Can identity be a sharp weapon to overcome restrictions and oppression. Jose Munoz, a former professor of performance studies at NYU, argued in his article “The White to Be Angry” that identity is manipulative. According to Munoz, the manipulation of identity is called disidentity. Instead of rejecting society or a group outright, someone who disidentifies accepts certain aspects of that society or group without assimilating into dominant ideals. People, especially those belonging to minority groups, developed disidentity as an offensive mechanism because it allowed them to function within that group or society without being trapped. Munoz's theory provides a powerful analytical lens that I will use to evaluate the characters Corliss and Harlan in Sherman Alexie's search engine. Corliss is an Indian woman from Spokane who longs to escape the restrictions placed on her by white and Indian society. His motivation to escape his restrictions comes from his love of poetry and books, which allow him to identify with literary figures such as a white Jesuit priest, Homer, and Odysseus. Harlan is an Indian from Spokane who was adopted and raised by white people. He attempts to define his identity as an Indian writing in-depth poetry, which results in him being recognized as an Indian by whites. Books and poetry allow Corliss and Harlan to disidentify from their societal norms and escape the restrictions of their society and find humanity again. Corliss's disidentification begins when she compares herself to Gerand Manely Hopkins. Hopkins is one of several poets Corliss reads and was also a white Jesuit priest. Hopkins and Corliss, from his perspective, are looking for comfort in their lives, whether it be family and friends or God, but cannot find... middle of paper ...... escape from white restrictions, but provide a method to combat white authority, education. Education teaches Corliss about white society, how it works, how it fails, how it succeeds, and how it believes. While attending college, Corliss uses his disidentification as a weapon. Going to college in hopes of better job opportunities is a white society system. According to Munoz's theory, Corliss works within the system of white society without assimilating. She still loves her family, calls her mother and immediately identifies as Spokane Indian. Corliss, however, is not limited, like his father and uncles who work blue-collar jobs. She enjoys benefits like occasional free college and better job opportunities because she doesn't reject white society wholesale like her family does..