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Conformity In Philip Zimbardo's 'The Stanford Prison Experiment'

606 Words3 Pages

Theme: The Dangers of Censorship and Conformity
Literary Device: Montag's Transformation
Outside Source: "The Stanford Prison Experiment" by Philip Zimbardo
Stance: While human beings have the potential for both good and evil, the negative effects of censorship and conformity can lead to a society dominated by evil actions.

Claim 1: Montag's transformation from a loyal firefighter to a rebel who fights against censorship and conformity expresses the theme of the dangers of censorship and conformity.
Evidence 1: In the beginning of the novel, Montag is a loyal firefighter who takes pleasure in burning books and maintaining the status quo. However, after meeting Clarisse and witnessing her nonconformist behavior, he begins to question the rules …show more content…

His initial conformity to the expectations of his profession results in his willingness to commit heinous acts, such as burning books and potentially harming innocent individuals. However, his curiosity and willingness to challenge the status quo leads him to realize the negative effects of censorship and conformity.

Claim 2: Zimbardo's "The Stanford Prison Experiment" connects to the theme of the dangers of censorship and conformity in Fahrenheit 451.
Evidence 2: In "The Stanford Prison Experiment," Zimbardo and his team conducted a study to explore the effects of power and authority on individuals in a simulated prison environment. The experiment demonstrated how individuals in positions of power can easily become corrupt and abuse their authority, leading to harmful and immoral actions.
Reason 2: This experiment relates to the theme of the dangers of censorship and conformity in Fahrenheit 451 because it demonstrates how societal norms and expectations can lead individuals to engage in immoral actions. Similarly, in Fahrenheit 451, the censorship and conformity of Montag's society results in the normalization of immoral actions such as burning books and suppressing individual

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