Conformity Is A Jailer Of Freedom And The Enemy Of Growth

The statement â€Å"Conformity is a jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth,† was spoken by John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, in an attempt to boost American morale. The idea that is being conveyed is that conformity limits freedom, inspiration, and independence, which are the traits that brought the United States to where it is now. Conformity, defined as acting in order and in compliance with social behavior and law, is an extremely ambiguous term, but it means that creativity and originality can be lost due to the standards set by authoritative figures. Many works of literature share the common connection that runs through all of their collective plots and express the dangers of agreeing with society. In Arthur Miller’s drama The Crucible, the theocratic community of Salem is engulfed by hysteria over witchcraft and is reluctantly led to oppose the court’s defense of the truth. In the Scientific American article  "Why Are We So Afraid of Creativity?† by Maria Konnikova, she concludes that people try not to get imaginative due to societal restrictions that clash with their ambitions, which results in people that are compelled to repress their creative urges under the greater authority, and to never be very productive, as society has its fears of the extent of creativity. The Apple Macintosh Commercial â€Å"1984† tries to sell Macintoshes by persuading that these products will stray from the drab and conventional style of the 1980s and bringShow MoreRelatedAnimal Farm, 1984 and John F. Kennedy503 Words   |  2 PagesJohn F. Kennedy had once said, â€Å"Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.† This erudite quote is saying that people often conform to things and due to their conformity they not able to have their own thoughts or opinions. John F. Kennedy has a great percipience of life and mankind; if you follow others, you are doing only what others w ant, therefore you impede your own growth. Throughout Animal Farm and 1984 both by George Orwell, this is seen by the use of motifs, characterizationRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Conformity Analysis1285 Words   |  6 Pages John F. Kennedy once said, â€Å"conformity is jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.† I happen to think this quote is very true, because if no one ever had a different opinion, then would anything ever change? Or would it all stay the same? Forever? The idea of conformity can be seen as a good, or a bad thing. In many cases it is a bad thing, as one idea that is wrong is the only one that people think is right. This can specifically be seen in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird. Atticus,Read MoreConformity In Fahrenheit 451, By Ray Bradbury1005 Words   |  5 Pages John F. Kennedy once said, â€Å"Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.†. This has been a puzzling idea for many; most of us are grown into some form of conformity at one time or another. At what point does following the rules become wrong? When is it too much? Over the years many people begin to question what the acts of following the crowd can mean; whether or not we need thes e orders, and structures to function; or whether it’s really worth losing yourself just to make everybodyRead MoreKafkas The Metamorphosis : Societal Normality Versus The Individual1626 Words   |  7 PagesNormality versus the Individual â€Å"Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.† Although perhaps a trivial interpretation of the role of conformity, John F. Kennedy captures the essence of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis by identifying the principle struggle faced by Gregor as he experiences life following his inexplicable transformation â€Å"into a horrible vermin.†(1) The Metamorphosis explores the existential dichotomy between the societal pressure of conformity and the individuals drive forRead MoreFighting Against Restraints on Freedom Essay1077 Words   |  5 Pages As human beings, we endure each and every day, a constant fight for freedom. Liberty is described as ‘’the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint’’ (Dictionary.com). Relevant examples are found throughout history of the restraints of rights and the ever constant search for true freedom. Perhaps the most atrocious removal can be seen in the S econd World War; Legal and fundamental rights were taken away at this time without thought or conscience. Other examplesRead MoreThe Justification Of Nazi Officer s Actions During World War II1243 Words   |  5 Pagesperformance in sports events, clothing, or otherwise, we feel the need to compare ourselves to and identify with the societal â€Å"norms† around us. It is better to thrive as a sheep than to starve as a wolf, as the saying goes. This is what is known as conformity and it has been with us from time immemorial. In 1963, Stanley Milgram, a psychologist at Yale University investigated the conflict of consciousness and morality, their clash with the desire to follow directions. Milgram wanted to explore the justificationsRead MoreAnalysis Of Quicksand By Nella Larsen1202 Words   |  5 PagesAs John F. Kennedy once said, â€Å"Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth†. The novel Quicksand by Nella Larsen chronicles the plight of a young, racially mixed woman struggling with alienation during the Harlem Renaissance. The female protagonist, Helga Crane, born to a Danish mother and West Indian father, was abandoned and disowned by both her mother and father. Larsen wrote the novel in a time during which racial uplift was promoted and it was expected of women to comply withRead MoreThe Evil And Oppression Of The Innocent By John Wyndham1208 Words   |  5 PagesDeviations , and fear created through â€Å"The Definition of Man† by the authority figures of Waknuk. Their ignorance forces those outside society s norms to live a life where death is considered to be the only salvation. Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth. Being the only safe ‘haven’ amongst unchecked Deviation in the Fringes and beyond, the people of Waknuk are constantly afraid of being overrun by these Deviations which they perceive as intolerable evil and the ‘Devils work’Read MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesWorkplace 143 An Ethical Choice Should You Try to Change Someone’s Personality? 147 Point/Counterpoint Millennials Are More Narcissistic 155 Questions for Review 156 Experiential Exercise What Organizational Culture Do You Prefer? 156 Ethical Dilemma Freedom or Lack of Commitment? 156 Case Incident 1 Is There a Price for Being Too Nice? 157 Case Incident 2 Leadership from an Introvert’s Perspective 158 6 Perception and Individual Decision Making What Is Perception? 166 Factors That Influence Perception