Human identity is the most fragile thing we have, and it’s often found in moments of truth, Alan Rudolph. This quote relates to how important identity can be and how easily it can be broken or lost. This is shown through characters with violent pasts, namely Danny and Tigo, Andy, and the Sniper. These characters lost their sense of identity after they joined groups or gangs. Their gang affiliations often lead them into dangerous, sometimes deadly, situations that they do not want to be involved in. The authors explore the important idea of how a person’s identity is forced upon them depending on what group they belong to, and how difficult this is to shed. "The Last Spin" displays how the character's involvement in rival gangs has majorly …show more content…
Their feelings throughout the text shed light on the adverse effects of gang involvement. This statement demonstrates one of the main characters, Tigo, coming to grips with the fact that he is not willing to attack people. It also demonstrates his realisation that he does not have a choice over his actions because of his gang's authority over his life. It ain't only that, though. Like sometimes... well, don't you wonder what you're doing stomping some guy in the street? Like... you know what I mean? Like... who's the guy to you? What have you got to beat him up for? 'Cause he messed with somebody else's girl?" Tigo shook his head. It gets complicated sometimes. This example proves the truth of my statement. This is because it shows how Tigo discovered the adverse effects that being in a gang has had on his life. Tigo states that he doesn’t even know why he is quoted ‘stomping a guy on the street’. He doesn’t even know or has not offended him personally. This quote also displayed how Tigo felt like he didn’t even have control over his own decisions …show more content…
Simply assuming things about people can have dire consequences. Andy, the main character of On the Sidewalk Bleeding, displays this as he was stabbed merely because he was wearing a jacket. As Andy lay bleeding, dying on the sidewalk, he pondered the meaning of it all. If he died, he was Andy. He was not a Royal. He was simply Andy, and he was dead. And he wondered suddenly if the Guardians who had ambushed him and knifed him had ever once realised he was Andy. Had they known that he was Andy, or had they simply known that he was Royal wearing a purple silk jacket? Had they stabbed him, Andy, or had they only stabbed the jacket and the title, what good was the title if you were dying? The author of this particular text, Evan Hunter, examines Andy's identity crisis. This crisis involves whether his identity is strong, or simply shaped by the fact that he is in The Royals gang. Hunter uses this jacket to show that simple items of clothing can have monumental impacts on a person's identity. The purple silk and the bold lettering cast a strong mental image, which clearly shows the bad image that the Royals gang is associated with. This demonstrates how the jacket shaped his identity, leading to his eventual stabbing, not Andy. The ideas that Hunter outlined in On The Sidewalk Bleeding are still very relevant today, both in the context of gangs and one’s identity. Clothing and colours continue to define individuals