"Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat....Because, Mr. Norton, if you don't know where you are, you probably don't know who you are." (Ellison, 577)

Reflect on these statements in regards to:
1. the Narrator and his journey for self-realization
2. your own search for self and identity

100 word minimum & an image

In the Narrators life he was being controlled. If in life you are controlled you cannot find your own identity, but if you live your life the way you choose to live it you can create your own true identity. You need to know where you want to go in life in order to be able to define yourself. The Narrator throughout the book didn't know where he wanted to go and did not control his own life but allowed others to control his life. This made it difficult for him to find himself and his true identity. Also it states that humanity is won by continuing to play in the face of certain defeat. This shows that even when the Narrator was at a loss or when he was defeated by others around him he still continued to try to succeed. After failing the Narrator continues to get back up and try again creating his own journey for self realization. This quote says that you cannot allow others to control your life because than you do not have your own identity but rather one that has been placed on you from your peers.