Class Identity Acquistion

Class Identity Acquisition

The novel House of Sand and Fog, has two perpetual themes; the concept of class and identity. The characters in the novel reference their socioeconomic status many times and derive their identities from the class with which they fall. Behrani is one of these characters, and he has an extremely complex relationship with his class identity. Behrani was originally from Iran, and he associated with a wealthy and powerful upper class; however when he moved to the United States he was unable to find a high paying job and his class status shifted. Behrani's sudden class change did not affect his beliefs to which class he should belong. Behrani believed class identity was extremely important, and he superficially projected an image advertising his wealth. Behrani's acquisition of class identity began in childhood, was reinforced through his adulthood experiences in Iran, and remained consistent initially following his move to the United States. After Behrani bought the house, the importance of class identity, money, power, and respect were no longer present in his life; however, after a visit from his beloved daughter, Soraya, Behrani returned to his initial views about class up until the end of his living days.

Behrani's class identity was first shaped in Iran. Behrani grew up in a well to do family and he stated, "Both our fathers were lawyers in Isfahan…" (Dubus 29). Behrani was born into an affluent family, and he had a very powerful father that he too would like to follow. Behrani became a Colonel in the Imperial Air force working under the Shah. Because of this great power, Behrani was granted many privileges and was considered high society. Behrani recalled, "…on a Sunday afternoon I would order Bahman to drive our family to the finest movie house in Tehran and of course there would be a long queue of people waiting, but I was dressed in my uniform so we never waited, we never even paid; we were ushered up to the balcony reserved for the Very Important People, away from the crowd" (Dubus 58). Behrani became accustomed to a lavish lifestyle in Iran. He believed he was above others because of his powerful profession and class status, and he demanded respect from all that surrounded him.

Behrani took the beliefs about his power, need for respect and high class status with him to the United States after the reformation in Iran forced his family to leave. Behrani initially believed that when he came to America he would be given a job at one of the best aero-companies, such as Boeing. However, this was not the case, "…in four years I have spent hundreds of dollars copying my credentials; I have worn my French suits and my Italian shoes to hand deliver my qualifications; I have waited and then called back after the correct waiting time; but there is nothing" (Dubus 17). Behrani desperately needed to make an income and took the only jobs that were available; by day he went to work as a garbage man and he was a convenience store clerk by night. This slap in the face however, did not change Behrani's view about his class identity. According to Susman, "Personality is the quality of being somebody" (Susman 277). Behrani found it important to be seen as a "somebody", to be recognized and respected by others. He put on an act in order for others to perceive him as a "somebody". Behrani would go to and from work in a nice car, dressed in suits and ties so that his neighbors and other wealthy Iranians would not know the true nature of his class status. Even during work Behrani put on an act of being important, of being a "somebody". Behrani was the low man on the totem pole, but he continued to act as if he were still a colonel, as if he were better than all of his co-workers. Many times Behrani would belittle his co-workers by saying they were dumb Panamanians, and he also attempted to belittle his boss, "I was colonel, Mr. Torez. I was colonel in the Imperial Air Force. Do you know this, Mr. Torez? I was a colonel" (Dubus 16). As illustrated, Behrani's skewed self-perception about his power, his demands for respect, and his importance as a person do not depreciate, even when his finances do.

The turning point in the novel comes with Berhani's purchase of his house because he no longer cared about his class identity. The house brought back fond memories; it reminded him of his summer home on the Caspian Sea in Iran. Behrani described how his wife became so much happier in the new house, "here she is free of our own masquerade, our own lies" (Dubus 81). Behrani said this was how his wife felt, but his actions proved that this was how he too felt. Behrani was going to resell the house soon after his purchase for a hefty profit, but he continued to push the date of sale back more and more. At one point