Andrew Solomon Vertical Identity Essay

Who are we? We are who we are. We define ourselves. We make our own decisions. Our influences have great impacts on our lives. For example, vertical influences, as in families, want their offspring to be more like them. Our horizontal influences, as in society and foreign traits not given by a parent, drift one’s offspring away from the world they know. Is it possible to become exactly as we are expected to be by our parents and society? No. It is impossible to know the outcome of our identities no matter how we are raised. There are both positive and negative influences of the vertical and horizontal identity that a human being acquires to make them who they are. No one knows who we really are, or who we can be, we just must trust that the way we are brought up and what we are exposed to outside our family life is the correct way to a good life. Andrew Solomon, the author of “Son”, has many theories as to our identities. We have two identities, both a horizontal and a vertical. A vertical identity, as explained by Solomon is the traits shared with one’s own parents. A horizontal identity is an acquired
One with just a vertical identity cannot be his or her own person just as a human being with just a horizontal identity cannot be entirely his or her own. We must realize that difference and change is not always for the worst, just as identically and similarity is not always for the worst. Our parents cannot expect us to be just like them even if they imagine us just like them, we have different influences. We are who we are and our difference in mind, body, sexuality, fundamentals, and human relations are what make us unique and unite us. Our identities are a distinct personality. Our identities define us from each other and unite us. To achieve the goal of a happy lifestyle is to become who we are supposed to