Esperenza and Pi

Esperenza and Pi have more in common then first meets the eye. First one can see their similarities as one witnesses their struggles with their names. They both long to somehow fit the mold of society. Pi finds ridicule in his name; Esperenza feels that her name is telling of her circumstances. Identity is found for Pi and Esperenza beginning with their name. Both are at a key age in identity formation. Thirteen through sixteen are extremely challenging years as one truly develops into an adult. Identity crises sets in at this age and both Pi and Esperenza experience hardship and difficult circumstances during this critical time. Yet both grow through it all and eventually use their circumstances to guide their growth. I relate to this, for I too faced hardship at this stage in life and see this time of hardship as truly defining in my identity formation.