Identity

The narrator’s struggle to determine her identity – to reconcile the way she perceives herself with the way the exterior world perceives her – is the core theme of the novel. Throughout the book, the narrator is heavily influenced by others and attempts to discern which of these influences is most in alignment with her personal aims and opinions.

The narrator’s friendship with Tracey can be viewed through the lens of identity. Tracey is crucial in establishing the narrator’s early priorities and perspectives. The narrator places enormous weight on her friend’s opinions, and the narrator dictates many of her choices, from the games she prefers to the career she aspires to, based off of Tracey’s judgments. The narrator’s obsession with dance is largely motivated by her desire to gain closer proximity to Tracey; the narrator feels that superior technical skill will allow...