Nonconformism And Conformism In Hamlet

Throughout the history of the world, nonconformists have been making their mark by going against social norms. Religions have spawned from dissenters like Jesus Christ, Buddha, and Muhammad. Mathematics and technology still used today have been discovered by rebellious minds that go beyond the known and traditional. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that to be great is to be misunderstood. “Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh.” Nonconformists can do great things by rebelling and not behaving in a societally prescribed manner. William Shakespeare, Franz Kafka, Emily Dickinson, and Sandra Gilbert are four authors that not only were nonconformist, but also wrote about the subject. Each author explores the definition of nonconformity and highlights different aspects of it through characters that rebel by not behaving the same way as other people in a society or group. William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, reveals a character who channels his insubordinate ways into revenge for his father’s death. In the time the play is set, Hamlet does not kowtow to the ways of a true prince. Nor does he act as if he is next in line to the throne. Hamlet shows the reader that nonconformity can be disguised as madness and petty, trifling revolt. Franz Kafka’s novel, The Metamorphosis, revolves around a “man” who adapts to his new physical state. By conforming to his insect body, however, he goes against the rest of society. Kafka reveals that sometimes when one does not conform, those around the rebel can be affected in a negative fashion. Franz Kafka also transforms and challenges traditional gender roles in the twentieth century European ...

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... norms emerge, and society adjusts to the fresh realities. This can result in a beneficial and necessary cycle assuming that new norms are established and a certain new level of conformity ensues. If the result, however, is just a breakdown or weakening of society, the result can become chaos. If good ultimately results, the rebel can be perceived as a hero. This may be easier to do when writing fiction like in Hamlet. In other cases, like in Gilbert’s poem, it may be necessary to take the first step in calling out the unhealthy nature of conformity, and inspiring rebellion without knowing how it may ultimately play out in society. Sandra Gilbert once said “I am not terribly interested in whether feminism becomes a respectable part of academic criticism; I am very much concerned that feminist critics become a useful part of the women's movement.” (Gilbert 464).