Identity is something that everyone has, no matter whether they are aware of it or not. During our discussions, this was the topic that struck me the most, as I have experienced real-life problems in finding an identity myself and also in noticing the theme in some of the media I consume. No matter what media you're interested in, it's always about identity, and for this article I'm going to take the ideas we talked about during "Half-Life" and expand them to real-life examples and also examples found within the series Star Wars movies. I will explore ideas regarding identity that relate Half-Life to real-world examples, while also delving into identity within the film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an 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 daughters and mother are selkie, a mystical creature that can become human by shedding its seal skin. The theme of identity is present throughout the story, and is written and depicted 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 be one with the ocean again, the girls' true identities are hidden, as their father is afraid that they will follow in their mother's footsteps. He indulges them when his daughters beg him to tell them "a strange and sad story" (Oshcner 403), and launches into a story about selkies, which the girls have heard before, but still love. Having something to relate to and feel connected to is an important part of finding and maintaining an identity, and the way it's written solidifies the idea. The girls attach themselves to that story, clearly having a deep connection to it. This parallels what happens in real life too, particularly to people who belong to marginalized groups. Stories that feature characters who aren't often represented in media, such as transgender, bisexual, or lesbian characters, have special meaning for people who fall into those and similar categories. They latch on to those stories and hold them close to their hearts, just like the girls did with Selkie's story. Sometimes, those stories even help people come to terms with their own identity. An example of a show that I know has helped people with their identity would be Glee. Even just having representation in popular media is critical to people's identities, especially if they are marginalized. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, there are some examples of discovering your true identity and at the same time it shows how you can reject your identity when it is forced upon you. The film follows a girl named Rey who grows up without parents on a desert planet. Through a series of circumstances, she leaves her home planet Jakku and ends up being swept away on adventures in space. At one point, she's given a lightsaber by this other character called Maz Kanata. Maz tells Rey to “close your eyes…feel it…the light, it's always been there. He will guide you." Rey becomes irritated and says that "[she] wants nothing to do with this", indicating that she is rejecting this fate being forced upon her. Rey had the identity of a Jedi thrust upon her after not associating with it her entire life. Having a whole new identity given to you is shocking and this is also about finding an identity for yourself. People like to take time to discover who they are.