Belonging Crucible and Numb
To belong, an expected requirement is conformity. But by rejecting the need to conform, a deeper sense of belonging to one’s self can be achieved. The need to belong is innate in humans and it is this thirst that drives individuals to disregard personal wants for society’s expectations. But by rejecting social orders, individuals may stray from society’s expectations in pursuit of an individual fulfillment. The notion of conformity is seen in the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller where individuals conform to be included in the safety net of belonging. The song Numb by Linkin Park demonstrates a negative contrast to those that conform and the film American History X (1998) by Tony Kaye explores how individual fulfillment can be accomplished by straying from society. These texts explore how individuals conform to society to feel the need to belong, but by rejecting this need a deeper sense of belonging can be achieved.
As individuals seek to belong, personal wants are disregarded in the face of societal expectations. This is evident in the novel The Crucible, where characters in the Salem community such as the flat character Parris, forsake personal desires to feel a sense of belonging. Through Miller's use of emotive language "I have fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me" highlighting to audiences, to belong, one must conform. Another member of the Salem community which further explores the concept is Tituba. Through Tituba’s idiomatic language “She beg me conjure! She beg me make charm” Miller symbolizes Tituba as the outsider with contrast to the archaic language of the others. Revealing to audiences, that to belong we must be what society expects of us. Through the disparity of Tituba’s character through the use of repetition “Bless him. Bless him... Bless God” Miller emphasizes to the audience how the once isolated and different Tituba, now feels the need to belong and does so by conforming to a religion she does not believe
As individuals seek to belong, personal wants are disregarded in the face of societal expectations. This is evident in the novel The Crucible, where characters in the Salem community such as the flat character Parris, forsake personal desires to feel a sense of belonging. Through Miller's use of emotive language "I have fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me" highlighting to audiences, to belong, one must conform. Another member of the Salem community which further explores the concept is Tituba. Through Tituba’s idiomatic language “She beg me conjure! She beg me make charm” Miller symbolizes Tituba as the outsider with contrast to the archaic language of the others. Revealing to audiences, that to belong we must be what society expects of us. Through the disparity of Tituba’s character through the use of repetition “Bless him. Bless him... Bless God” Miller emphasizes to the audience how the once isolated and different Tituba, now feels the need to belong and does so by conforming to a religion she does not believe