Identity

As the title implies, much of the story is concerned with the ways in which a person presents or conceals identity. The true identity of the protagonist is of a sort that his culture would find objectionable, and so he adopts a persona (or mask) that will afford him a degree of acceptance. Since he lacks many of the inherent qualities of "normal" individuals, the protagonist learns by rote how to mimic these qualities by observing his peers. By suppressing his own impulses and pretending to have "normal" impulses, he is able to infiltrate the world of normalcy.

The protagonist's public identity, however, is a mere performance. It lacks substance. While the protagonist understands the requirements of his role, he knows little of the character he plays. He behaves, almost mechanically, as society expects, without necessarily seeing the underlying reasons for his adopted behavior. The protagonist therefore comes...