The play “Trying to Find Chinatown” published in 1996 by David H. Hwang describes two strangers arguing in the middle of the street in New York. York. Ronnie, an Asian American who identifies as a musician, and Benjamin, a Caucasian who inherits Asian culture from his adoptive parents. How we identify ourselves differs from how others identify us. In the play, Ronnie and Benjamin fail to understand how each created their own identity. Hwang tries to argue that identity is not a physical or biological aspect of people, but an element of life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay In the play, we can see that Ronnie and Benjamin identify with the same technicality, but in a different way. They both have created their own identity regardless of their race, but at the same time they fail to see and understand each other. Benjamin unconsciously stereotypes Ronnie by calling him "Brother" as if they are related, somehow. . In the text, there is a passage where Benjamin says: “Brother, I can absolutely understand your anger. » Benjamin thinks he and Ronnie are similar. Benjamin also unconsciously stereotypes Ronnie by stopping him on the street and asking him where Chinatown is. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but with all the people picking the one that looks Asian and asking where to find a Chinatown, it's a stereotype. Benjamin assumes that Ronnie would know where Chinatown is since he looks Asian. Benjamin doesn't want to be identified by his skin color or biological appearance, but he identifies Ronnie by his. Ronnie was clearly offended, Benjamin probably wasn't the first to ask him that. Ronnie is tired of being stereotyped because of his Chinese appearance which would make him deny and even hate his Chinese side. Identity is created by nurturing not the nature of life. I agree with Ronnie when he says, "If genes don't determine race, what does." I identify people where they come from. There is nothing we can do to get rid of our genes or our race. Ronnie consciously assumes Benjamin's identity simply by looking at his skin color. He says, “Look at your skin! You are white. Ronnie identifies Benjamin by his physical appearance, but he does not want to be identified by the same technical details. Ronnie gets angry when Benjamin assumes his identity, but he did the same thing by assuming Benjamin's identity. Ronnie is clearly embarrassed by his Chinese side of life; he mocks and stereotypes Chinese culture by making various negative points about the Chinese symbol. Like eating with chopsticks, dim sum. Ronnie is not proud of his heritage, while Benjamin is fascinated by his culture and wants to learn more and more about it. Ronnie identifies as a musician, which is unusual, he praises jazz and references slavery and how musicians freed them and healed their pain on the field. While Ronnie attempts to shed his Chinese culture by identifying outside of his race, Benjamin insists on identifying as Asian even though he is not ethnically Chinese. If I had to take sides in this debate, I would choose Benjamin, because he has every reason to identify as Asian. People are able to identify themselves based on the culture and connection they were given, and Benjamin obviously received that from his adoptive parents. While Ronnie had no reason to deny his own heritage. Anyway, they are both right, identity is state.