" (Thomas 128). Furthermore, following his encounter with a white woman on the subway, he imagines from her calling him a "black boy." (Thomas 141). This incident provides an interesting look into Piri's way of thinking on a number of levels. First, it reveals his obvious distress at living in a world where he cannot act on sexual impulses entirely because he is non-white. Second, it shows that he recognizes his "blackness" in the eyes of others. And third, by the very act of his reminiscing from the perspective of the woman, it demonstrates his prevailing concern with his own image as looked upon from the outside. Piri's longing to reach general approval stifles his competing want to know who he is.

Overall, Piri's tale is one of deviance; however, this is mainly because he identifies it as such. Since he is so utterly concerned with the opinions of others...
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