Premium Essay

Dreams from My Father Analysis

In:

Submitted By chilldude22
Words 784
Pages 4
In the first ten chapters of the book Dreams from my Father, Barack Obama has had a tug of war with his racial identity. He has always been conflicted on the person that he is and is aware that he doesn’t fit in any kind of neat box. During his formative years, he was exposed to a variety of cultures, ranging from his grandparents and mother living in Hawaii, his father from Kenya, and his stepfather from Indonesia. By experiencing these other cultures and ways of thinking, his own set of ideologies wasn’t exactly the same as other people he has met on his life’s journey. This causes discourse in his self-confidence. He doesn’t feel authentic enough in either his father’s or his mother’s ethnicity and he constantly has a struggle with other people’s view of him. As the story progresses, he starts to realize the influence that hegemony has within groups of people and that it is not just a simple black and white world. The passage I chose to close read was when Obama introduces Joyce in chapter five. It is because of Joyce, Obama starts to realize the divide in his identity as a mixed race person is even bigger than he imagined. He meets her freshman year at Occidental College in the dorms that they lived in. He asks her if she was going to the Black Students’ Association meeting and she is offended by his question. She states that she is not black, but multiracial and goes to explain, “It’s not white people who are making me choose… It’s black people who always have to make things racial... They’re the ones who are telling me that I can’t be who I am.” At this point in the novel, Obama doesn’t truly understand what it means to be like many other black males living in America and I don’t think he will grasp it by the end of the novel. He hasn’t lived a life similar to what some students at Occidental have lived. He didn’t see college as some kind of revolutionary

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Back to School Essay

...the most of what they are offered in life. President Barack Obama is very aware of this and has made it an important subject and goal in his presidential career to inspire youngsters in the right direction, both for their own sake and their country’s. Barack Obamas’ speech “Back to School” at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia was held in September 8, 2009. The age of the present audience varied to children from kindergarten and all the way up to twelfth grade. In addition to that, the speech was also broadcasted to students all over the country. The audience is obviously extremely great, and the speech will therefore have a tremendous impact on several individuals. The first thing Obama seems to focus on in his speech on the first day of the children’s school day are in fact the children themselves. He speaks directly to them, and initiates the whole thing by telling everyone that being nervous is perfectly normal. He has obviously tried it himself when he was their age. Very easily he finds a way to make everyone relate to him by telling stories from his own life. Barack Obama did not grow up under the best circumstances. He was raised by a single mother whom was very passionate about doing what was best for her son. She even sought to homeschool Obama, when he wasn’t at school. She wanted to make sure he would have the best possible future. This particular section of the speech did quite possibly have a good impact on certain students who probably see big politicians...

Words: 881 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Ypennant Week 7 Social & Civil Breadth

...in place just for people of color or minority and some that are set in place for all if the all fit in the category set forth in that particular law. To this day the law is not equal. Crucial Social and Political incidents When my parents moved our family from Newark, NJ to Piscataway, NJ in the early 70’s, my father wanted to find a place better than where we were coming from. He found a home in an area that the builder was told not to sell to blacks. The builder did not care, he cared that my father had the down payment and he was approved, so the builder let my father buy the home. There was a reason why blacks were not allowed in that area. It all started with the bomb threats, sugar in our car gas tank, screen door torn from off the front door and racial slurs written on the garage doors. That is just the tip of the iceberg. My father told us never to cross to the other side of the road. We could never figure out why, until one day we decided to ride our bikes to the school on the other side of the road. We were at the school no more than five minutes before three police cars pulled and with sirens hailing. They told us to drop the bikes and lay on the ground. He asked us where we stole the bikes from. We told them our father bought them for us. One of the officers then asked us, “Where are the receipts”. (Mind you we were 13, 9, and 8) We told them we did not buy them so we don’t have receipts. The officer said that he was going to arrest for stealing...

Words: 937 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Creating an Identity

...Crane QU101 9/13/10 Creating An Identity In Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama he talks about his life experiences and how it formed him as a human being. The story also shows his interpretation of what a solid community should consist of, as well as how individuals should interact with each other within the community. Through out his life he was discovering who he was by new meeting people and trying new things. An individual’s identity is formed through life experiences and cannot be sustained because it is ever changing. A community is a group of people that are brought together by friends, family, neighbors, and people with common interests. Communities are important because it gives people a sense of belonging and being wanted. And in Dreams From My Father, those were the needs and values that Barack was searching for. Communities are sustained through shared values, trust, loyalty, and a sense of safety. In a community people have moral responsibilities to other people and the community as a whole. Communities have moral responsibilities to their individual members because they need to keep their community together. Sometimes you get put into situations where you want to look out for yourself rather than the big picture with the community. You have to be able to put others in front of you sometimes so that you can avoid these types of conflicts. My favorite excerpt from the text came when his father was insulted by a man who said that he would not...

