essay revise

Last name 1

Name

Professor

English 101

30 January 2018

Societal Expectations

This story has many strong supporting ideas about social stigmas and the main theme I'd like to discuss is the progression of social injustice throughout civilization. Whether it be from superstitious views, religious, or scientific there will always be the few "lusus naturae" that is ostracized from society. In different eras in history there have been people persecuted because of their ideology, skin color, or the disease they carry and as civilization evolve this theme will remain consistent. Therefore, civilization should be a main concern towards the progression of societal justices and freedom.

In this short story "LususNaturae" by Margret Artwood, there is a family society within a town society and ultimately within the grander civilization. The social hierarchy in a family society is having the elder with most authority with no regards to educational background, this is supported by the fact the grandmother use of unproven and even unscientific methods to try to cleanse the narrators ailment by trying to drown her, the narrator says the following about her grandmother “She had her own ideas, which involved puffballs and stump water. Once she’d held my head under the water in which the dirty clothes were soaking, praying while she did” (Atwood 263). The hierarchy is established when the narrators mother did not protest or question the grandmother’s method, all she did was downplay the fact it was “the best of intentions” (Atwood 263). This is evident that the family’s elder has the authority to act and behave in a way society has deemed acceptable. The injustice that was done to the narrator show society pressure people to act and treat others who are different from themselves.

The next level of social hierarchy is the town or community, that the family live in. Neighbors where afraid of contracting an unknown disease so kept their distance, they disguised their true intentions to “scrounge for news” (Atwood 264) by visiting from time to time and bringing the family “eggs and cabbages” (Atwood 264). Discrimination is completely showed out due to her illness in subtle ways. A priest was invited to the residence because of his high social status in the community. In addition, "The priest was bribed...we appealed to his sense of compassion"(Atwood 264). The role of priest represents a noble, admirable spirit. However, he received benefits and betrayed his mission as a priest and instructed the narrator to believe that she should appreciate being a chosen angel, “He said I was lucky… I would go straight to heaven” (Atwood 264). What kind of society produces such behavior? Obviously, only a society that is more concerned of their bottom line. Then the priest has the narrator "[she] was put on display ...in a white dress…fitting for a virgin and useful in concealing my whiskers” (Atwood 264). Due to religious and conservative ideas society deemed a priest as someone who holds unchallenged views. The communal view on virgin was sacred and these views persist in some parts of the world today, we see from the article from Soraya Copley “Eco-feminist Perspectives on Nature and Technology” these views are repeated in a patriarchal society. The narrator being the one ostracized has been conditioned into think it is her fault and she must make the sacrifice to help the collective society move forward but in turn has only hindered in civilization as a whole to make any progress. As Copley states, “Alongside the human race, the natural world falls victim to the thirst for profit endemic amongst politicians who are supposed to represent the interest of the common people” (Copley 47), the community will use and exploit what they can to achieve the collective goal in society, whether that “natural world” is talking about women rights or civil rights.

The illusion of freedom that was gain from faking the narrator’s death has allowed her to live outside the confines of societal expectations. Though she was mentally free from social views of right and wrong and was able to freely engage in ideas of “blighted love, and defiance, and the sweetness of death” (Atwood 264) she was physically confined to her room. In a way the narrator’s fate was tied to civilizations superficial mind set and her freedom from societal ideology ultimately had to come to an end as the narrator had realized and accepted her fate to the sick society which is filled with prejudice and cruelty.

As civilization progresses throughout history people who are different will face challenges and many factors contribute to these challenges. By looking through the development of society's timeline: Germany deracinated Jews in world war; civil war between north and south; the established of KKK organization; the speech of "I have a dream" by Martin Luther king; the LGBT rights by country or territory... and etc. Above all are sufficiently expressing the alteration of the discrimination from using the extreme controlling means to the fighting for justice environment. Superstitious views are tied to tradition and culture these ideas progress and eventually will lead to new ideas and tradition will take form. Then there are religious views which are harder to change but as we see in society it is slowly progressing from ultra conservative to progressive. As with scientific research as it makes progress it changes civilization world views. As we move forward towards to a brighter future there will always be a select few who will always be treated unjustly, but with short stories, books, and publications, people can reflect on ideas and make better choice for the future generation. Civilization like all other things will evolve and adapt and unfortunately the majority will always outweigh the few.

Work Cited

“LususNaturae”

Atwood, Margaret. “LususNaturae” October 2014 Issue of Prospect Magazine

Eco-fmeinistPersepctives on Nature and Technology

Atwood, Margaret & Piercy, Marge. “Eco-fmeinistPersepctives on Nature and Technology” Volume 25, Number 2, 2013