Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Narrator.

The Narrator is on a quest to find his/her place in America. S/he has a hard time articulating to others exactly what s/he is looking for or even describing the inborn traits in anything but generalizations. But the Narrator knows these definitions can't begin to describe the meaning. S/he is exploring his/her culture, but it is a secret history. It is not one that can be isolated and examined in a petri dish because it spirals and intertwines with other cultures; those of pilgrims and invaders; travelers, tribes, explorers and conquistadors. History is a mutating virus which alters in order to fit each story.

S/he is looking for truth in interpersonal interactions. As s/he drifts to far to one truth, the universe conspires to pull him/her center with conflicting stories. S/he accepts that everyone has a right to their own story. S/he accepts validity of of the experiences of people on the outside of his/her culture dealing with the people within it. S/he thinks it is beneficial (albeit slightly dangerous) to form relationships with people who may not always like his/her kind on a whole. The Narrator also has difficulty understanding if s/he has "a kind." If not, then why doesn't s/he feel like s/he has a place in American culture?

The Narrator wants to do what is right for everyone. The problem is The Narrator can be an extremist. Sometimes The Narrator is so completely convinced of something that s/he cannot be moved. More so if The Narrator feels it is what is right for everyone. (s/he thinks this may be another inherited trait of his/her culture passed down without explanation, but does not know.)

It is a popular assumption that The Narrator has no feelings and is an insensitive stoic. This is incorrect: s/he just shows no outward reaction. Unless it goes against one of The Narrator's unmovable convictions, s/he needs time to discern what the proper response should be. When The Narrator tries to tie up loose ends in a hurry, s/he can often become impulsive (often at the expense of his/her desire to do what is right for everyone.)

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