Conformity Vs Pop Up Essay

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect).” Mark Twain said this, and in our civilian culture being unique is expected. What makes you stand out? What makes you an individual? This is a question frequently asked when applying for colleges, jobs, and scholarships. What makes you, you? But when does this idea of being unique not apply. Not all communities thrive with individuality, some thrive with conformity. In traumatic experiences, conformity within a community can be more beneficial than going through the circumstance individually. If you open up google and type in “definition of community” and hit enter three main definitions pop up. The first says “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.” This can include family, a church, inmates in jail, people in a neighborhood, soldiers, and the list goes on. The second definition that pops up is a little more intimate definition, “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” The reason these definitions are relevant is to clarify that communities
In “All Silent on the Western Front” the main character, Paul, ends up face to face with a French soldier on a shell hole. He is alone, lost from his group, and having to deal with killing a man by himself. By himself he is forced to contemplate his individual beliefs on what he has done. Community, fellow soldiers, in war helps distribute the burden of the trauma of war. Perseverance is a concept that Paul had to immerse himself with. Paul is able to tolerate being obligated to persevere with greater ease because of his comrades are experiencing the same circumstances. There is an underlying assumption if they can do it than he