Examples Of Conformity In All The Light We Cannot See

In the novel All the Light We Cannot See, Doerr uses the contrast between forced conformity and Marie Laure’s inner voice to highlight the courage it takes to act outside what is expected and the personal growth that results from these acts of bravery. As the main character, Marie-Laure is witness to many inconceivable events as a young child in the war-torn country of France that allow her to defy expectations and mentally grow as a character. Marie-Laure leads an outwardly limited life as she is blind and depends on her father to guide her through life both mentally and physically. In this way, she is conformed to a certain way of living that she knows and is comfortable with. When her father disappears, Marie-Laure faces the choice to remain in the house and embrace what is safe and familiar, conforming to what she is used to. Yet her curiosity and desire to explore the world push her to learn how to navigate difficulties by herself. She convinces herself of the reality; that learning a new way to survive is not bravery, it’s simply coping. Doerr emphasizes this by writing, “‘When I lost my sight, Werner, people said I was

However, she is driven to become part of the resistance and risks her life to help others. Doerr writes, “‘Is it right’, Jutta says, ‘to do something only because everyone else is doing it?’” (143) This emphasizes Marie-Laure’s need to act upon her inner voice. While hiding the fact that she is working against the Germans, she teaches herself to navigate the town by herself, engaging in rebellious activities that could result in severe punishment. By outwardly conforming to the Nazi’s expectations, Marie-Laure is able to save lives and soothe her conscience in doing what is right. Marie-Laure is motivated to act upon her inner questioning conscience and finds the strength to aid the resistance while appearing submissive to the