The development of the human mind and behavior patterns have riddled scholars and philosophers alike since the days of Aristotle. For it is these characteristics which one develops and embodies in childhood which shapes and effects one's actions for the rest of life. In literature, it is important to recognize the development of characters in regards to their environments, families, and personal interactions. How an author weaves the web of psychological influence spinning from the impact of characters is an important underlying pattern of development of the characters themselves. In John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany, Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes, and Mahmoud Darwish's "Identity Card", the protagonists build their identities from strong father figures around them, the environments in which they live, and those with whom they live and interact with on a daily basis. Identity is the end result from a compilation of influences, experiences, and...