When it comes to doing what 's right; when stuck in a dilemma, how does one conform? Society is constantly edging us to submit to external pressures with the fear of being judged even if it might be the wrong decision. Two Fishermen, and The Snob illustrated by Morley Callaghan are both exceptional examples on how society views and pressures can have an impact on one’s actions towards a situation. Whether it is based on one’s hierarchy placement by assumptions or, even when one gets judged by the way they appear. Throughout these two short stories, the protagonists Michael and John are placed in tough situations making them face societal obstacles. When someone is placed in a situation they can feel uncomfortable, or threatened, which then …show more content…
When coming across someone who doesn 't fit the profile of a "normal human", assumptions and or inferences can be made unconsciously. In the story Two Fishermen, Smitty was known as the hangman, creating instant images, and or assumptions that he could be a savage, intimidating looking man just based by his title. However ironically he happened to be a: " A very small man with little gray baby curls of the back of his neck.." Instantly causing doubts to all images created. Creating this empathy forming within; especially when Michael came across Smitty for the first time. Making it only easier for Michael to approach the meek, petite male sitting curled up on upon the pier. Yet in the story The Snob, when John caught a glance of his father in the bookstore "with his hair too long, and his rather shabby clothes.." He then felt a heavy wave of humiliation overcome him. Knowing how people perceive him looking rather like a workingman than someone well dressed and more so put together. Especially worried that his girlfriend Grace would instantly judge his father by his appearance after all that work he put into portraying himself as a wealthy well-fitted man. Constantly seeking Grace 's "approval". Particularly concerning the fact that, Old Harcourt’s appearance is not meeting the societal standards of how one should look. Which also cause people to automatically place Old Harcourt in a lower
John lives in a fancy world and has everything going for him as a smart and wealthy boy. While Josie becomes closer friends with John, he expressed his feelings of depression and confusion over a night out engaging together over pizza. Josie is very surprised when she hears how John really feels on what she thought was the ‘perfect life.’ “A person doesn’t necessarily have to be happy just because they have social standing and material wealth Josie” – Michael
Every Saturday he takes his family out to town, where he waits on the corner with the other town ’s men like his fathers and grandfathers did. Mrs. York reflects her husband’s appearance with her own chaste look. She keeps her head down and shows very little signs of liberation or poise. Her dresses are weathered as well, and she owns one coat for the winter.
The captain’s garb comforts the townspeople because he labels himself as an outsider and confirms their assumptions; similarly, the narrator’s aggressive actions comfort the blonde man because the man already believes that the narrator is aggressive. Just as “the Puritan elders… [smile] unbenignantly at the clamor and rude deportment” of the pirates because they follow their stereotypes, the blonde man feels comfortable when the narrator attacks him because his view of the world is confirmed, even though all the narrator wants him to do is “apologize” (209,4). Thus,
In Louisa May Alcotts novel “An Old Fashioned Girl” the main character, Polly Milton, finds herself struggling against a man versus society conflict, as she confronts the rich first class society that surrounds her. The fourteen year old country girl who ventures into the city to visit her good friend, is constantly being told she is old fashioned, poor, and too simple for the city. The basis of the conflict is that all the people Polly encounters during her time in the city, expect her to look and behave like the rest. When Polly cannot do this, people begin to tease and mock her all because she has no wealth.
Firstly, the author stirs empathy in the reader with description. For example, after Donte fell in the hallway because Alan tripped him, he thinks, “Why can’t the world make sense like numbers?... If I were a number, I’d be seven… Not ‘Black Brother,’ just seven”(Rhodes 88). The author used description here to stir empathy in the reader for Donte because no one likes him at school. Everyone thinks he is an outcast when in reality, he is kind and would never harm someone.
Stephen's father and the majority of the pulp cutting crew all share the belief that men are only men if they show both physical and emotional masculinity. In their world, “the saw [is] the most important thing in the world”, and “men [do] not tender apologies”. Due to Stephen and Leka’s dissimilarity to the standards of man, they are forced to either conform and wield the “ax [to pretend] to be something [they are not]”, or to hold on to their individuality and live in their world of wonders. Being different from others subjects one to the pressure of mainstream prejudice and discrimination, and can cause one to break and conform. The conflict of choosing between following their own path or conforming to society creates internal turmoil in the individual.
On the Fallibility of Human Individuality The way of man is to err. This truth cannot be denied, even with the most innate valor of individuality. George Orwell’s 1984 and Solomon Asch’s 1955 line conformity experiment illustrate the fallibility of human individuality. George Orwell’s society of Oceania is one in which individuality is always subdued and conformity is inevitable for every individual.
Rebellion and Manipulation in Catcher in the Rye and One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest In J.D Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye and Ken Kesey’s One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, both authors present similar lead characters who struggle to accept society’s standards. Both Holden Caulfield and McMurphy respectively attempt to change society through manipulation and rebellion in order to have society reflect their personal opinions and values. They try to counteract these struggles through their rebellion against and manipulation of objects, authority figures and friendships. Both characters use chosen objects to demonstrate their individuality from society. In Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, Holden expresses his individuality and highlights his rebellious
This analysis is eye opening because it places emphasis on some of the more minor characters, such as the housewives shopping with their hair in curlers, the woman who gets angry with Sammy after he makes an error while ringing up her groceries, and the man that Sammy labels as a bum. Porter’s analysis explains why Updike chose to include them in the story, and gives a deeper meaning to Sammy’s frustration and actions. These characters represent a “loss of individuality” (Porter 2) with their “joyless, wooden nature” (Porter 2). They symbolize the mediocrity that Sammy is accustomed to, and offer a stark contrast when compared to the bathing-suit clad Queenie. Though this part of the analysis is informative and insightful, the analysis becomes limited when it comes to Sammy’s characterization.
At this point in the story, the reader begins to sense the theme of inaccurate perception and false accusation, for the
In the novella, The Ebony Tower by John Fowles, there are several characters that can be seen in more than one way. One of those characters being “the old man,” Henry Breasley, whom one reader may see as being portrayed as someone too “old-fashioned”(24) to understand the difference between being rude or honest. Where another reader may see that as no excuse, and feel that Breasley is simply an “old devil”(4). As we learn more about David Williams’s experience with Breasley, there are several places in which one may see Breasley as much more of an “old devil,” than someone who could use the excuse of being too “old-fashioned.”
Social Conformity in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest “He Who Marches Out Of Step Hears Another Drum” (Kesey 154). In this modern world, to come to terms with society is to conform to its standards. When a person does not fit the standard mold of a society, they are scrutinized for their divergence.
In George Saunders’ essay from The Guardian, he states, “We often think that the empathetic function in fiction is accomplished via the writer’s relation to his characters, but it’s also accomplished via the writer’s relation to his reader” (The Guardian). In Kurt Vonnegut’s story “Harrison Bergeron”, we can see this idea shown through the reader’s connection with Harrison. Vonnegut uses the main character of the story, Harrison Bergeron, as a symbol of empathy by allowing the reader to relate to his desire for individuality.
Morals and were to draw the line play a big role in Steven Millhauser’s short story The Knife thrower. The story starts in media res. A first person plural narrator introduces us to Hensch the knife thrower, hence the title, and the fact that he is coming to their town. Hensch is not just a normal knife thrower, he have stepped boldly over the line never crossed by any other knife thrower before. He have made a reputation out of disreputable things and induced the art of the artful wound, the mark of the master.
These feelings of danger can stem from feelings of unpredictability and