Words: 1304 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Individuality

...In the Name of Identity: Who are you? What makes you, you? How are you recognized as a human being? What makes you different than every other person in the world? These questions contribute to your identity regardless of what you look like or where you come from. Every single person in the world is different whether it is visible to others or not. Although we are all different, we connect and form relationships through common ideas, values, and goals. In the novel Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, by Barack Obama, he recalls many different issues involving his identity as a whole in addition to the communities he lived in and principle values he was raised to believe. Throughout the story Obama creates a theme of struggle involving his own identity. He relates these issues towards his own community and explains how certain occurrences shaped his character values and personality. The word individual can be defined in various ways. It is a word that can apply to many different aspects of life as well as raising questions about who exactly we are as individuals and how we became the who we are today. Some factors that contribute to shaping our identities are social, educational, economic and historical. While Obama was growing up, identity was something he struggled with deeply. He was constantly moving, which forced him to experience different communities and ultimately aided in forming his identity. Looking back on it now, it seems beneficial, but at...

Words: 2294 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Dream Perspectives

...Dream Perspectives Scott M. Standen Helga Parker November 28, 2011 Abstract This paper will explore the three perspectives of dreaming. The psychoanalytic perspective, the cognitive perspective and the biological perspective. The psychoanalytic perspective, as conveyed by celebrated neurologist and founding psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, is examined through his literary work The Interpretation of Dreams. This book serves as the basis of the psychoanalytic perspective which the other perspectives will be set against. The cognitive perspective will be viewed through the writing of David Foulkes in his book Dreaming: A Cognitive Psychoanalytic Analysis and the biological perspective will be discussed through the writings of Drs. Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley of Harvard University. Through these sources it will be shown how the perspectives relate to one another so that a basic understanding of them can exist in the scientific community. The recorded history of dreams dates back to 3100 B.C. through clay tablets describing the story of king Gilgamesh who reported his recurring dreams to his goddess-mother Ninsun, who made the first known dream interpretation (Seligman, 1948). Babylonians and other ancient cultures divided dreams into good ones that came from the gods and bad ones that came from demons (Oppenheim, 1966). Various other ancient cultures believed dreams to...

Words: 2182 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Interpretation of Dreams

...The Interpretation of Dreams Sigmund Freud (1900) PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION Wheras there was a space of nine years between the first and second editions of this book, the need of a third edition was apparent when little more than a year had elapsed. I ought to be gratified by this change; but if I was unwilling previously to attribute the neglect of my work to its small value, I cannot take the interest which is now making its appearance as proof of its quality. The advance of scientific knowledge has not left The Interpretation of Dreams untouched. When I wrote this book in 1899 there was as yet no "sexual theory," and the analysis of the more complicated forms of the psychoneuroses was still in its infancy. The interpretation of dreams was intended as an expedient to facilitate the psychological analysis of the neuroses; but since then a profounder understanding of the neuroses has contributed towards the comprehension of the dream. The doctrine of dream-interpretation itself has evolved in a direction which was insufficiently emphasized in the first edition of this book. From my own experience, and the works of Stekel and other writers, [1] I have since learned to appreciate more accurately the significance of symbolism in dreams (or rather, in unconscious thought). In the course of years, a mass of data has accumulated which demands consideration. I have endeavored to deal with these innovations by interpolations in the text and footnotes. If these additions do...

Words: 226702 - Pages: 907

Premium Essay

Dream Psychology

...The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dream Psychology, by Sigmund Freud This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: Dream Psychology EBOOK DREAM PSYCHOLOGY *** Produced by David Newman, Joel Schlosberg and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. DREAM PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOANALYSIS FOR BEGINNERS BY PROF. DR. SIGMUND FREUD AUTHORIZED ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY M. D. EDER WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ANDRÉ TRIDON Author of "Psychoanalysis, its History, Theory and Practice." "Psychoanalysis and Behavior" and "Psychoanalysis, Sleep and Dreams" NEW YORK THE JAMES A. McCANN COMPANY 1920 THE JAMES A. McCANN COMPANY PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. INTRODUCTION The medical profession is justly conservative. Human life should not be considered as the proper material for wild experiments. Conservatism, however, is too often a welcome excuse for lazy minds, loath to adapt themselves to fast changing conditions. Remember the scornful reception...

