While in Paris with my friend Jaclyn over break, we began talking about our names. Jaclyn is not a very common name and Alex is an extremely common name. This started to get me thinking about Jasmine and how she constantly associated herself with whatever names people called her. Jaclyn and I then came up with the question: does your name have anything to do with who you are? Shockingly, Jaclyn, which is the more unique name, is more shy than me and my common name. Maybe over my years I have become more outspoken and outgoing because I need to compensate with always being one of several Alex's.
Jasmine's name seems to drive her through most events in her life. Her name depends on whichever guy is most prominent in her life and that persona is who she tries to be in that moment. For example, when Bud refers to her as Jane, that is who she decides she wants to be: "Plain Jane is all I want to be. Plain Jane is a role, like any other" (26). Jasmine sees each of her names as a role to be played and that is how she defines herself.
To answer my question (does your name have anything to do who you are?): I feel that your name gives you identity but does not show who you actually are as a person. I feel that it was a weakness for Jasmine to view herself in the way that each of the men in her life viewed her rather than as an individual.
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