4 of 12 Zadie Smith

1) Smith claims, "We feel that our voices are who we are, and that to have more than one, or to use different versions of a voice for different occasions, represents, at best, a Janus-faced duplicity and at worst, the loss of our very souls," (180) but why do humans feel so dependent on their voices? Granted, your voice is how you express yourself much of the time and without a voice we would run into much difficulty in communicating but why are people so conscious of their accents?

2) Smith makes the argument, "For the contemporary immigrant, tragically split, we are sure, between worlds, ideas, cultures, voices- whatever will become of them? Something's got to give- one voice must be sacrificed for the other. What is double must be made singular"(182.) Is this true? Why does an immigrant have to choose one culture to dominate over the other? Why can't they maintain their old heritage and voice  while learning and adapting to a new one?

3) When Smith claims that Shaw "Spoke in tongues," (182) does this mean that he had the capability to twist his words and be naturally deceptive? Smith says that Shaw couldn't give this quality to Eliza but why is that? Is it a naturally acquired trait; almost like someones capability to be witty?

4) When speaking of Obama Smith says, "This new president doesn't just speak for his people. He can speak them," (182.) How does one learn how to speak like so many different types of people? Obama is a successful president because he understands all different backgrounds and can communicate with each but why are only certain people capable of such abilities? How come all humans can't understand each other and communicate well?

5) When speaking of Cary Grant and Barack Obama, Smith says, "Both men have a strange reflective quality, typical of the self-created man- we see in them whatever we want to see," (184.) Is Smith saying that public figures are often made out to be whatever the public would like to believe? Do we, as humans, choose to view someone in a certain way and then our subconscious makes us believe that they are truly like that, even though it is just our view?

6) Smith observes, "Throughout his campaign Obama was careful always to say "we"" (184.) WHat makes the word "we" so much more suitable for a public figure or anyone trying to persuade a large amount of people rather than using the word "I"? Is it because the word "I" seems selfish?