Jasslean Bracamontes

QS115 Approcahing University Writing

Jennifer Rodrick
11/07/16
Exercise 2: Scene from A Single Man
The novel, A Single Man, identity is the main concern for George.
Throughout the novel, one can comprehend that he is afraid of showing his
true identity with the people around him. One scene in particular is when he
is at school when dealing with an oblong card. Indeed, this card is his
identity. Suppose, instead of signing it as requested and returning it to the
Personel Office, George were to tear it up? Instantly, that student would
cease to exist, as far as San Tomas State was concerned. He would become
academically invisible and only reappear with the very greatest difficulty...
(Isherwood, 45) To me, it feels as if George wishes to be invisible at times,
reason being, the death of Jim. Maybe him tearing that students oblong
card, he wants someone to do the same to me. In other words, he feels like
there is no point in continuing with life without Jim but cant personally do
anything to end it. He wishes someone else would do it for him. These scene
is another example on how impacting others have on your identity. Due to
the death of Jim, George doesnt feel the need to keep living so he desires
that feeling of being able to have his identity taken away. To me, the card is
the definition of his identity, it states it all. He doesnt seem to be strong
enough to end his life but somehow he just feels like he is lost without him or
doesnt see the point in going on with life.