Whoooo....Are.......You?

      How many of us can be honest and admit that when we are around different people we ourselves change. I’m not saying Dr. Jackal and Mr. Hyde status but subtle things, such as the way you talk, the activities you do and even the way you dress. I myself am guilty of such things. However, I can honestly say that for each new set of people I still hold true to who and what I am. What’s scary is that there are those who conform completely and lose their true identity. The real question here is, "if you don’t know who you are then who does"?

            This frame of mind applies to Jasmine, the main character in Bharati Mukherjee’s novel Jasmine. Throughout her journeys Jasmine has many different names and identities in which she goes by. It seems as though with every stage of her life she is someone new and different. She has learned to create a new identity along with every new name she has. Jasmine was originally named Jyoti, but as she traveled from her home land of India to the United Stated she takes on various personas each perfected to fit her new name. One thing that I found interesting was Jasmines awareness of the changes she made, it was purposeful, yet in my case and maybe with others, I am relatively unaware of the changes that go on when I am around different people. I am not trying to be different it just happens. Jasmine says, “I have had a husband for each of the woman I have been. Prakash for Jasmine, Taylor for Jase, Bud for Jane. Half-Face for Kali” (197).  

     As a young girl living in India she was married to Prakash and at this stage she went my the name of Jasmine. Upon him untimely death Jasmine makes the decision to immigrate to the U.S. As Jasmine first arrives she sadly became the victim of a horrible rape. The man who raped her she called half-face. After her rape she murders him in a fit of rage and at this point she is calling herself Kali, the Hindu Goddess of death and destruction. A time later she ends up working as a nanny in New York City where she takes on the name Of Jase, which Taylor the father of the children calls her. Upon moving to Iowa she meets her husband Bud who calls her Jane. The thing about this name is that in makes Jasmine lose everything having to do with India she is conforming to an American lifestyle.

            At the end of the novel Jasmine returns back to Taylor whom she loved, and onced again became Jase. What I thought was interesting was that Jasmine  reflected back on all the names she had called herself during the years and realized that she can truly be herself around Taylor even with a different name. She is a strong woman who has been through a lot but is finally realizing that she can let go of her insecurities and fear and just be happy.

            With all the names Jasmine chooses she becomes the person suited to fit them. The funny thing about all the names is that they never controled her, they didn't define her but rather they are used as a guide. In the end she ultimately chose to keep the name Jase, but not to define her, it is the woman she is happy to be.

            The best advice I can give is be true to who you are never change unless the change is for you and it makes you happy. Life is filled with twists and turns and getting lost on the way is highly likely, just make sure at some point you stop and ask for directions.