Perception

Perception is everything in todays world. The way people perceive events and other people affects everything we do. In The Great Gatsby, everyone has a different perception of who the Gatsby is, and what he has done in his life. ‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock’, by T.S. Eliot is a poem that also exemplifies perception. One line that stands out to me is, “And I have known the eyes already, known them all — the eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase.” To me, this line means the author is very familiar with everyone, the eyes, having a certain perception of him. When a number of people have a perception of you, true or false, you start to become that person either way. The Gatsby can relate to this greatly, as so many people know a different version of him, his actual character becomes a blur.

For the most part, nobody views themselves as others view them. Many people perceive themselves as being either lesser or greater than who others see them as. A person may think they are a strong, hard-working human, while everyone else may see them as lazy. This can go both ways. Nobody has a clear perception of themselves, though some are more modest about it.

I wouldn’t say I prepare a face to meet others too much, I usually try to be myself. I feel as though putting on a face makes me someone I’m not, and portrays me as a different version of myself. I may act different around certain people and groups, but that is usually for the greater good of the people around me, rather than myself.

This poem, by Anita Atina connects very closely with my personal view of perception. The author believes it is okay to have your own perception of someone, as long as you keep the facts in mind. One specifically striking line is, ‘The version you believe, may be different from mine. And both versions are true, to each of us’ This is important, because she is saying both people have a different perception, but that doesn’t make one any less true.

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