by Zoe Trudeaux

Created on: May 18, 2008

The theme of conformity and rebellion is prevalent throughout American history and therefore also throughout American literature. Most notably, this theme can be seen during times of religious, social, and racial upheaval. Once authoritative power demands to be followed, the only natural course to choose is either conformity or rebellion.

Early American writings contain many examples of people who questioned authority and became a "threat to the system." For example, Puritan leaders demanded absolute authority and persecuted those who questioned their beliefs about religion.

Cotton Mather said, "Wherefore the devil is now making one attempt more upon us He has wanted his incarnate legions to persecute us." Leaders, such as Mather, saw any expression of individuality as a threat to power. Anne Hutchinson, Thomas Morton, and Roger Williams were all persecuted for their individuality.

Phillis Wheatley was the first African American to publish a book, and the first to achieve an international reputation as a writer. She rebelled against society with the simple act of writing poems. There was an assumption among the educated white elite that African Americans were incapable of being civilized enough to write poetry. Other than this initial act of "rebellion," she was surprisingly non-confrontational in her poetry. Some criticized her as a "conformist."

Emily Dickenson wrote her poetry during a time when woman were supposed to conform to societal standards. In 1862, Dickenson wrote: "Much Madness is divinest Sense- [] Assent- and you are sane-/ Demur- you're straightway dangerous-/ And handled with a chain-" She, of all people, knew that when anyone, especially a minority (such as women) went against the grain, that person was treated poorly and thought of as "dangerous." Conformity to societal norms was thought of as "sane."

In Mark Twain's, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck first begins as a rebel of society by running away from the "sivilzed" world of Aunt Polly to the natural world of the Mississippi River. Later in the book, he can be labeled a conformist because he accepts that Jim does not really deserve to be freed. He "conforms" to the societal ideas about slavery. He then stands up for Jim and takes an active position on slavery, becoming once more the rebel.

Marin Luther King Jr. wrote "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in April of 1963. In the letter, he spoke of the many injustices African Americans have to deal with on a daily basis and why he "rebelled" against the unjust laws. He wrote: "We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." He also wrote: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Anytime "unjust" laws are made by an absolute and oppressive power, so-called rebels (or the oppressed) must stand up for what is right. Otherwise, power becomes corrupt. American literature is full of those who rebel against corrupt power, mostly because American history is full of periods where people had to stand up for what was right.

As Herman Melville describes in his story "Bartleby the Scrivener," humanity is hopelessly struggling between conformity and rebellion. Conformity is necessary in order to avoid anarchy, but absolute conformity creates absolute power. Rebellion comes when those is absolute power go too far. The human existence must be balanced with both conformity and rebellion.

Learn more about this author, Zoe Trudeaux.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.