I would have to say that Patrick is the character who I most identify with in this novel. Patrick is lost, insecure and often fights himself as his biggest and sometimes unbeatable enemy. Although most of the times he fights with people on his back.
I sometimes try to find my own identity also. As a person who was born in England, lived in Korea for few years, left Korea and settled in China for five years and came back to Korea in eight grade, it is quite confusing which group I belong. I am sometimes very proud of myself being a Korean but also I am proud to be born in England since I can speak their language. Also, China, who is growing into a developed nation and number one in world economy, bring me pride since I lived there for a quite a period and China feels almost like my home country. I am similar to Patrick in that we are confused of who we are. However, Patrick’s identity is hidden in the vagueness while mine is mixed all over but with definite shapes. Though there is slight difference, I feel strong pathos toward Patrick. Not knowing who I am, not able to find out a definite answer to the question must be driving me and Patrick also. Sometimes, I fall in a deep thinking of trying to figure out the way to unravel the mixture as Patrick falls off his track and puts himself into a chaotic situation. (82)
I also fight with myself to defeat the weaknesses that I possess like Patrick fights himself to find out his consciousness. My greatest weakness is laziness. I can never make myself to become diligent and hard working. However, people around me try to put me on track. Patrick who is defeated to himself can never stand up again with his own strength but always with help of others. However, when we do actually get back up, we try to fight ourselves back again and again and again.
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I like the way you connected your own life and experience to Patrick. I believe that your search and struggle for identity is a bit different from Patrick's search for identity because your search for identity seems more like "who am I" in terms of deciding where you belong. However, I can see your point and I must agree that I have struggled with my identity just like you did:)
Nice post, Heewon. You have used the reader response lens really well with this one! :)
I agree that Patrick evokes pathos because of the struggles caused by his search for identity. Even though I grew up in Canada, in one place, I have always struggled with these same questions. Who am I, really? How does my identity as a lover of Jesus affect my life and what I do? What are the facets of my experience that speak to truth and beauty? Do those experiences make me who I am? The character of Patrick opens up some profound questions, and you have touched on them well in this post.
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