Society Is To Understand The Tacit Rules Of Belonging Essay

Michael Ignatieff once stated, “To belong is to understand the tacit codes of the people you live with”. In society and in certain groups, group identity is often craved by all and highly prized once obtained because, by most standards, a person is defined by their social standing, which is a common theme throughout literature such as The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible. To thoroughly understand Ignatieff’s statement, “to belong is to understand the tacit codes of the people you live with”, one must determine what the word, belong, means. According to the dictionary, to belong means to have the right personal or social qualities to be a member of a particular group. But how can someone truly learn to belong in society? Many psychologists

One must carefully observe the actions of those who “belong” in society to discern how to belong themselves. Following these “rules of conformity’ could include offering respect to the leader of the group or mimicking those in the group, either by their speech, personality, dress, or general behavior. Even one’s background, nationality, or religion can determine whether or not one truly belongs, but ultimately, group identity cannot be forced. Society and groups within it constantly change and are often exclusive, making belonging for newcomers difficult to obtain and can make those who feel they belong question if they truly do“fit

During the Salem Witch Trials, having a “good” reputation could save one’s family or even their life, yet a “good” reputation could not avert suspicion if accused of witchcraft, a fact proved by Miller’s characters, Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor. Wife of Francis Nurse, Rebecca was highly respected by her community due to her charity and dedication to those around her, but when Mrs. Ann Putnam accuses Rebecca of witchcraft and Rebecca refuses to admit that she is a witch, nearly everyone is convinced that Rebecca is a witch except John Proctor. Determined to prove that those accusing others of witchcraft are hypocrites, Proctor has to choose whether or not to save himself but convict others or face inevitable death and attempt to save others, proving that it can be dangerous to heedlessly mimic society. At the end of the novel, Proctor chooses to follow his conscience instead of choosing to belong. Although one might belong in society or in a certain group, the “rules of belonging” often shift, requiring complete compliance with the new rules or the leader’s wishes to truly belong. To belong, sometimes, one must ignore their conscience and follow the group, as shown by Mary Warren in The Crucible, who decided to join her friends that accused others of