred by love, during his self-discovery, he realise he likes Jane Turner, who is a part of the gay-straight alliance. This is linked to discovery as Will has overcome his weakness of being afraid of emotions and dates
Jane.
The second Will Grayson is written by Levithan in even-numbered chapters and lower case ‘will grayson’. He is suffering from depression and constantly thinks about how the world would be a better place if he just died already. Depression is part of his character which allows readers to gain an understanding of and compassion for Will. He avoids talking to his mum even though she cares about him. He also has hardly any friends and doesn't seem to want any, besides Maura and an online friendship with Isaac. “If I had actual friends that I felt I could talk to, this might cause some conflict. But since right now there would only need to be one car to take people to my funeral, I think it's okay.” This links to discovery as Will has made his depression as part of his character and his strength.
Will 1 and Tiny uses a fake ID to a club that required one.
Will 2 was at the same place because he was supposed to meet up with Isaac. Little did they know they were about to meet. After the shock of this scene, this is where Will 1 discovers he likes Jane and Will 2 discovers Isaac is fake and his friend Maura was pretending to be him to discover if Will 2 was gay or not, since she has a crush on him. Tiny and Will 2 go on a date but broke up because Will claims he’s not good enough for Tiny. “You’re not in love with me. You’re in love with my need.” This is the technique cliché adage as readers are able to relate to Will saying he’s not good enough for someone.
The second Will has an air of self hate as he talks about himself, and he seems to have a difficult time in admitting that he is gay. “Facing reality can be hard.” This quote is emotive language as Will is having a hard time in his self-discovery and it stirs the readers’ emotions. He does at one point in the story ‘comes out’ to the reader, but he has a nearly impossible time talking to his mother or friends about it. However, he has the easiest time telling a perfect stranger, Isaac, across the
internet.
The technique simile in the novel is that the computer is like a mask for the second Will as he uses the computer to talk to Isaac, it was a security to him. He locked himself inside his own world and he discovered that he locked out his friends and family. People don’t usually say what they really want to say in the real world, but online, Will told Isaac most of his secrets and trusts him even though they never met, Will just want someone to talk to.
The technique metaphor is used in the novel with the reason why the second Will’s chapters are in lower case was because it symbolises his identity, he feels below everyone. Whereas the first Will’s chapters are in capital letters, because he feels above everyone else, even though he is, “Not that smart. Not that hot. Not that nice. Not that funny.” Since they are 17 year old boys, they talk like 17 year olds, complete with swearing and pop cultural references. Their tones in the novel varies such as Will 1 has a cynical tone but he’s also hopeful and Will 2 has a abrasive tone but also a depressed tone.
The theme of identity illustrates the process by which a teenager comes into their own in growing up by making difficult decisions, developing different opinions from their peers, and conforming of separating from a group. This LGBT novel is a great resource for the technique allusion to this theme, as this features characters who are struggling not only with the discovery for their identity, but of their sexual identity. “Maybe there’s something you’re afraid to say, or something you’re afraid to love. It’s gonna hurt because it matters.” Both Wills discovers they are not afraid of emotions and allows themselves to fall in love.
Towards the end of the novel, Tiny’s musical begins and Will 1 and 2 meets up to surprise Tiny right before the end of the musical, both the Wills shouts from the audience that they appreciate him. Tiny was the main reason behind the discovery in the perspective of the two Will Graysons. Both the Wills discovers the true value of friendship and their individual identity.