Ned’s Identity Development in Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac Essay Example

WWII was awful, it was memorable in a bad way, and took people's lives. In the book Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac, Navajos were not treated equally to whites but were treated better than before, despite their differences, they worked well together, and the Navajos became of better use to the whites because of their abilities. Ned not only got affected by the war, but it changed him. WWII influenced Ned's identity by him becoming friends with others rather than ones in only his culture, being important to the marines, and he also became more proud that his language had a purpose in the war.

Ned Begay became friends with a lot of different people in the war and during the training. Georgie Boy mentioned on page 105, “ I am so dang glad t’ see yew” and then said “ I’m gonna be. with yew on this here Cartwheel. And I won’t let nothin’ happen to my little Indian buddy”. In this Georgia boy is being very friendly and it sounds like he’s glad to see Ned. On page 142 Smitty says, “I am so all-fired glad to see yew.” He said this because he hadn't seen Ned in a while and because they are friends. That is why Ned’s friends influenced his identity.

Ned Begay‘s identity was affected by him being an important asset to the marines. On page 129 Ned’s lieutenant said “Set up and get ready to send,”. This is saying that he needs to send a message. This also shows that he is important to the marines. He is also needed because no bilagáanaa can speak the Navajo language, and he can send messages in Navajo faster than Morse code. Ned being important to the marines is a part of how his identity was affected.

Ned was proud that his culture had a role in the war. On page 75 Ned said, “He could not speak the code and never taught it to anyone.” This means that the guy who had the idea to make a code faster and stronger that couldn’t be detected, couldn’t speak Navajo. He only had the idea of the code, and this also means that only Navajos could learn this code. “It made me proud that our sacred language was so important to America.” (Bruchac 77). This shows that Ned is indeed proud that his language was of use to the marines. Ned’s identity was affected by his language being important to the marines.

Ned’s identity development was affected by him becoming friends with bilagáanaa’s, being important to the marines, and being proud that his language was involved in the war. Ned was important to the marines, he and other Navajos were code talking for the marines, for their country. Ned was strong, smart, mighty, and helpful to the marines, and that’s what changed his identity.