Final answer:
Through Doobie and Hayley's identity choices, the story examines personal and cultural identity, the façades people maintain, and the reconciliation of personal inner self and social expectations. These themes are expressed through the significance of Polaroids, name changes, and the symbol of the quilt, all of which underscore the tensions between tradition and change, and the respective values different characters assign to heritage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Doobie and Hayley's choices about their identity are integral to the thematic development of the story, reflecting the complexities of personal and cultural identity. Doobie's choice to embrace a particular subculture contrasts with Hayley's decision to adopt a new name and lifestyle, both serving as a metaphor for larger issues of self-perception and societal acceptance. Through their choices, the narrative explores the façades people construct and the struggle to reconcile one's inner self with external expectations.
The choice to take Polaroids or change a name, as Dee does, signifies an attempt to capture and control one's identity, reflecting a deeper insecurity and desire for recognition. Similarly, the quilt serves as a rich symbol of family heritage and personal history, becoming an object of contention that highlights different attitudes towards cultural inheritance. Dee and Magee's contrasting reasons for valuing the quilt underscore themes of generational conflict and the selective preservation of history.
As characters wrestle with their identities, the stories often embody elements of Realistic or Naturalistic fiction, presenting life's challenges and the role identity plays in navigating them. These narrative choices prompt readers to reflect on their own experiences and how the external world shapes individual actions and self-perception. The scenes and characters in the story highlight the human capacity to engage with real-life situations and the meaningful ways literature mirrors life.