Identity Crisis: A Struggle in Second Person Singular

This is an analysis of the theme of identity represented in Second Person Singular. There is an internal and external struggle between tradition and urban living. Because of this conflict, we find characters who are stuck in the middle. At times they look at themselves and they are not sure who they are. We see some of this from the lawyer in the beginning: "I wonder what I look like, the lawyer thought to himself as he examined his skewed reflection on the polished chrome coffee machine" (Kashua, p. 19). When we reach the discussion between the Arab immigrants, we see some discourse between Tarik and Samir. Tarik offers the idea of a society which moves away from traditions and to find pride in oneself opposed to one's past. The lawyer seconds his opinion. Samir does bring a real life point to his argument and that is on the topic of education. He points to how the education system is less concerned with Arab history, and instead brushes over it. Samir find that Arab children in Jewish schools have nothing to be proud about. "Children have to understand and internalize these things, otherwise how will they plot their own futures?" Samir says, illustrating the importance of history and tradition (p. 41). This is not the only time we see this conflict. Shadi, a character who seems bored of social work, expresses how the psychometric exams were designed to "screw over" Arabs (p. 67). This supports the idea that there is some institutional action made against Arabs in order to weed them out. In part 2 the protagonist also seems to be at ends with their decisions. He wants to go back to the village to work, but knows that a financially steady and bright future would be best if they stayed in the city. They have this hard conversation with their mother, having to break the news that they will have to spend an additional year in the city opposed to being back at home (p. 72). This is where we see a distinction between urban and rural living. Already, the city is appealing as it lets individuals make a better live for themselves. Even in their family there exists conflict. The mother is shunned by her father and family for leaving the village to go to Jaljulia (p. 104). It seems that in their tradition family members stay geographically together without branching out. Here we see a hostile side to tradition and family, as those who branch out are cut off completely. Lastly, Um-Bassem tries to convince the protagonist to stay so that he may inherit land (p. 106). This is a positive aspect of heritage and tradition that would normally be missed with city living. Even here the protagonist must decide: do they base their identity on what is given to them, or by what they make of it.