Beloved

I must admit I am so overwhelmed by this book in regards to my question, so I will probably come back and edit this post at some point.

Sethe defines herself by her past and the people around her. I think most people do that to some extent, but I really loved the quote when Paul D told Sethe "you your best thing, Sethe. You are." We are all our own best things; after all, at the end of everything the person who is going to be there the most is you. It's a quest for all of mankind to not only define one's self, but also to love it. We all have our moments when we wish we were smarter or prettier or stronger, but it's a vital ingredient in self definition to work through the storm of self doubt to the other side.

Metamorphosis by Kafka

Well, a book about a man who turns into a giant bug! How do you define yourself when you are in that predicament? Is he a bug? Is he still a person? In his mind, he is still a person although his humanity is slowly slipping through his fingers. However, to his family he is a monster. They no longer see their son or their brother; he is a monstrosity that does nothing but add stress to the household. In my opinion, the most defining moment for Gregor was when he decided to sacrifice his own limited life for the well being of his family. Grete, his sister, repeatedly stated that it would be better for all of them if he would just die so they could get on with their lives. And so he did. Whether or not that makes him a hero, sacrificial lamb, or just a burden being lifted one thing remains; Gregor is selfless. It takes a pretty strong person to fight for the last shreds of their humanity and identity, but it takes a whole lot more to let it go in order to better someone else's life.