Societies' Destructive Behavior around ‘Normal’

Despite the fact that we like to think we have a free choice in our individuality, normalcy is forced through the constant pressure from society around us. In conforming, we receive advantages such as jobs, money, affection, all of which originate from conforming to the normalities of our society. In conforming, we try to satisfy others but not ourselves in fear of rejection. In our desperate attempts to please others, we often lose a part of ourselves in the process. Being deemed normal in society is a major part of everyone 's lives and the abnormal are usually excluded from the public eye. In this paper I will prove how the forced sense of normalcy is ingrained into our minds even if we believe that we are free.

Not only is the social phenomenon of prejudice exposed through race and gender but also through religion. The classic Shakespearean novel “The Merchant of Venice” highlights the trials and tribulations members of different religious groups encounter whilst living in the 16th century, and also how and to what extent their hatred and bitterness towards each other is displayed in the book.

During Shakespeare’s time, Jews and Christians were separated for countless of reasons. One reason that Jews and Christians were separated was as a result of Christians feeling more superior than Jews. In fact, Jews were forced to wear red hats, in research conducted by Colton Williams and George Hildebrandt, it’s clear that Venice had more reverent to Christians than Jews. An incident involving some Christians who were mistaken to be Jews further illustrates that the rule for Jews wearing red hats had a reason behind it. Christians had many rights and privileges that Jews did not have during Shakespeare’s time.

Today’s society has changed immensely over the years. Now it is okay to be who you truly are and to not be judged by society. But years ago, unique people were judged and put down by society: such as in the story “Antaeus”. The character T.J. is different from his town, but becomes accepted by his friends, but unfortunately not by adults, who put him down. In the short story “Antaeus” by Borden Deal, the character T.J. is a representation of man, who is unique from the rest of his town’s society, which sparks purpose in friends, but they ultimately fail at the hands of authority figures.

Humans want to be like other humans. Likeness breeds security, and with this, people will go to great lengths to conform to their peers. This concept dictates a large part of everyone’s daily lives in the society built around them, as demonstrated very clearly by Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible; a story of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. In this case, because people conformed to what people around them were saying and doing--accusing people of witchcraft and executing them--twenty two lives were lost. After considering how the events of The Crucible portray conformity and the place in society conformity occupies, it becomes quite clear that conformity, while it has it virtues, can result in many societal issues that can be easily

One’s individuality and freedom are questioned when it does not conform to society’s ideals. This is often demonstrated in real life, as well as in popular literary pieces.

People are like snowflakes: each one is different. Every individual has their own qualities that distinguish them from others. Anthem by Ayn Rand features a collectivist community where citizens are obligated to suppress individuality and conform to a homogeneous way of life. This society in which Equality 7-2521 lives in regards the best in him as sinful because they do not think people should be unique in any way. In a similar way, the society in “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut tries to promote uniformity both physically and mentally by forcing their citizens to wear handicaps. Both authors show examples of how extreme equality can be detrimental to a society.

“If you hang out with chickens, you’re going to cluck and if you hang out with eagles, you’re going to fly.” –Dr. Steve Maraboli

The Enmity between Christians and Jews is first revealed in this passage by Shylock’s tetchy, sarcastic reply to Bassanio. Bassanio politely invites Shlock to dinner and Shylock replies sarcastically saying, “Yes, to smell pork…” He further separates himself from Bassanio by referring to, “…your prophet, the Nazarite.” Also, in an irritated way, he lists the things he is prepared to do with Christians, and the things he in not prepared to do. In this passage, “I will buy with you…nor sell with you”, Shylock repeats the word ‘YOU’ Eight times, making it sound like an accusation, not only against Bassanio, but all Christians, for wronging

