Henry Shacklefields Concept of Self Identity in The Good Lord Bird by James McBride
From Boy to Man
Self-identity is the recognition of one's potential and qualities as an individual, especially in relation to social context. Being able to define with one's own self-identity is a big step towards maturing into a new person. Accepting who you are as an individual is important in being able to recognize who you truly are as a person. In The Good Lord Bird by James McBride a character is created named Henry Shacklefield. Throughout the novel, Henry's concept of self-identity changes for the better. Henry forms new identities multiple times in order to keep himself alive. Henry is faced with many obstacles that may put his identity at stake. He is on the run from slavery, ends up at a slave house, and then faces the consequences of almost being hung with the other Negroes around. As time goes on he starts to realize that he should not have to live his life like this. Henry also realizes that he should be able to live the life that he desires. This is when Henry's concept of self-identity has noticeably changed.
Order custom essay Henry Shacklefields Concept of Self Identity in The Good Lord Bird by James McBride with free plagiarism report
450+ experts on 30 subjects
Starting from 3 hours delivery
On the run from slavery, Henry begins his first charade. In the beginning of the novel, Henry is put in the middle of a scenario that ends up with him having to pretend to be a girl, cleverly named Henrietta. He meets John Brown and runs with him in order to escape from his previous life as a slave. Dressed as a girl, Henry has to act as one towards everyone they meet. Adjusting to his new character, Onion says, "I got to toilet, but a girl needs a bit of privacy." Onion felt uncomfortable talking like this. He described it by saying, "I near choked calling myself a member of the opposite nature, but lying come natural to me in them times" (28). Being such a young boy, times like this could be confusing for Onion. He clearly knows that he is a boy acting as a girl, but it could overall be confusing him. As time goes on he is less interested in playing the role as a girl and finds himself safe at Miss Abbey's house.
Being a teenager is the time in an adolescent's life when they start to develop who they truly are. Being a fourteen-year-old slave boy, Onion had it different than most teenagers. He was constantly facing problems that he should not have had to deal with. When he was sentenced to die with the rest of the men, Onion realizes that he has not yet lived his life how he would like to. Onion begins to realize that what he has been doing is not who he truly is. He compassionately goes on a rant saying, "I'm but fourteen. How can u die like a man if I ain't lived like one yet? I ain’t had nature's way with a girl once. I ain't kissed a girl. I think a feller ought to have the chance to be himself at least one time in this world, 'fore he moves on to the next. If not just to praise His name as his own self, rather than as somebody else. For I done found the lord" (403). Onion is saying that he can not die as just a young boy who still has bigger and better things to do with his life. He finds his self-identity and grasps the fact that he is not yet a man. He wants to continue with his life growing up like he should, not how he has been.
The final way that Onion shows that he has found his self-identity is when he went to visit the Old Man. Onion was able to understand the concept of closure. Having closure with someone before they die is something that is treasured by most people. Onion knew who he was as a person and he knew that he was mature enough to visit the Old Man. He went to visit, talked about the hanging, and then proceeded to leave without ever seeing him again. Afterwards, Onion was given his ticket to Philadelphia. Onion was excited to finally be on his own. In regards to finding who he truly is, Onions says, "I was a boy for the first time in years..." Realizing this,
Onion was off to accomplish things for himself. He now knows who he is as a man and is set off to fulfill his needs and happily live the rest of his life.
Throughout the novel there are numerous views as to how and when Onion comes to senses with his self-identity. He realizes that he does not need to live as a girl anymore, recognizes that he does not deserve to die without becoming a man, and apprehends that he can now do what he wants with his life. Onion has made a significant amount of progress throughout the novel with his development as an adolescent. Being fourteen years old could be a confusing time for a young boy, but Onion does a decent job with grasping the concepts of finding his true self-identity.
Henry Shacklefields Concept of Self Identity in The Good Lord Bird by James McBride. (2023, Mar 14). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/henry-shacklefields-concept-of-self-identity-in-the-good-lord-bird-by-james-mcbride/Cite this Page
Run a free check or have your essay done for you
