Letters to Phantom Patricia Zelver's Love Letters seems to suggest that many people have problems finding themselves and often times lose their self images. Mostly teenagers go through the phase of finding their true identities while adults try not to lose the identities that they gained in their younger years. Instead of sitting around, people need to go out and do something with their lives to figure out who they are. The main protagonist, Emily, doesn't quite understand her daughter, Rebecca, who is having identity issues wearing exotic clothing and strange makeup. “Could it be that you are having an identification problem?” (1232). Well isn't that like the pot calling the kettle black? Emily seems to also be struggling from identification…show more content… “Her lips are scarlet; There are tubercular-looking patches of rouge on each powdered cheek.” (1230). She wears unique looking makeup and clothing and listens to music that is not of her era trying to figure out what suits her, what she likes best. Apparently she has to change her name as well to figure out what best suits her. “Rebecca has changed her name to Maxine.” (1232). Rebecca just waits around for an opportunity to speak to her mother about the issue instead of going out into the world and experiencing life, finding herself. “She has scarcely been out of doors all summer.” (1230). It seems that Zelver is implying that you can't just sit around and expect to find yourself, you have to physically go out and experience things to find out who you…show more content… Emily doesn't remember writing any letters so she assumes that the letters aren't entertaining enough anyway. “You're quite right not to get your expectations up. The fact is- I can't imagine what they are.” (1229). When Rebecca finally receives the letters, she reads the words of the men that have once cared for her mother to Emily. “Emily will you reserve what time you can spare in the Christmas holidays for a lovesick sailor?” (1234). Hearing the loving words of her lovesick ex lover makes Emily feel very empty and sad because she can't recall any of it. Emily seems more fixed on the letters than anything else at the moment because it gives her an idea of who she was, what part of her was lost. “I should be starting dinner. Instead, I sit, transfixed- and listen.” (1235). Zelver is showing how entertained Emily is with these old letter. It is like watching a movie that she has never seen before. It's just like when a mother or grandmother looks back at old pictures of themselves and doesn't recognize there own face or the event of the photo. It's a lost part of