Two paragraphs

An individual is a person with an identity. Since a society is compromised of a group of individuals, there are similar and contrasting interests dispersed throughout the variety of people which can be ignored or accepted. Individuality consists of constant peer pressure which leads to the challenging question: when in life is it the time to conform to society’s expectations? Although independence makes everybody different, isolation is the resultant and can transform one’s psychological issues of how to cope with separation. Individuality connotes freedom of expression without the need of anybody else’s influence. Society is a cruel monster that never leaves your side; and one must battle their entire life to try to escape its influential power over one’s mind and life style. Disrespect and no consideration for one’s values belittles one to the extent that conforming to society is necessary at some level; and as your life continues to change, and so have the societies around you, it is then your opportunity to judge how your values define yourself and what needs to change in order to conform and what personal qualities remain the same. Transitions and acceptance can illuminate your growth from one atmosphere to another; such as, changing schools, adapting fashions trends, etc. Society’s pressure has never really disappeared, but has been adapted to different situations to form escalation in one’s identity. Conformity is a version of growing as an individual and sometimes it is necessary to live in a happy environment instead of suffering from disrespect. While at first individuality presumably leads to happiness and freedom from conformity, close examination reveals that disrespect and isolation is the consequence without conventionally abiding to society’s inescapable pressurized way of life.

 

Individuality cannot be learnt nor taught and not even replaced; however, society provokes you to over think your independence and warp your identity into a polished replica of other thoughts. Society isn’t a newly furnished concept; peer pressure occurred in the 19^th century as well. Austen’s novel Pride & Prejudice illuminates the battle between individuality and whether to conform to family customs. Elizabeth Bingley was taught, by her mother, that her priority is to marry a rich man in order to achieve happiness; likewise, Elizabeth’s four sisters obey their mother but Elizabeth strays from the ordinary custom, arguing:  “I have spend four days in the same house with him, and I think him very disagreeable” (53). Elizabeth is able to look beyond Mr. Darcy’s wealth and stature and judge his personality honestly. Her individuality allows her to judge who she marries instead of conforming to her mother’s regulations for all her daughters. In present day the resistance and battle lives on, in regards to different conventions, and is exemplified by the dilemma Elizabeth faces. Furthermore, one’s opinion on somebody influences everybody in society to see that criticism and belittle that person to a further extent.  Since Elizabeth’s decision is not regularly anticipated, Mrs. Bingley decides to criticize her daughter’s individuality: “..remember who you are, and do not run on in the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home” (28). Since Elizabeth does not conform, Mrs. Bingley sees this as an invitation to criticize the one daughter of the family who has an opinion. Elizabeth apparently ‘runs wild’ at home, thus connoting her separation from her other sisters and demonstrating her liberty. One’s individuality leads to freedom within their life and thoughts; moreover, without society telling you what to believe in, and more or less how to think, your mind is free to roam wherever. Of course, there is always a limit to how much freedom is allowed in one’s life-- which lines up to the conflict of when to conform and when it’s encouraged. One cannot live freely and independently with society beaming down their necks to abide to their regulations, but one must face the pressure of society in order to cross the bridge and accept the challenge.