Such “faults” (205) in society are depicted today; the ways people dress to the acceptable grades in school show how everyone tries to be conform. As good as being normal sounds, it is not always the right choice. For some of us, normal may never come. Sometimes acceptance is the only change needed. With acceptance, “[a] stupid man [can be] the equal of an einstein”(205). It would be so much easier and less problems, like meaningless grudges, would arise. Instead of rejecting difference, accept and appreciate what makes each and everyone of us so

Stereotypes for every different religion, ethnicity, culture, and gender exist among the minds of the human race. These typecasts have ruled this world for as long as there has been diversity among people. In Shakespeare’s comedic tragedy, The Merchant of Venice, one prejudice is very central to the theme. The play is dominantly set in Venice, one of the most liberal cities of the Renaissance era. In this place and time period, anti-Semitism is very much in force. The Jewish people are discriminated against and treated terribly by the Christians living in Venice. Shylock, a wealthy Jew, is mercilessly spurned many times by men like Antonio, a Venetian merchant. In contrast to this blind hatred is the longing and lust associated with

As many of the Venetians “[are] Christian” (MV 1.3.39), Shylock is subjected to religious discrimination because he “[is] a Jew” (3.1.54). This is significant because Shylock is forced to face a number of abuses at the Venetian elite. For this reason alone, Shylock is “spit on” (1.3.123) and “called [a] dog” (3.1.125) just because of the religious beliefs he adheres to conflicts with the beliefs of the Venetian elite. Where Shylock is constantly “laughed at” (3.1.51) and “mocked at” (3.1.51) by Antonio, a member of the accepted Venetian elite, for being a religious outsider, this indicates that the Venetians view Shylock and, by extension, the entire Jewish religion as an embodiment of the devil. As the Venetian elite believe Shylock is “an evil soul producing holy witness / Is like a villain with a smiling cheek” (1.3.97-98) that disrupts the accepted religion in Venice, this demonstrates that a religion difference is justifiable reason to discriminate Shylock. The extreme instances of unfair treatment that Shylock withstands from the Venetians because of his religious beliefs denotes him — like Othello — as an outsider in Venice. The dualities of acceptance extends only to those individuals who do not threaten the scarcity of that which the Venetian elite hold most dear to them: purity and Christianity. As Othello and Shylock both threaten these aspects, the illusion of acceptance bestowed upon them by the Venetian elite shatters and leads to the harsh discrimination and denotation as outsiders in Venice. Incidentally, where the Venetian elite believe that Othello and Shylock are outsiders for their racial and religious identities, Othello and Shylock sustain this belief by depicting themselves as the stereotypes that are associated with them,

Why does society push to be normal? Humans get hurt and they say if I was normal this wouldn’t happen; but there is no such thing as normal, because everyone is different. The main idea of Saleem on TED Talk is that it is ok not to be normal because no one is. I agree with Saleem because God created everyone to be unique. The evidence is that Blue was not a normal color for ancient Greek, Salem’s accent in his work, and kids’ books where the characters are white. To continue this essay, I will transition into the first piece of evidence which is about blue in ancient Greek life.

Unambiguously Catholic but famed for its “liberty”, it sheltered believer and unbeliever, atheist and zealot, the hesitant and the convinced…. It was often in Venice that Europeans of Jewish blood made their final choice between Christianity and Judaism; those who hesitated and faced both ways, neither conforming fully nor vowing themselves permanently to either creed, were most likely to suffer at the Inquisition’s hands.”

The sociocultural model suggests that abnormal behavior is the result of broad forces influencing an individual (Comer, 2015). By using this approach, the therapist is equipped to help Sara understand her irrational thoughts, atypical behaviors, and overall degree of abnormal functioning. Whilst, emphasizing the family-social and multicultural perspectives; a main tenet in facilitating individual experiences in sociocultural therapy. Taking into account, Sara’s traditional Japanese customs and values, coupled with cultural sensitivities and the norm within her respective society (Comer, 2015). Thus, in understanding Sara, the therapist should first focus on her awareness of familial hardships or stress since moving to the United States, helping Sara to identify and express any degree of unhappiness or discomfort.