Do we inherit identity or can we develop it?

Identity is composed of a myriad of different aspects, such as skin colour, age, family, habits, hobbies, interests and talents (and the lists continues). However, not all of these aspects are inherited at birth from ancestors because one's environment also affects his/her identity. Thus, identity cannot be inherited, instead, through a process of assimilation, a person's identity develops and becomes more than just a name, physical appearance, skin colour and background. In 'To Kill a Mockingbird', one of my favourite books, Scout, the protagonists, develops her identity as the book progresses.

Scout's character, at first, is very innocent and oblivious of what means to be white, a daughter of lawyer and privileged in the 1930's Alabama. But as the book progresses, so does her character and identity, because she comes by life experiences that teaches her profound lessons. One such lesson that the author of the book, Harper-lee, really highlights is equality between all races the trial of Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is a black slave who is convicted for rape of a white woman called Mayella Ewell. Scout's father, Atticus Finch, is appointed to defend Tom Robinson. During the trial, Atticus clearly proves the Tom Robinson's innocence. Moreover, when Mayella's father, Bob Ewell, comes before court as a witness, Atticus exposes the inconsistency of the witness' account. However, the jury votes unanimously in favour of Tom Robinson's indictment. Atticus knew that the jury would take the "white man's word over a black man's" because it was only made out of white men, and in 1930's Alabama, the white people thought themselves above black people. But Atticus, an adult who Scout learns many of her lessons from, lets Scout realise her identity as a white girl doesn't make her superior - he taught her that 'there is only one type of folks: folks'.

This is not the only lesson that Scout receives; she receives many during the five years that traverses the book. And each lesson changes her identity because they teach her role in society. Everyone goes through the cycle of maturity, which last all through their live, and as they do so, their habits, speech, nationality, jobs, appearance, morality and emotions, their whole identity in fact, changes. If our identity was just our names and features, none of us would be unique intrinsically.