Who am I? Where do I belong? Where will I fit in?
If you've ever asked yourself those questions, congratulations—you're a psychologist, and you're thinking about the complicated question of identity. Identity seems really simple: it's who a person is, right? Describing a person's identity, however, can be complex; it includes their name, interests, personality, social group, family, and actions. Add to this the fact that everyone is constantly changing, especially when they're a young person growing up (literally and figuratively).
In Dear Mr. Henshaw, Leigh tells the reader early on that he's "just a plain boy" (10.3), nothing special, but we sure learn otherwise. Throughout the story, he's thinking hard about who his family is, who he is in relation to the other kids at school, and who he is as a writer. Sounds like some serious contemplation for a sixth-grade psychologist.
Questions About Identity
- What does Leigh's family have to do with how he thinks about himself?
- How do we see Leigh's identity change throughout the book?
- Why is Dad's job so much a part of his identity?
- Being "medium" is part of Leigh's identity. How did he get this self-image? Is it realistic? Helpful?
Chew on This
Leigh's mom said he was a loner, which is just his nature and that won't change.
Leigh didn't feel like an author until his work was published in the school magazine.