Culture is and always will be a complex idea, describing the way different peoples communicate and interact with each other. This covers not just where people are born or the language they speak, but also their values, behavior, beliefs, and the symbols that shape who we are as people. Ariel Dorfman, in “Language Nomads,” pointed out that the backbone of culture as a whole is language. Essentially, without language, culture might not exist because it is the primary way people communicate. This is what fundamentally differentiates us from other animals. In Eva Hoffman's essay "Introduction," part of The Inner Lives of Cultures essay series, she talks about the power of language, but more importantly culture as a whole. Hoffman says: “...culture exists within us and it constructs our consciousness and our subjectivity, our perceptions, our ideas and even our feelings” (Hoffman, 7). Tzvetan Todorov, in his essay "Barbarism, Civilization, Cultures", which is also part of The Inner Lives of Culture, talks about the separation between being barbarian and civilized and what this has to do with culture. He states that a civilization does not take what is considered normal and impose it on people who are different, but rather embraces the foreign and "expands the circle of humanity" (Todorov, 16) . Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay "City of Clowns", a short story by Daniel Alarcn which is about a young man, Oscar, whose father comes of passing away, and his struggle to accept his own identity. The action takes place in Lima, Peru, where he moved when he was eight, but which he still considers his hometown. He was originally born in a small mountain town called Pasco, where opportunities are few and many residents are poor. It is here that Oscars' mother meets Don Hugo, his father, although they spend most of their time apart because Don Hugo works in Lima. It's obvious that Oscar thinks the kindest thing his father ever did for him was move to Lima. The story opens with the death of Don Hugo and his ex-wife and his new wife cleaning the floors to pay off the debt he owed before his death. Carmela, is the woman for whom Don Hugo left Oscar and his mother, and they had three children together. Oscar does not seem bitter about the fact that his father left the family, as he had done many years ago. He said: “My father’s death was not news. I knew it, and there was no reason for it to be surprising or disturbing. In fact, that wasn't the case. He works for a newspaper and is asked to write an article about clowns. Throughout his journey, he meets clowns, becomes a clown, and ultimately realizes that his identity is eerily similar to his father's. Oscar realizes that the diversity of the places he grew up has greatly affected him in his struggle to accept who he really is. This coincides with the main theme of the story, which is that where you come from and the direction you are headed all impact your life. These ideas are presented in the image of a clown, who is generally perceived as feeling out of place, especially in Lima, and who therefore conceals his image and feelings with this extravagant external appearance that hides who he really is . Clowns” shows how culture is always plural and ever-changing and how it affects the way we identify ourselves and the people who identify with us.surround. The image of a clown is significant throughout this story. Starting with the moment Oscar and his parents first arrive in Lima and get off the bus. Don Hugo basically uses his son to get what he wants, like money from the things he steals from the houses he builds for. The first glimpse we get of a sort of clown image occurs when Don Hugo tries to take a box when they get off the bus, and as Oscar realizes that they only brought bags, not boxes, his father gives him a smile. This type of behavior signals what will happen later for Oscar and his relationship with his father. He explains “from another angle” that his father must earn money. He would start a job for a wealthy family and show as much respect as possible. He would familiarize himself with his surroundings and make a mental note of every item of value, donning the outward appearance of a good and honest man, but inwardly formulating his plan to steal when the time came. This refers to the image of the clown who almost has two different personalities and knows when to express which one at the right time. Don Hugo also used different tactics like pity, specifically towards the Ascárates, to get what he wanted. While simultaneously using his son as a tool to do so. This is evident when he visits their home, where his wife works, and asks if he would have a word if he hears of any families at Oscar's new school needing construction work done on their homes . Another way to manipulate someone to get what you want through outward appearance. Oscar's name change while attending a prestigious school, moving from his own, sometimes from Chino, and then to Piraña, shows how much his change in environment affected him as a person. Since he didn't grow up with these kids, they view him as an outsider, and after hearing where he comes from, they have no association with that place other than what they heard, therefore giving him this nickname for this reason alone. Since the first day this nickname was given to him, it haunted him throughout school. Oscar says: “I was a joke. A nerdy kid from the ghetto. I was too skinny. Too weak. Even when I played well or ran fast, they threw insults at me. In San Juan we joked about how I was beating up these pitucos, but the reality was different. They exercised their power carelessly, sometimes unconsciously. They could cut me off with a comment or simply with silence. » This laid the foundation for the bond between Oscar and his father, inserting in him the desire to get revenge on these children, and not in a kind way. As it turned out, he had seen his father do this for so long that it just wasn't new to him. He was thrilled at the idea of ​​being able to break into these miserable children's homes and steal all their stuff. As he asks his father about it, Oscar points out his wide smile and how it made everything even. Don Hugo's smile, once again, connects the association with a clown and how it ultimately impacted Oscar in years to come. They begin work on the house of a boy, Andrés, who goes to school with Oscar. Throughout the process, the boy taunts Oscar, flaunting his wealth and so-called power over him. All the while, Oscar isn't bothered by this, knowing that he would eventually get revenge on the boy who looked down on him just because of his class. Social class is also an important theme in “City of Clowns,” as where you come from in the city or country determines how you will be treated. The clowns are getting closer to.