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Social norms in the 1900's
Cognitive dissonance theory paper
Social norms in the 1900's
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Author Richard Connell brought about several good points and questions about human behavior when he wrote his short story, “The Most Dangerous Game”. The quote “Literature is the question minus the answer”, really connects to this story because this story brings up questions, but never definitively answers them. The author brings up questions about the actual story, who is the winner? Is there even a real winner? Not only does he leave these unanswered but he also arises many questions and thoughts about human nature while doing so.
According to Montag’s society, knowledge was too powerful and made those who knew less than others, or people who were considered ‘more intelligent’, would often create conflict. With schools turning out more runners, jumpers, racers, tinkerers, grabbers, snatchers, fliers, and swimmers instead of examiners…the word `intellectual,' of course, became the swear word it deserved to be… Surely you remember the boy in your school class who was exceptionally 'bright,' did most of the reciting and answering while the others sat like so many leaden idols, hating him. And wasn't it this bright boy you selected for beatings and tortures after hours? Of course, it was.
Often times, it is assumed that learning does not have negative consequences and leads to one’s enlightenment What people don’t realize is that being thrown into the light can burn. Associating learning with pain is clearly illustrated in both Plato’s Republic and Frederick Douglass’ The Education of Frederick Douglass. Both works represent people who move past their ignorance through the acquisition of knowledge and step into the light, both literally and metaphorically; they become aware of their own situations and with that comes pain. Book seven of Plato’s Republic (trans. 1968) presents the allegory of the cave and the idea that learning isn’t always pleasant.
But the Council of Scholars has said that there are no mysteries, and the Council of Scholars knows all things” (Rand 23). Even though this particular individual has surpassed the knowledge within the others near his age group, he has been forced to relinquish the idea of the outer world by the scholars, possibly in attempt to mask the upsetting truth about the surrounding world. One can inform many things about the protected identities and many mysteries lying within the societies; however the governmental control contributes to the issues lying within the minds of the society's
William Mason Grosvenor took issue with the illegal secession of the Confederate States and why they were able to possess all their constitutional rights as member states of the United States. He believed that the Northern states had the right to dictate social changes in the Southern states, on the foundation that the South was practicing laws that disregarded the Nation’s Constitutional laws. Grosvenor argues that because the North won the Civil War, that they have the right to enforce Northern laws upon the Southern states. Others like Herman Melville, argue that the North should provide a humane and range-free reconstruction policy on the Southern states. (Dudley 9).
Those who possess great knowledge are often praised among society. They are viewed as leaders of the future as they assume the raw knowledge will lead us towards a greater life. While the ignorant eyes focus on the intelligent, the wise become overlooked. Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” portrays how philosophers struggle with others as they are often ignored or shunned for their different views. The “Book of Job” from the Old Testament also shows the ignorance that is apparent in the world as common people tend to stick to what they know.
Fearing Our Society THESIS: In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, the fear created in response to society's strict collectivist code causes characters to suffocate their potential, proving that the individual suffers when he or she individualism. Because all characters silence their individual voices in response to the strict collectivist rules, the individual is unable to pursue happiness, proving that suppression of individualism causes discomfort. Equality 7-2521 lives in a society that worships the word “WE”.
When someone grows enlightened, they utilize their newfound comprehension and knowledge to unshackle themselves from their lifelong ignorance to pursue a superior understanding of the world around them. This lengthy process often times entails detrimental consequences. It can be a traumatizing experience to disband yourself from a way of thinking that has been deeply ingrained into your psyche. Plato’s Allegory of the Cave showcases how enlightenment and education go hand in hand. His analogy connects directly to the struggles detailed in Frederick Douglass’s essay, Learning to Read and Gwendolyn Brooks poem,
(AGG) Knowledge is one thing that drives humanity to keep evolving, the yearning to learn more is what separates us from other animals, but what happens when you take that away? (BS-1) The government knowingly creates a world that limits people’s knowledge in order to give themselves more control. (BS-2) This control has a negative effect on the humanity of the people, which is lost due to the lack of awareness and memories.
An Appreciation for Time Memories make up who people are. Whether they be good or bad, these events shape the very being of mankind. It is, however, what memories that stick to the mind that speak a thousand words to who the person is. The concept of memory is discussed in the words of Tobias Wolff in his short story “A Bullet in The Brain”. Wolff writes of Anders, a book critic turned misanthropist through being consumed by his trade.
In a terrifying dystopia, “People will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think” (Huxley 1). Brave New World, written by Aldous Huxley, shows the starkness of a world where uniformity is paramount and diversity is despised as the root of instability. No one thinks for themselves, but instead they simple echo what they have been programmed to say. Every person is bred to act and think the same as others in their social class. Diversity is shunned along with old world beliefs and conservative morals.
Modern Psychological Acclimatization Mental and moral conditionings are both of major thematic importance. Americans prefer to believe that, while flawed, they obtain the freedom to live under their own opinions as they wish. Shocking the audience is the primary objective of Huxley’s novel, Brave New World, and the hypnopaedia is arguably the most controversial aspect of this “perfect culture”. The fear of being, for lack of proper description, brainwashed merely for a more convenient social system is horrifying. It is crucial towards the understanding of the World State’s success to recognize the similarities to the world in general.
We often consider knowledge as the prime foundation of society. Out of knowledge comes progression and advancement, be it in favor of the individual or the community. How one obtains knowledge varies greatly upon the origin and upbringing of the individual. Even so, all societies, fictional or our own, hope to produce the most continuously advantageous and fruitful method of maintaining a suitable environment for living; frequently, to formulate a civilized and efficient society, a collective must utilize the presence, or lack thereof, of knowledge.
”(Bradbury 143). Beatty now says that knowledge is too powerful, so powerful that it drives people like Montag(who receive knowledge) mad. Knowledge is powerful, and some like Beatty believe that the population should have this power taken away. Bradbury uses Beatty to represent knowledge is power, and that getting rid of knowledge would make the world into a boring place without diversity, individuality, or
Truth and happiness are two things people desire, and in the novel, an impressive view of this dystopia’s two issues is described. In this society, people are created through cloning. The “World State” controls every aspect of the citizens lives to eliminate unhappiness. Happiness and truth are contradictory and incompatible, and this is another theme that is discussed in “Brave New World” (Huxley 131). In the world regulated by the government, its citizens have lost their freedom; instead, they are presented with pleasure and happiness in exchange.