Kev-uhn
Geena Rocero, a transgender activist once said, “The world makes you something that you are not, but you know inside what you are, and that question burns in your heart, how will you become that?” Individuals are faced with many societal guidelines; however, those who can ignore the ideals, are rewarded with the gift of individuality. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Dead Poet’s Society, and “Two Kinds”, each main character expresses that one’s identity can only be revealed with non-conformist behavior. Through these stories the following truth is shown: The decision to not conform to others’ customs, beliefs, or expectations allows one to live freely and express one’s identity.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, the main character, Scout Finch, must disregard societal gender customs and break female stereotypes in order to live life the way she desires. While Scout is with her Aunt’s missionary group, Scout realizes, “[She] was more at home in [her] father’s world...ladies seemed to live in faint horror of men, [she] seemed unwilling to approve wholeheartedly of them...There was something about [men] [she] instinctively liked”(Lee 172). Scout does not enjoy stereotypical feminine behavior but instead shows interests in the conduct of men. Throughout her life, Scout has acted as she pleased as a tomboy; even after she is given ‘feminine’ customs to follow. Scout insists on aberrating because the feminine customs restrain what kind of behaviour feels comfortable to her. In addition, Scout receives criticism for her unwomanly attire from her aunt: “[Aunt Alexandra] was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not have possibly hoped to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, Aunt Alexandra said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants” (Lee 129). Scout’s aunt is trying to force her into wearing what her aunt believes ladies should wear because Scout was wearing overalls, which are mainly associated with manlike activity. Scout proves that in order to feel content with her appearance, she had to disregard stereotypical customaries of ladylike apparel for her appearance to reflect herself properly. Collectively, Scout does not subject to the societal normalities of what a lady should be like because it doesn’t allow her to express herself through her actions and appearance. In essence, the nonconformity of societal customs and beliefs allow the free expression of one’s identity
Another example of a nonconforming character is from Dead Poet’s Society, Professor Keating. Keating proves that one can only unveil their voice and identity by not conforming to society’s beliefs. During one of his lectures, Professor Keating tells his students that they must “strive to find [their] own voice. Because the longer [they] wait to begin, the less likely [they] are to find it at all...'Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.' Don't [subject] to [it]” (Dead Poet’s Society). Professor Keating elaborates on the idea that they have their own purpose, but they have to find it themselves. While his students are taught to succumb to the generic monotony of ivy leagues and graduate degrees by their school, his students learn from Keating that if they ignore it they can identify and fulfill their purposes in life. In addition, Keating also touches upon the importance of individual views. After a class reading of a novel, Professor Keating explains that “Now we all have a great need for acceptance, but you must trust that your beliefs are unique, your own, even though others may think them odd or unpopular” (Dead Poet’s Society). Keating explains that one’s uniqueness should never be altered by society’s beliefs, even if they are uncommon. Through his words, Keating demonstrates to his students that by not following the interests and ideals of society, they can convey their own identities based on their beliefs. Fundamentally, the creation of one’s identity begins with ignoring to societal opinions and expectations
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Lastly, in the text “Two Kinds”, a young adolescent girl named Jing Mei is able to express her own identity only by not conforming to her mother’s expectations. Jing Mei’s mother is trying to force her to play the piano, but Jing Mei responds by saying, "I'm not going to play anymore...Why should I? I'm not a genius"(Tan 6). Jing Mei does not want follow her mother’s order because she believes that she is not capable of fulfilling them. Jing Mei’s refusal to appeal to her mother’s expectation to play piano allowed her to express her self-image as well as challenge her mother’s reasonings about why she needs to play the piano.Furthermore, Jing Mei continues this attitude by telling her mom, "You want me to be something that I'm not!... I'll never be the kind of daughter you want me to be!"(Tan 7). Jing Mei believes that fulfilling her own path is more important than following her mother’s desire for her to be a prodigy. Consequently, she is able to express her identity by proving to her mother that she does not want to be a prophetic aspiration, but instead an independently thinking individual. All in all, Jing Mei is able to feel like herself due to her nonconformity with her mother’s expectations.
The act of nonconformity to customs, beliefs, and expectations allows one to explore and define one’s own individuality. Scout is able to be herself by breaking gender customaries she is expected to follow. Additionally, Professor Keating exemplifies to his students, the behavior necessary to live free of societal beliefs. Lastly, Jing Mei’s decision to rebel against her mom’s expectations allowed her to display her self perception. In modern society, individuals are falsely identified with oppressing labels; however, noncompliance to those assumptions allow the free expression and revelation of one’s identity. As a whole, Scout, Keating, and Jing Mei demonstrate that even though society may have set expectations, beliefs, and customs to follow, their decision to not conform allowed them to find and pursue their identity; they just simply decided say “no to the flow.”
Works Cited
Dead Poets Society. Dir. Peter Weir. Touchstone Pictures, 1989. DVD.
Geena Rocero “Why I Must Come Out” TED March 2014. Speech.
Lee, Harper. To Kill A Mockingbird. New York: Hachette Book Group, 1960. Print.
Tan, Amy. “Two Kinds”. Literature & Language Arts. Ed. John Layden and Hester Weeden. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2003. 98-107. Print.