Introduction on Conformity

Though the inception of conformity comes from societal values, familial pressure is what enforces it. The most integral impact of conformity on any human being takes place in the home. The essence of this environment affects their ability to establish individuality both socially and educationally. In the past and present, societal expectation has consistently seemed to be much more important to parents than the right of their children to be opinionated. Therein lies the problem of the compulsion to conform and the incapability to foster uniqueness. However, rejecting the entire system also harbors conventionalism. Recently, the desire to defy the pressure to become a "typical" member of society is in the majority. Therefore, at either end of the spectrum, there is no sense of individuality. Unfortunately, the truth of our society, in its steady evolution, is that it has become the "trend" to be unique. This idea is explored in Franz Kafka's "Metamorphosis," as Gregor Samsa finds himself trapped as an insect, unable to escape the historic definition of conformity. Ultimately, there is no escaping conformity, as the interpretation is constantly changing.