Words: 54257 - Pages: 218

Premium Essay

Research Methods

...Project Gutenberg EBook of Dream Psychology, by Sigmund Freud This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: Dream Psychology Psychoanalysis for Beginners Author: Sigmund Freud Release Date: March 28, 2005 [EBook #15489] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DREAM PSYCHOLOGY *** Produced by David Newman, Joel Schlosberg and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. DREAM PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOANALYSIS FOR BEGINNERS BY PROF. DR. SIGMUND FREUD AUTHORIZED ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY M. D. EDER WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ANDRÉ TRIDON Author of "Psychoanalysis, its History, Theory and Practice." "Psychoanalysis and Behavior" and "Psychoanalysis, Sleep and Dreams" NEW YORK THE JAMES A...

Words: 57348 - Pages: 230

Premium Essay

New York Day Women Summary

...Immigrants face many hardships when they first arrive in America to seek out the American Dream. They have to become accustomed to a different lifestyle and culture. For most immigrants assimilation is very difficult, however, the transition is significantly easier for their children when they grow up in America. For the children, the American culture may be the only thing they are familiar with, whereas the parents try to keep their native culture and find that assimilating into and adapting the American culture to be very difficult. Gish Jen’s work, “In The American Society,” discusses a Chinese-American family and how they try to adapt to the American culture. Edwidge Danticat’s short story, “New York Day Women,” discusses the story of...

Words: 1269 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Professional Objective

...After my high school, I decided to go to University of Computer Studies. When I was a high school student, one day I received an unexpected gift from my father. From this moment, I had been familiar with this tool and as a result, after a couple of years I got a Degree of Computer Science. May be I do not need to mention what my daddy’s present was and I am so sure what you guess is absolutely right. After my graduation, I began to think to expand my knowledge and experience. Since my childhood, I had been dreaming to get a high education and that is the reason why I am trying to get the admission of your institute, particularly for the course Graduate Diploma in System Analysis. It is generally said that working is quite different from learning. That means what you would experience in your real working life may be a lot different from what you have learnt. However, in my opinion, the courses offered by ISS are not so. This course, Graduate Diploma in System Analysis, mean to help those from software industries to improve their knowledge and efficiency. The objective is successful and there are a lot of persons graduated from ISS running in software industries around the regional countries especially in Singapore. ISS created the background where learning and working are in a good balance and that is the main idea I love most about your course. Everybody has a dream; there is no doubt about that. Here a dream is just a dream and this word is very soft. You do not need to take...

Words: 636 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Life of Pi

...The Kite Runner Psychoanalytic criticism was first founded and developed by Sigmund Freud. Freud’s theories were mainly sexual deriving from the libido which is a colloquial term for the sex drive. Freud has many theories which are based on sexuality. One of his many theories includes the theory subconscious mind. This theory states that the ego is divided into three sections, the id, the ego and the superego. The id is the mind’s more primitive and impulsive part of the ego, where are the super ego is where all of our morals and values are placed. The ego is the part of the subconscious mind which mediates between the two. When making decisions we make them based on these two parts of our subconscious mind. Freud believed that the subconscious sexual drives were the bases for all human behavior, and that dreams were an important indicator for understanding human behavior. The kite runner is a novel written by Khaled Hosseini, which first takes place in the city of Kabul located in Afghanistan. It’s a story about a man who is named Amir who reflects on his past as a child in Afghanistan. Amir lived with his father, and his servants, ali and Hassan During that time period was a caste system in Afghanistan which was in place. Amir and his father were Pashtu, which is considered “pure” afghan. They were placed much higher than their servants Ali and Hassan who were Hazara.  After a kite flying competition that Amir and Hassan attended together, Amir saw Hassan getting...

