Who I Am (My Name is My Name)

It’s not a well-known fact, but I listen to hip hop quite often. Coincidentally, one of my friends, who also listen to the genre quite often, suggested an album to me, named My Name is My Name by Pusha T. The album discussed who he is as a rapper, his reputation in the scene, and about his drug dealing backgrounds, using his name as a metaphor to represent who he is. Most importantly, he often talked about protecting (and developing) his reputation.

To ourselves, our name mean who we are. To others, it means our reputation. Understanding this fact and taking advantage of it is crucial in many situations. John Proctor has his own name in Salem; people recognize not only the physical being of John Proctor, but his reputation in the village. That's one of the reasons he hesitates to reveal his adultery with Abigail; because such fact will ruin his reputation, or his 'name'. This is made into a motif in the play and is often referenced. Abigail, in Act 1, claims that Elizabeth is "telling lies about [her]", and that she is therefore "blackening [her] name in the village." (Miller, 460). Pusha T does a very similar thing in his album.

I was thinking 'bout murdering

I ain't getting my hands dirty

Let you worry 'bout serving them

- Pusha T, "Who I Am"

The lines explain that he doesn't actually do the dirty work in order to save his reputation. Instead, he lets his followers do it for him. In a sense, Abigail does a very similar thing; she doesn't actually send people off to jail. Instead, she blames them for witchery, and saves her name from being 'blackened'. Instead, it is Cheever who actually fetches the women. After all, she does run off once Proctor reveals his adultery with her, which had ruined her reputation.

Parris: ...Your name in the town-it is entirely white, is it not?

Abigail (with an edge of resentment): Why, I am sure it is sir. There be no blush about my name.

- Miller, The Crucible, Act 1, 127-130

Pusha T - Who I Am (ft. 2 Chainz, Big Sean)

The song isn't actually bad if you're into hip hop.

Except maybe 2 Chainz.