Identity is something that everyone has, whether they realize it or not. Throughout our discussions, this was the topic that stood out to me the most, as I experienced real-life issues finding an identity myself and also noticing the theme in some of the media I consume. No matter what media you're interested in, we're always talking about identity, and for this article, I'm taking the ideas we talked about during "Half-Life" and extending them to real-life examples and also to examples present in The Star Wars film series. I will explore ideas regarding identity that connect Half-Life to real-world examples while delving deeper into identity in the film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Half-Life tells the story of two girls who live with their father after their mother disappears into the ocean. As the story progresses, the reader discovers that the girls and mother are selkies, a mystical creature that can become human by shedding its seal skin. The theme of identity is present throughout the story, and it is written and described in such a way that makes it mysterious and intriguing, which is why this particular story stuck with me throughout the semester . After Astrid and Clarinda's mother leaves to become one with the ocean, the girl's true identity is hidden, as her father fears she will follow in her mother's footsteps. He humors them when his daughters beg him to tell them "a strange and sad story" (Oshcner 403), and he launches into a story about selkies, which the girls have heard before but still love. Having something to identify with and feel connected to is an important part of finding and maintaining an identity, and the way it is written solidifies the idea. The girls cling to this story, clearly having a deep connection to it. This also resembles what happens in real life, especially for people from marginalized groups. Stories featuring characters who are not often represented in media, such as transgender, bisexual, or lesbian characters, hold special meaning for people in those categories, etc. They cling to these stories and keep them close to their hearts, just like the girls did with the Selkie story. Sometimes these stories even help people come to terms with their identities. An example of a show that I know has helped people with their identities would be Glee. Simply being represented in popular media is crucial to people's identities, especially if they are marginalized. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, there are a few examples of discovering one's true identity while simultaneously showing how one can reject identity when it is forced upon you. The film follows a girl named Rey who grew up without parents on a desert planet. Following a series of circumstances, she leaves her home planet, Jakku, and ends up embarking on space adventures. At one point this other character named Maz Kanata gives him a lightsaber. Maz tells Rey to “close your eyes…feel it…the light, it’s always been there.” This will guide you.” Rey becomes irritated and instantly says that "[she] doesn't want to know any of this", indicating that she rejects this fate imposed on her. Rey was given the identity of a Jedi after not associating with it her entire life. Having a whole new identity given to you is shocking and it also relates to finding an identity for yourself. THE.