Individualism: The Search For Personal Freedom
In American literature, people's greatest struggle has been to find and discover one's own self through the concept of Individualism. This is a philosophy that places high value on the freedom of autonomous individuals. Self-reliance is also a key. By analyzing four literary works; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, Billy Budd, by Herman Melville, and The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand, several different portrayals of Individualism are introduced. Although the different time periods and settings of these novels cause the authors to delineate this philosophy in different ways, one idea remains constant throughout each of these works. It is the idea that society is flawed and that Individualism is the ideal goal of humanity, with only the social restraints of the world in the way. In each novel, the individual serves as the mediator between morals and social values, deciding which of the two should be followed, constantly stressing! to the reader that it is not as important to be accepted as it is to stand up and support what one believes in, even if it results in social censure. Based on Herman Melville's life at sea, Billy Budd tells the story of a handsome young sailor whose ind
She would sometimes gather them passionately to her heart; she would sometimes forget them. Howard Roark is the only one who is willing to try out his ideas, and is not concerned about his image or financial situation. " (back cover) The reader should immediately clue in on something that is very wrong with this picture. The next excerpt from the text will serve to show what he thinks of society's values. The power loom was considered vicious. Each person is expected to do their own job, but to expect women to sacrifice their leisure time completely to serve the family makes the word "family" redundant. Similar in some respects to Melville's Billy Budd, the reader is shown an innocent individual who is only trying to lead a simpl!e life, free from the evil of sin. ividualistic nature, innocence and naivet? lead to his tragic death for a crime committed justifiably. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a bildungsroman by Mark Twain, plays a major role in defining the individualistic belief of this time period. Concerned with only themselves, the men give him some money and abandon him. A sailor himself, the author bases Billy Budd's main theme on one of his own past experiences. Similar to Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, where the Huck goes through a change that leads him to realize that society is not always correct, Edna does the same, raising ques!tions of conformity. Throughout much of American history, women were not treated on the same levels as men. I said I wouldn't, and I'll stick to it. Mark Twain expresses his disdain for society and shows how such an individual can be right, even though all others deem his or her morals to be foolish.
Common topics in this essay:
Howard Roark,
Finn Huck,
Iberville Feeling,
Miss Watson,
Claggart Billy,
Billy Budd,
Melville Claggart,
Hold Parker,
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Mark Twain,
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howard roark,
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moral values,
huckleberry finn,
society's values,
own ideas,
adventures huckleberry,
awakening kate chopin,
throughout american history,
money material wealth,
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Acceptance Essays
