Society: Instrument of Conformism
An Anthology of Societal Conformity and Exclusion
Editor: Evan Mounce
Copyright © 2007 by W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
All rights reserved
Printed in Canada
Since this page cannot legibly accommodate all the copyright notices, pages 2450-2451 constitute an extension of the copyright page.
The text of this book is composed in Electra, with display typeset in Bernhard Modern. Composition by Maple-Vail. Manufacturing by R.R. Donnelley.
Book design by Evan Mounce
Library of Congress Catalogue-in-Publication Data
Society: Instrument of Conformism, an Anthology of Societal Dictation and Exclusion/
[edited by] Evan Mounce – 1st edition
p. cm.
Includes bibliographies and indexes.
I. Literature I. Mounce, Evan
PS507.N65 2007
810’.8—dc19 ISBN 0 – 393 – 95983 - X CL 88-38038
ISBN 0 – 393 – 95736 – 5
W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10110
W.W. Norton & Company Ltd. 37 Great Russell Street London WC1B 3NU
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Contents
Preface to the third edition
I. Conformity
Lois lowry (1937- )
The Giver x
Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)
Brave New World x
Maraget Atwood (1939- )
Oryx and Crake x
Allistair Mcleod (1936- )
The Boat x
Timothy Findley (1930-2002)
The Wars x
Yann Martel (1963- )
Life of Pi x
II. Exclusion
walt whitman (1819-1892)
I Sit and Look Out x
MICHAEL LASSELL (1947- )
How to Watch Your Brother Die x
TIMOTHY FINDLEY (1930-2002)
The Pianoman’s Daughter x
Stones x
ELIZABETH HAY (1951- )
A Student of Weather x
JANE URQUHART (1949- )
The Underpainter x
Preface
Dear reader,
It is with great hope that I create this anthology, a glimmering belief that perhaps, through the acknowledgement and comprehension of society’s conformist tendencies and exclusionist demeanor you, students of today, might flex your revolutionary muscles and begin to move away from the conformist standards and foster the values of acceptance, diversity, and equality.
Knowledge and awareness are the keys to fostering change so through this anthology the reader will be led through dystopias of societal control, imposition of traditional roles, and observation of where society has no influence, discrimination based on sexuality, and struggles within the artistic world. As Gandhi stated by understanding problems within society you begin the cycle of becoming the change you wish to see in the world.
This anthology begins with a set of three dystopia novels: The Giver by Lois Lowry, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. Each of these novels realizes the rigid control which society imposes upon it and they share the commonality of the main character that doesn’t fit with the ideological sameness that the societies run on. Although improbable, the visions of these futurist societies all encapsulate societies void of challenge and inquisition, and idealize the perfection of the human form. Upon closer examination, however, the idea of an obedient society that does not question authority is a frighteningly close approximation of the direction that our society has taken. Through careful examination of these “ideal” worlds it is my objective that the reader contemplates the reality of an existence void of opposition, originality, freedom, and purpose, and pushes for change, striving for a world of acceptance and diversity, free of the boundaries of tradition and expected roles within society.
The imposition of traditional roles is examined in “The Boat” by Allistar McLeod and The Wars by Timothy Findley. “The Boat” gives voice to the obligation of tradition as Alistair McLeod struggles with accepting the maternal pressure of continuing the fishing tradition or doing something that he wishes to pursue. This same obligation to tradition runs as a sub-theme in Timothy Findley’s “The Wars”, where the main character feels the obligation as a young man that his responsibility lies in the defense of his country, no matter what the cost. Timothy Findley brings within his writing social questions sustained throughout his complex legato style. He uses his smooth flowing style to subtly ingrain the moral questions which are found throughout his works. As a Canadian writer Findley sets his stories in Canadian locations which allow a deeper level of connection between reader and book, bridging the distance and making themes real.
It is at this point that the focus of the anthology begins to move away from the constructs that society imposes and into the oppression and exclusion of certain groups in society. The piece chosen as a bridge is Life of Pi, the story of a boy stranded on a life raft with a Bengal Tiger as his only companion. During the novel, the idea of society becomes irrelevant as the boy’s only interaction is with the tiger. The author’s unique style removes the need for other humans and allows an abstract interpretation into the relationship with boy and animal. Unlike Findley, the localization is completely removed. Tiger and boy coexist for over a year, removed from society but when they finally reach shore no one believes what has taken place and he is dismissed as a boy with a wild imagination. “Life of Pi” tapers from society to no society, to the discrimination within society, a perfect transition into the discrimination, oppression, hatred, and lack of acceptance felt by groups within society.
Walt Whitman’s powerful narrative, “I Sit and Look Out” embodies his role as observer to discrimination and oppression as a powerless figure. In Whitman’s time he could only observe. This piece is paralleled with “How to Watch Your Brother Die” by Michael Lassell, where the reader is witness but also active in acceptance and change. Michael Lassell brings to his writing personal experience with anti-gay prejudice where he promotes social awareness and gives voice to the concerns to diverse sexual groups through his direct, compact, and articulate poetic sense which places the reader as the central character. The challenge for the reader of Lassell’s work is not in the interpretation of the message, but in taking action to promote that message.
The Pianoman’s Daughter and Stones, both written by Timothy Findley, is the next pair of novels focusing on societal exclusion. Both of Findley’s works deal with unique individuals. The daughter of the piano man has a sickness with fainting spells and the child of Bragg and Minna both possess physical problems. Due to their conditions, they are isolated from society, hidden from the judging eyes. Findley captures again the inability for society to accept unique individuals, and provides a testament to the isolation felt by the children. The comprehension that isolation exists is the first step to removing it and everyone accepting everyone for who they are. By reading this novel and collection of short stories the reader takes the first step towards change.
The idea of isolation is sustained in the work A Student of Weather and The Underpainter where the reader gains the realization that some yearn for acceptance. The artists had been completely devoted to their art when they realized that society had set them a part.
It is through reading these works that the knowledge and understanding of unique individuals and groups and their constant struggle for acceptance will make the reader question their actions and thoughts and those of others.
Throughout this anthology it has been my goal to create awareness and promote acceptance. Through the acknowledgement of society’s conformist ideal and policy of exclusion, the reader can identify and seek to change the treatment of all individuals within society, fostering a free, individual, and diverse society that promotes acceptance and equality.
- Evan Mounce, editor.
I. Conformity
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