The attitudes of others forcibly constrict and diminish the subconscious of others ultimately limiting their ability to make choices and clouding their sense of belonging. There is only a matter of time before one's choices are influenced by their surroundings and the relationships that exist there. Psychological barriers created by experience dictate one's attitude ultimately limiting their perception of the world. The attitudes of others can thrust unwanted experiences on one, ultimately altering and damaging their capability to make choices in relation to where they situate their sense of self. Jane Harrison’s Rainbows End, a play about how the ignorance of Anglo-Saxon society in Australia inhibits and challenges an Aboriginal family to find where they belong in society and Edgar Allen Poe’s Alone, a poem that addresses differences in how one views the world and how they make sense of where they belong in it. Both of these texts utilize various techniques that allow us to see how the attitudes of others reduce one’s sense of belonging.
When surrounded with dominant attitudes and relationships one’s choices are preordained to be influenced, causing shift in their own attitude and sense of belonging. In Rainbow’s End, Harrison uses sarcasm to address the inequalities that the Aboriginals are suffering from, in particular their ability to make a decent living. “A girl from the flats? I don’t even see town Aboriginals working in stores,” This line convincingly highlights the attitude that Nan has towards the white society. She wants to force her views on both her daughter and granddaughter in order to prove a point; whites are not always right. By doing this, she creates a negative atmosphere, which persists throughout...
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... on someone, hampering their choices and ultimately affecting their sense of belonging.
Both texts make exceedingly apparent cases that display how the attitudes of others obstruct and decrease the subconscious thought process of others, not allowing them to make their own choices and not finding a true sense of belonging. Rainbow’s End conveys the hardships that the narrow minded attitudes of others can play a critical role influencing the decisions of others, not allowing them to achieve a sense of belonging. Alone illustrates the need to understand how one fits into the world and the meaning of existence even though the attitudes of others have forcibly stopped this from occurring. These texts prove that attitudes dictate decisions whether someone knows it or not, it is human nature to care about others attitudes and opinions, whether we want them or not.
Edmund Perry’s maintaining the same personality toward both his peers from home and Exeter is a mental journey by itself. Dealing with racism at Exeter has put Edmund through a journey mentally trying to keep his temper and follow his personality and qualities, although the racism finally bothered him to a maximum point that Edmund change. Edmund has experienced a journey by altering environments drastically from predominantly black neighborhood to a predominantly white school that might have strength his personality. At Exeter, Eddie was the strong student that he showed to be in Junior High. Edmund tells us a testimony of Herney, “He was, said those who had taught and coached him, matured for his age, serious, studious, determined and not at all in awe of the strange new world that was Phillips Exeter.”(114) I maintain the same qualities that his teachers and coaches saw him as. I also see a similarity in the way we use these qualities, to excel in education as Edmund did. After a situation at Exeter, explained in the book, Edmund says that “Eddie didn 't let any group or clique tie him down, which is kind of amazing… He could be with black people, and he could be with white people and he could be with himself.” (165) I connect strongly to this feeling or way of life. I feel as though, I do not need to have a certain group or clique to be with, all I need is myself. I am not racist nor judgemental so can be with and enjoy myself with any group nor clique. Recently, I have entered an art piece into the Teen Arts annual festival. I was placed in a group that had individuals that I have never conversated. This journey has pushed me to make conversation and still enjoy myself, and I took the opportunity to get to know them and create a sort of friendship. Being tied down to a specific group will aid you to lose a chance of getting to know other individuals and
Much of life results from choices we make. How we meet every circumstance, and also how we allow those circumstances to affect us dictates our life. In Marian Minus’s short story, “Girl, Colored," we are given a chance to take a look inside two characters not unlike ourselves. As we are given insight into these two people, their character and environment unfolds, presenting us with people we can relate to and sympathize with. Even if we fail to grasp the fullness of a feeling or circumstance, we are still touched on our own level, evidencing the brilliance of Minus’s writing.
Though the stereotyping and alienation is strong in Dougy and Gracey’s community they manage to break away from it. The whites feel that the Aborigines get everything free from the government and never do any work of their own, and according to the book, most of them do just this.
She stopped letting me sleep on the bottom bunk; she began to tease me about my fears.” (Evans 46). As 9 years old child, Allison is annoyed of Tara because she’s being tedious. Allison’s act might be seen as siding with her grandmother, and this directly explains that Tara went through the suffering alone, without anyone supporting her. This might be the reason why in the end, Tara decided to jumped off the tree, because she felt tortured and pressured badly by everyone surround her, and no one ever pay attention to her. Her best friend who she had always spent time with, giving her back to her, and stressed her to the point that she dare to jump. Somehow, we encounter these kind of situations in real life, and Evans are trying to make readers realize such tragedy really did happened in our surroundings. Frustration due to racial discrimination actually happens commonly. Those kinds of mistreatment that one’s receiving due to differences in race or culture indirectly affect his or her mentality and their character development. Evans wants the readers realize that such offensive behavior we frequently do – whether it is intentional or not intentional – affect other person’s psychological state. Readers ought to be aware of any shape of discrimination among our society and to select suitable actions when binding relationship with people from other
...s appealing it is not without consequence. Clare, and those who choose to pass, are not free to embrace their whole identity and will always remain a threat to those they come in contact. Clare exemplified the archetypal character of the tragic mulatto, as she bought tragedy to her own life and all those she came in contact. Clare’s presence forced Irene to contend with feelings of internalized racism, and thus feelings of inferiority. Through diction, tone, and imagery Larsen makes it luminous to readers that "passing" may seem glamorous, however, the sacrifice one makes to do so is not without consequences for themselves and those they care about. Larsen does not allow her readers to perch on the belief that once a member of the dominate group ones life is not without pain and suffering. Every action, even those that seem to make life easier, have consequences.