Words: 1145 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Analysis of Cultural Denotation and Humanity in Ang Lee’s Films

...FILM 3759G Dr. Christopher J Mitchell Chengdong Hu Analysis of Cultural Denotation and Humanity in Ang Lee’s Films Ang Lee’s film works, not only in the business, but in artistic level won the world audience recognition. He grew up in a traditional Chinese family and study in the United States. The differences between eastern and western culture took a sharp collision in his heart, and it revealed without hiding in his movie and finally become his own unique aesthetic features. This article try to read Lee’s creative thought and artistic style through analysis and research of Lee’s special culture background master’s creative ideas, and learn more about the human temperament of the director which is full glory of human nature. First, this article will introduce about Ang Lee’s growing environment and studying experiences, in order to analysis the formation of his Chinese and Western characteristics. Secondly, through multiple films, the article would analysis of the impact of the East-West cultural collision and merger. Furthermore, a comprehensive interpretation of Ang’s unique film elements and the traits would be expounded. Abstract Ang Lee, Taiwan filmmaker, however, doesn’t have the same characteristics with other Taiwan film makers. He is like a movie ranger, with no specific cultural identity, however, simultaneously, it could be find a certain kind of familiar cultural identity on him, especially in his...

Words: 2708 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Imagery in Hamlet

...confusion, thoughtfulness, intimacy, and action. It's a study in how a young person emerging into adulthood attempts to cope. In Hamlet, Shakespeare allows his hero to dream and to think through his dreams (Williams). Hamlet is a revenge tragedy and by the end, almost every character has died in some tragic or gruesome way. In this play, Shakespeare makes use of imagery, allegory, metaphor, and symbolism. In particular, the symbols of the ghost, the garden, and flowers, along with imagery and metaphors for madness are used to convey specific ideas which provide depth and complexity to this story. The ghost is a pivotal symbol and appears throughout Hamlet. Is the ghost Hamlet's father or is it Hamlet himself? Is the ghost real or is it part of Hamlet's imagination? The ghost claims he is Hamlet's father. He says he was murdered by Claudius, Hamlet's Uncle who is now wed to Hamlet's mother and who is also sitting on the throne. He also says his sins must be wiped clean before he can ascend to heaven. His soul is "doomed" to endure "sulph'rous and tormenting flames" until the "foul crimes done in [his] days of nature / Are burnt and purged away" (1.5.6; 17-18). The ghost requires revenge and this is an odd request given the religious context, yet this is what sets the revenge plot in motion. Father's Ghost. My hour is almost come, When I to sulph'rous and tormenting flames Must render up myself. Hamlet. Alas, poor ghost! Father's Ghost. Pity me not, but...

Words: 1124 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Chimney Sweeper

...sweeper, who tells us about his childhood and his fellow workers. In this poem a contrast of dark and light is shown to give the readers a picture of reality and hope. This essay explores the different dimensions, which are significant in this poem. I will argue that the poet is making a contrast between the innocence and the corruption in today’s world by giving examples and by analyzing the poem thoroughly. In the first stanza the narrator shares his childhood story with the readers. He mentions that his mother died when he was very young and his father sold him even before he knew how to speak. “And my father sold me while yet my tongue, /could scarcely cry” (2-3), in this line the poetic device known as metonymy is used where the poet refers to the speakers voice but says tongue. By this line we understand that his father sold him even before he could cry or understand that he is being sold away. He says that since his father sold him he sweeps chimneys and sleeps in soot. It can be assumed that chimney- sweepers use the same cloth or blanket to sleep, which is used in the daytime to collet soot –“in soot I sleep.” Most of the chimney- sweepers who cleaned the chimney were young children as they were little and it is easy for them to crawl up and do cleaning work. Just like the narrator there was another young chimney- sweeper whose name was Tom Dacre. The story is now shifted to Tom who is a friend of the narrator. When Tom Dacre’s head was shaved he cried and the narrator...

Words: 1324 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Freud

...Vyas 1 Rushit Vyas Professor Sircar 10/08/2014 Overview of Freudian Theories on Dreams and Sexuality In every intellectual field, there are those few individuals who shed light on new ways of thinking the status quo and ultimately having a profound and influential impact lasting generations independent of whether their work is agreed upon by scholars or simply a popular topic of conversation. Considering psychology and more specifically psychoanalysis, which is concerned with those factors that determine human emotions and behavior that individuals are often unaware of, there is no one more influential than the Austrian neurologist and the founding father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud. In creating psychoanalytic theory, Freud himself developed various therapeutic methods to establish his central thought process. His analysis of dreams, outlined in his famous work, The Interpretation of Dreams, provided a framework that was used for clinical analysis and diagnosis. He redefined sexuality in his work, Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality, and formulated the concept of the Oedipus complex. Although Freud’s work dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, he is still relevant and his theories equivocally influential. In this essay, I will outline Freud’s key ideas with regards to dreams and sexuality as seen in his famous works, The Interpretation of Dreams, and Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality as well as provide a critical background on both themes along...

Words: 2810 - Pages: 12