Examples Of Individuality In The Elephant Man

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For One’s Own Individuality “Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.” -John F. Kennedy. Kennedy believes that to conform means to trap oneself in a prison made by society, never to grow free from the shackles that hold one’s person. To be an individual and to embrace individuality is one of the most important aspects of society. Different examples from various pieces of literature portray ideas which pertain to my view on individuality. In the play “The Elephant Man”, written by Bernard Pomerance, Joseph Merrick (AKA the Elephant Man) is taken in by Dr. Treves and is being brainwashed by Treves to conform to society’s rules and standards. I am not in agreement with this, for Joseph should be accepted for the way he actually …show more content…

In my own life, I have been forced to obey rules that keep from being an individual and prevent me from growing. Along with the struggles of the Elephant Man to be an individual Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, also faces struggles of individuality in their own way. In To Kill A Mockingbird Scout is forced by her Aunt Alexandra to act in certain ways such as wearing a dress and use tea sets, however Scout retaliates against her Aunt and would rather wear overalls and play with her brother Jem and their friend Dill. Scout’s retaliation is a prime example of the importance of being an individual. Her wanting to wear overalls and act more like a tomboy specifically appeals to me. Many times I would rather do certain feminine things such as wear makeup or dance femininely, but my father would think otherwise and lash out against me saying that men shouldn’t do those sorts of things. Despite that however, I still choose to do these things on my own without my father’s knowing. Esperanza, from The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, also tries her best to be an individual and break free from the cycle that her mother says. She wants to be her own person. She wants to “not… grow up

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