The Liar

The Liar Analysis

Perhaps the reason the poet feels like a Liar is that he is participating in two identities which seem at odds with one another. In his ego-centric perception, he identifies with the radical style of the bohemians and hippies, but in much of his poetry, he reflects not on his own personal identity but on his cultural identity as a Black American during the 1960's, during a time of united demonstrations. His duality confuses him and sends him to the page to explore his self through poetry.

What he discovers is that the issue of ego is inextricably linked to his desire to understand himself. Sometimes, he can see the world through his ego, and other times, he can see himself as part of a group or a whole. The individuality of his identity is at odds with his cultural identity, because he feels that he personal fits in better with hippies, but that is no excuse not to rally with his brothers and sisters as they march for equal treatment.

Ultimately, the question turns transcendental, because he realizes that his ego can be put aside, or overcome somehow. When he chooses to view life without specific reference to himself, he realizes that the question of identity is way more complicated than he anticipated. There are nearly infinite considerations, not the least of which is what exactly human life is, or why it is happening in the first place. The drama of life is something he can't help but experience, but he must sort through this new kind of experience, the enlightening experience of seeing past his own ego.

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