Going along with someone’s beliefs is costly. When someone is open-minded, it is considered a positive investment in one’s growth. Removing one’s self from one’s ideas and way of life is another type of investment, one yielding high risk and little rewards. The incentive of being a part of something is very much worth the risk to many people. In the stories, “Just Walk on By” and “Happy Endings,” the tone is shared between Brent Staples and Mary B. who both conform to someone else’s mind-set for a sense of belonging.
Whether a healthy love life or acceptance amongst peers, almost everyone is capable of falling victim to a very familiar vibe: nurturance. Insert respect to the equation and being treated fairly without ridicule and prejudice becomes immediately significant in what individuals want for them. There is always a decision to be made in going after what one wants. The choice begins with a wager bearing unknown results. One essential item a majority of people consider; life without progress is one not worth living.
Mary gave in to John’s notion of faking a relationship for sexual gratification, when she was faking sexual enjoyment for a relationship. Mary invested her time and body into John, hoping she would be compensated with the title “Mrs.” Mary auditioned for the role tirelessly. She cooked whenever he came over, although he never showed any gratitude in return with an evening dinning out. Mary cleaned up after John while he slept, so he would be assured that she is not regarded as unkempt. This woman even kept herself unbelievably presentable when he wakes up the next morning, only to have him ignore her metamorphosis.
Mary grows emotionally fatigued from giving herself to a man that does not care. With an exc...
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..., yet agreeable tenor whenever pulled over by police. Brent also showcases his whistling talents with others during those late evening walks. He whistles numbers from Beethoven and Vivaldi, to alert others in the area that he is a safe, law-abiding, tax-paying citizen just like them.
Brent wanted to be looked at as plain and not menacing in his environment, so he adopted some irregular habits to fit in. He molded himself in the image of what others thought a safe black man should be. He conforms just like Mary B., but the major difference lies in Brent changing with his personal survival in mind. Mary B. was willing to do anything even if it cost her own life.
Works Cited
Atwood, Margaret. “Happy Endings.” Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 11th ed. New York: Longman, 2010. 482-85. Print.
Source #3: Kennedy, X.J., and Dana Gioia. Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 9th. New York: Pearson Longman, 2005.
...X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, 8th Ed., edited by Joseph Terry. New York: Longman, 2002.
Faulkner, William. “A Rose For Emily.” Literature Reading, Reacting, Writing. Kirszner, Laurie. Mandell Stephen. 4th edition. Sea Harbor: Harcourt College Publishers. 2001. 87-94
He further goes on to describe that he did not realize these behaviors in society when he was younger due to the fact that he grew up in an area where the demographic was not very diverse. Saw that violence and such things lead to dangerous outcomes, death. Although he left the area where he grew up, the public still associates him with the problems. Has given up on the idea that society will change, thus he compensates even though he hasn’t done anything wrong. Due to the stigma created by society and the media, black males are portrayed as suspicious and possibly dangerous characters, therefore, Brent Staples, an educated and passive man has had to accommodate those with judgmental mindsets in order to be accepted in
As the story begins, the narrator's compliance with her role as a submissive woman is easily seen. She states, "John laughs at me, but one expects that in marriage" (Gilman 577). These words clearly illustrate the male's position of power in a marriage t...
Charter, Ann, and Samuel Charters, eds. Literature and its Writers: A Compact Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 3rd ed. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin's, 2003.
Brent Staples is fearful because he is constantly threatened, both physically and emotionally. Staples has justified reason to feel afraid, as he resides in a world where hate and judgement fill the minds of those around him. Due to the prejudice
American Literature. 6th Edition. Vol. A. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. 2003. 783-791
In society, it's difficult to go against the norm. Individuals are compelled to act a specific way, or look a specific way in order to be accepted. For instance, teenagers may encounter pressure from their peers to partake in specific exercises that may not be moral, since they feel the need to fit in. This weight of conformity isn't just present in reality; it can be found in literature as well. The story "St. Lucy’s Home For Girls Raised by Wolves" by Karen Russell depicts that in order to conform to society, individuals abandon their selflessness and compassion and become selfish and apathetic.
As a graduate student at the University of Chicago, Brent Staples never realized before the strong stereotype against black men has he had the one late night walk. When on a late night walk, Staples, a young black man realized the stereotype that most Americans have of the young black male. As a young white woman was walking that night in front of him and caught a glimpse of Staples approaching her. She became uncomfortable in the situation and responded by running away from Staples. Not until this incident did Staples realize the negative impact of the young black male on other people, often resulting in being intimidated. He was not seen as a young bright adult with a prominent future, rather he was seen as a mugger, or worse yet a rapist. He did not ask to be seen as a misconception of what others may believe him to be. People were often quick to judge him based solely on the color of his skin and nothing else. He was a twenty-two year old black male that stood over six feet with a broad frame. Brent had experienced many instances where people would see him as a person he is not. For example, one time he walked into a jewelry store and instantly the cashier assumed he was about to rob the store. She replied to her false premonition by going to the back of the store and coming out with a Doberman Pincher to chase him away. It is instances like this that can scar an individual and make him doubt oneself, but Brent did not and he found that he could fix the situation. His solution to the problem was whistling. He found that when he would whistle people saw him as less threatening, even thought most low-lifes did not know Beethoven or Mozart. Still, he found ways to deal with his problems and so can everyone else who is judged only on their physical appearance. Similarly to
Pursuing a personal desire and choosing to conform to societal expectations is a challenging decision to make. A person must decide if their personal desire is worth risking the shame and judgment of others or is conforming the route to take because it is easier. When pursuing a personal desire one must ask itself if it is worth the hardship to accomplish one's desire or if it is best left alone and repressed, in hopes of finding comfort in conformity. John Laroche from The Orchid Thief expresses his personal desire without a care for conformity or societal expectations. Nevertheless, Laroche never stopped being strange as he grew up with fascinations of many objects such as orchids, turtles, old mirrors and fish tanks.
...h his writing of “A&P”. This story shows that no matter who someone is, where they are from, their gender or their age, the basics do not change. People, are continuously at war with their need to feel something about themselves that sets them apart from others. By nature, people desire self expression, and some form of individualism. However, the desire inevitably will lead us to a cross road and a decision must be made. Humans, regularly have to battle both internal and external controls when it comes to making decisions in order to comply with social norms and avoid upsetting the delicate balance between what is socially acceptable and individualism.
Kennedy, X. J., and Dana Gioia. Literature: an Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007. Print.
Brent Staples was a twenty-two-year-old graduate student just moved to Chicago. Staples’ first encounter happened late at night on the streets of Hyde Park. A woman, white, and in her twenties, was walking
Kennedy, X. J., and Dana Gioia. Literature: an Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007. Print.