Aiming to gratify others has a tendency of making people act in ways other than their usual self. As one begins to act the way others want them to they begin to lose distinctiveness and individuality. For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf by Ntozake Shange is about a specific set of women, who aim to please a certain man or different men. Each woman is hurt in some way by a man and as they progress throughout the series of “choreopoems”, they alter themselves in different ways to cause an effect upon the various men they associate themselves with. As the women describe their experiences, it is obvious that they make drastic changes in themselves. These women lose purpose and become confused, bitter, scared, and frustrated about their lives. Consequently, the ladies have negative outward reactions that are similar to each other, making the women easy to stereotype. The women in For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf have the opportunity to narrate their own stories; however, they choose to emphasize the influence of men in their lives, thus illustrating how susceptible they are to stereotyping and making them weakened as individuals.
There are many things that influence our behavior from internal influences to social norms. Social norms are implicit or explicit rules that govern how we behave in society (Maluso, class notes). Social norms influence our behavior more than any of us realize but we all notice when a norm has been broken. Breaking a social norm is not an easy task and often leads us feeling uncomfortable whether we broke the norm ourselves or witnessed someone else breaking it. Sometimes however, you just have to break a norm to see what happens.
People go through many obstacles when they face their social identity. Some can overcome their differences, but others may not have they change to even face them due to the treatment that they get from society. Social identity is the one of many controversial and complex problems that many individuals deal with. Because, sometimes it used to be misunderstood making reference to racism and/or others complex matters. “On Being a Cripple” and “How It Feels to Be Colored” are two essays in which both characters suffer from some kind of discrimination. Indeed, in “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” by Zora Neale Hurston and “On Being a Cripple” by Nancy Mairs, each author shows different attitude, endures challenges, and change toward social identity.
Yet another example includes the parable entitled “The Ministers Black Veil” written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, where a highly respected minister is looked down upon for wearing a black veil over his face. The minister is aware of the gossip his veil initiates within the town, but continues to wear it despite the opinions of others. The importance of maintaining ones individuality under the pressures of conformity is an idea most pertinent to “Outside of a Small Circle of Friends”, “The Dying Girl that No One Helped”, and “The Minister’s Black Vail”.
James Thurber had many set backs in college. Thurber challenges society and the traditions of modern universities. In the essay "University Days" Thurber mocks the hegemonic structure of schools. He gives examples of the many outdated practices still used today. Thurber disagrees with many of the standard methods of teaching and gives examples of failures in amusing situations to hold the attention of his young audience.
Discoveries can be both confronting and meaningful. This can be seen through the depiction of discrimination, the act of putting another group or person down due to their differences, within the texts, an example of which can be seen in ‘Rainbow’s End’ by Jane Harrison. On page 127, Gladys returns home after travelling to the nearby city of Shepparton, in hopes of glimpsing the arriving British monarchs. She states how her trip was to no avail, as her view was blocked by large hessian fences that were erected by the government to hide t...
I am not a targeted minority and I have never felt discriminated against, but I certainly have found my self weighed down, unable to keep up, in the constant rush and roar that is our society. I have felt isolated and left behind by everything around me, and this utter loneliness is not something that is easy to deal with. This loneliness inevitably turns to self-hatred as I ask myself why I can’t keep pace with everyone else when they seem to be doing just fine? Reading James Baldwin has reminded me that I’m not alone, and that there are many ways to deal with the isolation one feels within society. For some, struggling to keep afloat in the mainstream as it rushes along is the most comprehensible way, but for others, like Baldwin, it’s easier to simply get out of the water and walk along the bank at his own chosen pace.
Throughout the Penelopiad, Atwood extensively conveys the Chorus’s depressing point of view on their lives and how egotistic society concerned with reputation discriminates against those who are less privileged. However Atwood never explains why it’s important the audience recognizes this. When humans discriminate, social exclusivity is creating causing others to feel alienated, disconnected and cut off from others resulting in lack of self-esteem and loneliness. Atwood utilizes the universal theme that discrimination is wrong because humans need to feel a sense of belongingness in order for culture and race to flourish. People are more likely to be accepting when they are loved and accepted.
Specific elements of the storyline that display the theme racism include: the display of animalistic treatment, enforced religious practices, and historical comparisons. The film reveals the overarching government belief that the white race is smarter and purer, to the inferior, uncivilized and misguided, darker-skinned, Aboriginals. This belief is demonstrated throughout the film and signifies the government’s attitudes toward the half-caste race as: uncivilized animals that need a trainer to discipline them. For example, the film shows the girls being transported like livestock to th...
Noughts and Crosses is an in depth story which explores the issues of racism and prejudice and the effects they can have on society. Blackman has created a world of her own in complete contrast to the society we live in. By doing this she has impacted her readers, challenged our contexts and allowed the reader insight into the effects of racism and the suffering it can cause. Blackman has effectively used a range of narrative techniques to bring her world to life giving the white reader a taste of the discrimination blacks have suffered for centuries, provoking feelings of empathy and understanding. By turning the world upside down, Blackman makes her readers see things more clearly.