Critical Questions

Thomas

I think that Thomas would say that physical appearance is important to influencing identity because the princess thinks the zucchini looks weird even though it claims to be a "handsome prince". In Thomas' essay, the princess says, "How can I be nice to you when 'you' is only a voice" (p. 165). The princess doesn't see the prince's real physical appearance and finds it hard to respect a zucchini in the same way you would to a human.

I think Thomas would say family history is not important for shaping identity because Princess Zona doesn't do what other people in the history of her family would have done and doesn't choose to marry the handsome prince, but instead cooks and eats him. Thomas says, "Zona had begged her mother to let her prepare the evening meal"(Thomas 166). Normally a princess like her would not cook, but Thomas shows that things can change, and you don't need to always do what your family would have done in previous generations.

I think Thomas would say that ancestry is not important for shaping identity because Princess Zona goes against her ancestor's actions - she does not choose to live with the prince and instead says, "tell me again about the happily ever after"(Thomas 165) to the cucumber and then cooks it and eats it.

Chee

I think Chee would say physical appearance is important for shaping identity because people will judge you based on your appearance and you start considering things they say. Chee says "When people use the word “passing” in talking about race, they only ever mean one thing, but I still make them say it. He told me he was Filipino. “You could be one of us,” he said. “But you’re not.” Yes. I could be, but I am not."(Chee 2). What those people said to him got in his head and made him insecure about who he is causing him to be uncertain about his identity.

I think Chee would say that family history is important for shaping identity because at a young age growing up, he was always told he could pass as a certain race. Chee says, "When people use the word “passing” in talking about race, they only ever mean one thing, but I still make them say it. He told me he was Filipino. “You could be one of us,” he said. “But you’re not.” Yes. I could be, but I am not. I am used to this feeling." In other words, his family history is so diverse that he doesn't feel like he fits in with any one group and has grown in a way that made him feel not worth it, which shaped his identity today.

I think Chee would say that culture has some influences in shaping identity. Chee is "half white, half Korean, or, to be more specific, Scotch-Irish, Irish, Welsh, Korean, Chinese, Mongolian", as a mixed race individual it was hard for him to be in one group, so he had to deal with terrible things said to him as he grew up in Korea because people did not like mixed race people there. This definitely shaped the way he turned out.

Berg

I think Berg would say that physical appearance is important because Berg (2009) visits a park and describes joggers as having "miserable faces" as well as the owner of a dog as a "very thin woman who looked sort of bitchy".

I think Berg would say that family history is important for shaping identity because her father feels similar to her. Berg states, "He would laugh. . . but their remarks hurt him"(Berg last page). In other words, at a young age Berg learned from her to laugh through the fat jokes even though they hurt her a lot just like her father.

I think Berg would say that culture has a large influence in shaping identity because Berg (2009) visits a bookstore and find "some Mediterranean and Indian" cookbooks showing she acknowledges other cultures having different foods which those cultures use to show their cultural identity.

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