Why do you think you are an American? Why people live in the United States have different ethnicities? The individual and group identity are always effect by cultural and historical influences. Cultural and historical influences are the most important factor of shaping individual and group identity. The individual and group identity cannot shaping without cultural and historical influences. The two short stories I choose are “What What You Pawn I will Redeem” by Sherman Alexie and “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin. Three ways that cultural and historical influences play a role in shaping individual identity and group identity, such as culture is the spiritual power of individual and group identity, Cultural and historical influences are foundation…show more content… A group of people have the resonance will build group identity. If someone or a group of people separate with their cultural and historical background and do not accept by another cultural and historical background, then he will feel no sense of belonging. He will “lost’ in his life because there is nothing can give him vitality of life. In the short story “What you Pawn I will Redeem”, the protagonist is a Spokane Indian man named Jackson Jackson. Jackson Jackson was born in the Reservation of Spokane and grew up in there. He went to college in Seattle while he was twenty-three years old. He adopted the white American mainstream culture, this made him keep away from Spokane cultural influences. This also made him separate from his tribe and everything related to his tribe. As a result, he was in a uncredited condition. He was in uncredited condition because he is not apart from the white American mainstream culture, and he separate from the foundation culture of Spokane. Because of this, he cannot accepted the reality, and the reality cannot stand him either. He became a person without feeling and foundation and indifference for everything. For example, he went to college in Seattle, but he flunked…show more content… She was born in humble and has no name. The name ‘Desiree” was given by her adoptive parents: Madame Valmonde and Monsieur. “Desiree” means “Want to Get” in French. She is a kid that Madame Valomonde want to have because she cannot able to give birth to a baby. Monsieur and Madame Valmont adopted her was only for fill up the vacancy of this family. According to the story, “For the girl grew to be beautiful and gentle, affectionate and sincere,—the idol of Valmondé”. The idol is adoring and decorated, so she could have no individuality. Desiree is also “Want to Get’ by Armand Aubigny as his wife.Armand Aubigny is young and rich. He also has one of the oldest and proudest name in Louisiana. He has a vacancy for wife, Desiree could fill up perfectly because she has no identity and individuality.Armand Aubigny wants to marry Desiree, however Monsieur hope Armand Aubigny can cautious because Desiree’s background is unclear. However,Armand Aubigny states that he can give Desiree one of the oldest and proudest name in Louisiana. In Aubigny’s views, Desiree does not need the name. Once she get marry, the problem of identity will be