The "name"

Colin G. Wilson. That name was given to me by my parents before I was born. I did not choose it but have grown up with it. Now many people know me as Colin but that is because they have met me and know me for who I am. I created the person behind the name, my name did not create me. When I was given my name there were not characteristics or traits that I must follow because of my specific name. Throughout life I have earned and shaped my own identity, the one that people associate with Colin.

Although, I do have other names, those which are also given to me by people and their image of me. For example, son, colly, Wilson, cdub, bro, or grandson. Certain people use a different name when they are describing me. Each name is different but the person being described is all the same. I do tend to shape or go about myself differently when I’m in the company of friends or parents. I try to act and be what they want, funny, loyal, kind or honest. The main point is that no matter the name its still the same person deep down. Your name is how your identity is defined. Walking into a room of friends or adults, when your name is called every individual forms a perception of you. Based solely on your name. Thus, making sure your name is one that forms perceptions that are good is extremely important.

Jasmine faces a similar choice about how she will from herself and will she let other create her identity or will she create her own. She gets her fortune told to her and is told that she would be in exile and a widow. obviously this is not the identity Jasmine wants to create.  She tends to alter or change herself to become the name she is given. Whether its Jasmine, Jyoti, Wife, Jane, Kali, Jase, Jazzy. In each case someone viewed here a certain way and gave her a name to back it. Throughout the book she tries to become that name and act in a way that reflects who she its. She doesn’t really know who she its yet, each name is a stage In her journey to find herself.

 "The lord gives us a body, an assignment, and sends us down, once it's done he calls us home for the next assignment " This was said by a friend of Jasmine's father. It is obvious that Jasmine agrees with his thinking and motto of sort. A perfect example is when her boyfriend does not die from the bullet wound, if they had marred the fortune teller would have been correct and her identity would then be predetermined as the fortune teller told her.  

In the end Jasmine finally chooses her path and heads out west. I feel at this point she has found who she is and settled with her identity. The whole book she is searching and acting a part. Now she can go and finally be who she is and always has been.