Misconstrued Identity

Misconstrued identity and deception can cause many toils between people. Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is a prime example of how these faults can play out. When one’s identity gets misinterpreted for another’s, a stir of emotions follows. With a bit of truth and honesty though, all can be mended.
The literary classic, Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, is a story rich with identity theft and deception. Viola plays the role of a man in an effort to secure a place for herself in a new city. She leads on those around her and falsifies her character as a young, intelligent male. Though she remains honest throughout the entire story, she only hides are actual identity. This lie leads to a complicated love triangle with herself tangled in the middle; Viola has deceived the people she has befriended. Nearing the end of the story, the true depth of her deception is revealed with the reemergence of her twin brother. His appearance reveals Viola’s hidden identity and the lie she’s been living all along. Her friends finally see her deception towards them but understand her motive behind it all. She only wanted to protect and take care of herself, for she felt she was all alone in the world. It was through her honesty that all was mended.
During Italian Week, I attended a speaker regarding the judicial case of Sacco and Vanzetti. In the small, industrial town of South Braintree, Massachusetts a terrible murder occurred during the 1920’s. On April 15, 1920, two paymasters were walking down the street carrying a large sum of money in two large cases. Just passing a shoe factory, the two were shot at point blank range, while a car pulled up and stole the money cases. Through the compilation of witness accounts, the police report claimed that the suspects were of “apparent Italian lineage.” Media reports following the incident stated that the scandal must have been the work of Italian anarchists. In search for the suspects, citizens and police were to look for “two suspicious looking men.” Sacco and Vanzetti, unfortunately, fit this description. The two were arrested but were not told upon what charges; both being involved in anarchist activities thought that this was the reasoning behind it. Sacco and Vanzetti acted very suspiciously during their questionings and were very uncooperative in answering any questions—constantly they changed their stories. These acts led to police suspicions. Sacco and Vanzetti were seen as “un-American” because they were immigrants, anarchists, atheists, and draft-dodgers. Despite the best of efforts, the defendants were held in a cage. Following a long trial and court decision, the two were sentenced to death. Unfortunately, there was no concurring evidence and Sacco and Vanzetti were wrongly murdered. This case is a prime example of misconstrued identity. The two Italians were mistaken for guilty and the media deceived the public through biased reports. Contrary to Shakespeare’s story, their honesty did not save them in the end.
Misconstrued identity and deception is a part of human nature and can usually be altered through honesty. Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night shows this claim to be true in the actions of the character Viola. Her falsified male identity is forgiven through the use of her honesty. Unfortunately, in American history, honesty isn’t always this successful. In the case of Sacco and Vanzetti, their honesty is overlooked and they were wrongfully murdered due to their Italian identity. Prejudices against them blurred the perspective of society and they were not seen for who they were. They were innocent men killed for a fake reason simply because of the deception of public opinion and their misconstrued identities as murderers.