Challenge the Expectations in Fahrenheit 451, Romeo and Juliet, and To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example

Standing up for what you believe in is a difficult thing to do. For some the backlash one may face for it may not be worth the goal, but for other achieving their goal makes it all worth it. The main characters in Fahrenheit 451, Romeo and Juliet, and To Kill a Mockingbird all challenge expectations in their society by standing up for what they believe in to achieve their individual goals. Bradbury, Shakespeare, and Lee all use protagonist who go against the expectations of their society.  In society, people are expected to follow society norms; Montag, Juliet, and Atticus challenge the expectations of society by rebelling against these expectations, which allows them to pursue what they believe in.

In the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Montag rebels against the rules in his society and strives to achieve his goal of being able to read books which are illegal in his society and encourage others to think for themselves. Mildred has her friends over and Montag reads to the women and by doing this he puts himself in a dangerous position, “Then he began to read in a low, stumbling voice that grew firmer as he progressed from line to line, and his voice went out across the desert, into the whiteness, and around the three sitting women there in the great hot emptiness”( Bradbury 93).  He is reading from something illegal in his society and as a fireman his job is to destroy the books in society and prevent people from reading it. If montag was caught with a book he would have 24 hours to burn it and if he does not other fireman will come and do it. He is willing to risk his job and safety because he wants to be able to share this new way of life that he has never experienced before. After Montag in finished reading Mrs. Phelps is crying, Mildred tries to comfort her while Mrs. Bowles defends her friend by yelling at Montag. In response Montag list off all the things that have happened to her or her family that she never though more about, Mrs. Bowles does not appreciate this and Montag tells her, “Go home and think how it all happened and what did you ever do to stop it?”(Bradbury 94). The society in Fahrenheit 451 is not encouraged to think freely but to only “think” when it is about the entertainment they are given access to. Montag reading to the women scares them to think which they are not used to. Mrs. Bowles becomes defensive towards Montag because his reading made her experience emotions and she becomes afraid. Montag states all the horrible things that have happened to her family and herself and encourages her to think about it and why she never questioned it. Montag reading to the women helps him achieve his goal by introducing other in the society will inspire others to question their societies rules and expectations. By Ray Bradbury writing  Montag reading to the women and the argument after he is finished, he shows the extent Montag is willing to go to by rebelling against the rules and expectations of his society to achieve what he believes in.

Juliet in the tragedy Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare rebels against the expectations of her parents and social norms of the time to help achieve her goal of marrying Romeo. Juliet's cousin Tybalt has been announced dead, in response Juliet's parents with positive intention arrange her to marry Count Paris anticipating this to distract Juliet from the death of her cousin and bring happiness into her life, Juliet expresses her opinion to Lady Capulet, “I will not marry yet; and, when I do, I swear/  It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate,/ Rather than Paris” (3.5.121-123). Young women during this time period were expected to obey their parents. Juliet's parents have arranged her to marry Paris and Juliet is protesting against it. She is challenging the expectations of her parents by refusing to marry who they arranged. She challenges the expectations of society at this time by arguing against the marriage, this argument will help her achieve her goal of marrying Romeo because she will not be married to Paris. Despite Juliet not being in favor of this arrangement, her parents still believe it is what is best for her. Juliet knows if she can get the marriage delayed she can use the time to see Romeo and make a plan to get out of the arrangement and marry her love Romeo. Lady Capulet does not know about Romeo in this scene. Juliet begs her mother, “Delay this marriage for a month, a week;/ Or if you do not, make the bridal bed,/ In the monument where Tybalt lies” (3.5.200-203). During this time marriages for young women for arranged by their families, the young women were given very little to no choice. Juliet is trying to compromise by asking for her mother to delay the marriage after she asked the wedding to be called off. Juliet belives that she is meant to marry Romeo, to Juliet this is the only option. Juliet goes against the expectations of her parents by fighting the arranged marriage to Paris. By juliet refusing and fighting against this arrangement she buys herself time, this helps her achieve her goal of marrying romeo because she has time to get away from her family and find romeo. Shakespeare displays Juliet going against the expectations of a young women during this time by her lying to her parents and refusing their marriage arrangement to achieve the goal of marrying Romeo.

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the character Atticus who rebels against the expectations of social norms of this time to pursue what he believes to be the right thing to do. Alabama in the 1930s was segregated by law and this is accurately displayed in Maycomb. During this time it was rare to see a white man not hold prejudice or racist views or even believe his race was superior over other races, Atticus is one of the few exceptions. When Scout comes home from school she has questions for Atticus about the case after children at school have began to express their concern to Scout, Atticus explains his reason for taking the case, “If I didn’t I couldn't hold my head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (Lee 100).  In maycomb Atticus is surrounded by a prejudice community. Despite other people in Maycomb not be able to understand why Atticus is defending a black man, he defends Tom Robinson because of his conscience. He goes against the social norm of the 1930s in the South by defending a balck man because he knows he is innocent and does not dismiss his innocence because of his race. People in Maycomb expect Atticus to refuse to defend Tom robinson or to defend him but without any proper effort or concern of the verdict, Atticus is displayed to have a strong moral compass throughout the novel. Atticus teaches his kids to look at things from someone else's perspective and always does what he believes is right which is fueled by his faith. While Atticus is talking with scout about the criticism their family will and is facing from this case he explains, “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience—Scout, I couldn’t go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man ” (Lee Chp 11).  Atticus is aware he is rebelling against the expectations and social norm of Maycomb but his moral compass and conscience guide him to defend Tom robinson despite the backlash he will receive. Harper Lee has Atticus defend Tom Robinson despite the consciences his family and he will face because of the social norm of prejudice in Maycomb because he knows defending an innocent man letting Tom Robinson's innocence be dismissed because of his race.

Bradbury, Shakespeare, and Lee all display protagonists rebelling against social norms to achieve their goals and what they believe in. Montag rebels by reading books which are illegal in his society, Juliet go against the expectations of a young women from her time by rebelling against her parents, and Atticus go against the social norm of prejudice in Maycomb and the time  by defending a black man who is being accused by a white man. Montag, Juliet, and Atticus all prove that is is more important to do what you personally believe rather than following your peers.