The quote from Garth Nix's book Lirael reflects the varied and sometimes uncertain responses characters give when asked about their identity and origin. The answers range from humorous and disreputable to more profound and personal, showing the complexity of understanding oneself.
It highlights how perceptions of identity can be fluid, shaped by individual experiences and circumstances. Different characters' answers reveal their unique backgrounds and relationships, emphasizing the theme that questions of self are often layered and open to interpretation.