Analysis Of Leslie Jamisons Mark My Words. Maybe

Whether it be a dragon, tribal marking, Asian character, or a simple phrase, thousands of people get tattoos daily. Tattoos play a significant role in self-expression and identity in the modern age as well as since ancient times. Tattoos can be just for fun, symbolic of heritage and ancestry, representative of accomplishments or life events, or can be just for style. For some people, it’s an expression of identity and personal beliefs. This is exactly the case for Leslie Jamison. She tells the story of her tattoo in â€Å"Mark My Words. Maybe.† On Jamison’s forearm, the Latin phrase â€Å"homo sum: humani nil a me alienum puto†. In English, this is translated to â€Å"I am human: nothing human is alien to me† (Jamison 458). Throughout her story, she†¦show more content†¦Throughout the piece people approach Jamison inquiring about the tattoo and each time giving a response that she doesn’t want. Whenever she explains the translation o f the tattoo, the inquirer immediately questions the motives behind it and gets offended by her claim to understand humanity and understand everything that is wrong in the world (Jamison 459). Except, they don’t know what Jamison has been through and don’t understand the personal meaning it holds. Although it wasn’t her initial intention, Jamison learns to accept the attention she receives from it. She explains that the purpose of her tattoo is to attract attention, be aspirational, and cause admiration. But, she also claims that it also serves the purpose of the opposite of all of those things (Jamison 460). Jamison tells this story to demonstrate the significance and symbolism of a tattoo and how a simple phrase can mean so much more about a person’s identity and how it represents people. In Jamison’s story, the main focus is her tattoo and its significance. It is odd to think that ink on an arm could be so meaningful to someone; however, to Jamison, it is her identity. Tattoos are â€Å"declarations of selfhood† that make people unique and special (Jamison 459). As previously stated, this tattoo is a new beginning for Jamison. Her tattoo means much more than a quote on her arm or something that makes her