In Playboy of the Western World, Christy struggles to create his own identity because the identity he creates for himself is based on lies, though he believes they are true. Christy appears to create an identity that he believes the women, particularly Pegeen, will approve of and be impressed by. Though his father has said he is afraid of women, when Christy meets Pegeen he knows exactly how to impress her and makes her believe he is someone who he really is not. Christy obviously shapes his identity based off of what will impress other people, to ensure he will be welcome into their society, rather than staying true to himself and his old way of life.