Slaughterhouse Five

How does society influence an individuals perception of himself? How does it influence an individuals perception of others?

The protagonist in Slaughterhouse Five is not effected by society's influences. Billy lives a weak and pathetic life by Earth's societal standards and does not adhere to their norm's at all. However, he is still greatly influenced by the Tralfmadorian's "society." Whether the Tralfmadorian world actually exists, or is just a fictional product of Billy's imagination, he chooses to follow the way they live. By doing so, Billy is almost directly disputing Earth's societal norms. Vonnegut is satirically drawing attention to the fact that society is emotionally disconnected from life by portraying Billy in this manner.

Beloved

How does society influence an individuals perception of himself? How does it influence an individuals perception of others?

In Toni Morrison's Beloved, Sethe's perception of herself is molded by her past experiences as a slave. Every one of her future actions and thoughts are made through the lens of a former slave. Without having lived the terrible live as an enslaved being, Sethe would have never made the decision to kill her own children. In a sense, she committed that act of violence because she believed that death was a more favorable option to enslavement. Sethe simply wished to hurt her children "lovingly" before the slave owners could do it violently. The novel documents Sethe's recovery from slavery and the transition into becoming her own true identity. This recovery is necessary because her perception of herself as a slave, and as a survivor rather than an individual, is as detrimental as it is lasting, and it is a direct influence from the society of that time.

The Stranger

How does society influence an individuals perception of himself? How does it influence an individuals perception of others?
In Part 1 of Camut's, The Stranger, the main character lives a life independent of societal influence. Meursault goes through each day living in a manner that suits only himself. His persona is exemplified in the way he handles himself during his mother's funeral, which becomes an important event throughout his trial. During the funeral, Muersault fell asleep several times and exuded an attitude of indifference. This gave others the perception that he didn't care for his mother and acted, according to societal standards, very innapropriately. However, Muersault was ignorant to their thoughts of him and carried on as usual. The rest of the novel documents Muersault's developing character and self awareness. By hearing others express their thoughts on Muersault during his trial, he finally sees how his actions are perceived by others, and realizes that he is hated. This is the point at which Muersault allows himself to be influenced by society and becomes cognizant of its effects on him.

King Lear

How does an individual's surroundings and circumstances alter his perceptions? 


In King Lear, both the Edgar and Lear undergo dramatic alterations in their personas, directly influencing their worldly perceptions. Edgar, who was betrayed by his brother Edmund, took on the character of Poor Tom. This transformation caused him to view things in an entirely different manner. Like Lear and Shakespeare's Hamlet, as Edgar hides behind insanity, his comments become more astute and philosophical, taking on double meanings and adding important significance to the theme and plot of the play. As Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, "their must be a method to this madness." Lear, on the other hand, underwent a compete personality change. In the beginning of the play, he begs for his daughter's affection, threatening to repeal their inheritance if they didn't apply. Similarly, he refused to accept the fact that Goneril and Regan were betraying him, becoming blind to the truth. Near the culmination of the plot, Lear states "through tattered clothes small vices do appear; robes and fur gowns hide all." Lear realizes that the gilded personality he held in the past is immoral and unjust to his constituents. In this way, both Lear and Edgar's perceptions were altered by the tragic events of the play.

Oedipus

Big Question:

How does society influence an individuals perception of himself? How does it influence an individuals perception of others?

Or

How does an individual's surroundings and circumstances alter his perceptions?

Exemplifying the title of a tragic hero, Oedipus lived a life fortified with good deeds, yet it was tainted by a single mistake. The play documents Oepidpus' journey to "realization," as he slowly learns that his prophesized fate came true. At the climax of the play, when Oedipus found out what he had done, his self perception was altered completely. Prior to this, he was seen as an intelligent, brave, and kind king and he thought of himself similarly. However, after his epiphany, Oedipus believed he was a horrid person, regardless of the incedental nature of his actions.

Initial Big Question

How does society influence an individuals perception of himself? How does it influence an individuals perception of others?

Smart kids, theater kids, football players, band kids, lax bros, skaters.  High school students like their labels. Every teenager in the entire building has been categorized. Where they "belong" dictates what they wear, who they hang out with, what they do on the weekends, and even where they tend to eat lunch.  Who decided that they fit in to this category? More importantly, how did this become their identity? When examined from an outsiders perspective, it is logical why kids are labeled in this way. Almost every single one has altered his or her lifestyle, personality, and manner in some way to fit the mold of their respective congregation. The students who do not fit into a group, or rather, do not conform to a specific classification, are perceived as strange.Therefore, societal pressures "force" them to manipulate their being which leads to an authored perception. This is one prevalent example of how society has altered individual's perceptions of themselves and their peers.

Although difficult because there is no society present in the post-apocalyptic world of Cormac McCarthy's, The Road, one can determine that the protagonist's surroundings greatly influence their outward and inward perceptions of character. For example, the self deprecating attitude of The Man is a consequence of his morose setting. He tends to think of himself as an unbecoming father, unworthy of his child's love. As a result, he treats all those he encounters with suspicion, as if they exist for the sole purpose of extinguishing his and his son's lives. Interestingly enough, the child's perceptions were manipulated in the exact opposite way. He treats every traveler with compassion and empathy, even those who intend to harm him. It is difficult to discern what the child thinks of himself, but it is logical to assume that it is also in contradiction with his father's viewpoint. At one point in the novel, a thief steals the protagonist's cart, and both character's react in a way that exemplifies their outward perceptions of others. The father, being cautious and pessimistic, tracks the thief down, threatens him at gun point, and steals his clothes and shoes as a consequence for his actions. The child on the other hand, pleads with his father to return the thief's belongings to him. 

Werewolves in their Youth,  a short story written by Michael Chabon, is centered around the idea that society is negatively influencing children's inwardly perceptions. The main character, Paul, is described as fat child who "smells strangely like tomato soup." This description of him, especially the part regarding his pungent odor, is largely falsified. However, Paul begins to believe it. Later on in the story, as Paul's character is being developed, the reader learns that every diffident thought that crosses his young mind was spawned by those who made up information to make fun of him. The other central character in the story is a boy named Timothy, who is characterized as an outcast. Timothy is a very imaginative child, and gets so caught up in his games, his characters, that they consume his life. He comes to believe that he actually is a werewolf, a robot, or some other fictitious creature of myth. He does this so much, that it comes to be his true personality. Unlike Paul, who's persona is shaped negatively by the molding hands of society, Timothy is impervious to them, much like he is unaffected by the cold.