Maddie Rakes Mrs. Wilson Honors American Voices 26 April 2024 Conformity’s relation to the individual As a member of society, there will always be deep-rooted expectations intertwined into humanity’s way of life and behavior. By living in a society, the influence of societal norms is inevitable and the effect of these expectations on a society is uniformity. Octavia E. Butler, the author of Parable of the Sower, experiments with the idea of defying societal expectations through the protagonist, Lauren Olamina. Lauren lives in a gated community, separated but not shielded from the violence and havoc occurring throughout the country. However, she yearns for more, she is a smart and curious young woman who is not satisfied with the life she currently…show more content… Prometheus lives in a society where the individual does not exist. Accepting the possible punishment of going against the societal expectation, he seeks new knowledge and perspective of the idea of individuality. Without the confrontation of societal norms, the world would remain stagnant, challenging these expectations is the catalyst for change. Through the insight gained from the inner monologues of both of their protagonists, Butler and Rand present ideas of societal expectations and the change that comes with the defiance of expectations. In both Parable of the Sower and “Anthem” the protagonist conveys differing feelings regarding societal expectations. Lauren Olamina, of Parable of the Sower, reflects on her contradicting ideas about society in her diary, the Earthseed book. Lauren’s father is a priest, however, she feels a disconnect from her father’s teachings and the church as a whole. Even though women are not encouraged to read in her society, Lauren borrows books from her father’s library and begins to form new ideas surrounding the idea of religion and community. She expresses these ideas in her Earthseed
