Human Alienation Essay Example

to catastrophic consequences, exemplified by Germany's ordeal during the Holocaust and World War Two.

Schindler’s List, directed by Steven Spielberg, illustrates the alienating effects of the Jewish ghettos and concentration camps. These places were where Jews were segregated and killed in large numbers as a result of the unstoppable power of Hitler's German Nazi party. A powerful scene in the film depicts the Jews being forcibly moved from their homes into the ghetto. Close up shots capture the fear on their faces, while high angle shots highlight their vulnerability to the overwhelming power of the Germans.

The text emphasizes the ramifications of power by comparing Oskar Schindler's transition to a lavish, roomy space. This portrayal by Spielberg underscores the stark contrast between this scenario and the dismal lives led by Jewish individuals. In a similar vein, Wole Soyinke's "The Telephone Conversation" portrays racial oppression stemming from the dominance of the English white race, albeit on a smaller magnitude than that of the Holocaust. Despite the atrocities committed during this historical event, it is hopeful that humanity has gained wisdom from past errors.

Despite some progress in reducing alienation from history, I believe it still persists in the modern world. Wole Soyinke effectively employs mood, sarcasm, and irony in his poetic satire on racism in western society. The poem centers around a telephone conversation that symbolizes societal alienation. Initially, the tone is calm and unbiased, but once the man reveals his race, everything changes dramatically. The abrupt pause in line six emphasizes the significant impact of this revelation.

The atmosphere becomes uneasy and apprehensive as the white woman makes the "African

man" uncomfortable. Soyinke's use of the word "confession" to describe the revelation of the man's race is sarcastic, implying that being African is considered sinful. This clearly illustrates how humans alienate each other without allowing one to prove their worth in society. Spielberg and Soyinke both employ various techniques to portray how those in positions of power, such as German Nazis and white English individuals, alienate those they perceive as inferior for their own gains.

The texts discussed here emphasize that racial alienation persists across different times and places, highlighting the absurdity of racism and the baseless judgment based on appearances. Both texts reveal how humans intentionally isolate others to benefit themselves, as seen in the German society during the Holocaust. Despite having a developed economy and education system, they chose to follow a man openly advocating for mass murder and segregation. This decision was likely influenced by the difficult circumstances Germany faced after the implementation of the Treaty of Versailles, leading them to prioritize personal improvement over their moral values. Similarly, in Soinke's poem, white English people were depicted as racists who marginalize black individuals to retain their privileged positions in society. This tactic mirrors the oppressiveness perpetrated by the Germans, as both aim to establish dominance by suppressing another race.

The white race is clearly responsible for worldwide alienation as they refuse to relinquish their social status to races they deem less civilized. The persistence of this system is fueled by the hunger for power and competition, even at the expense of alienating others. Ultimately, racial alienation stems from the pursuit of power, a natural human desire that capable individuals use

to gain an advantage, resulting in racism and segregation. Additionally, historically non-conformity has been erroneously linked with mental illness.

The film Girl Interrupted, directed by James Mangold, depicts the diagnosis of a young girl in the 1960s with a 'borderline personality', emphasizing the somber reality of that time period. The main character tells her story without emotion, reflecting her sense of disconnection and loneliness from life. This diagnosis was made based on characteristics such as "uncertainty about long-term goals, instability of self-image, and social contrariness." Since not all typical teenagers would display these traits, she understandably wonders why she was placed in a mental hospital.

The character of Kayson reveals the isolation and haunting existence in a mental hospital, as well as the detachment from the real world. Despite not having a mental illness, Kayson was seen as a societal blemish by those who conform, resulting in her forced isolation in a mental institution. It is a flaw of human nature to hastily judge individuals who defy social norms. Michael King also highlights this aspect in his work 'Wrestling with the Angel'.

This biography is centered around Janet Frame's life, particularly her time at Seacliff hospital. It highlights the unfair judgment she faced from doctors. King employs a metaphor to illustrate the hospital's sense of isolation: "Many patients who entered Seacliff had no name, no past, no future, only an imprisoned now, an eternal Island without its accompanying horizons." The hospital itself resembled a prison, located in a remote location with no escape. The choice of the word "Island" emphasizes Frame's profound detachment from the outside world.

Janeth not only

experienced physical isolation from the world, but also felt personally alienated by society. She described her feeling of being turned upside down by the separation of people into two groups: ordinary people in the streets and secret people who were talked about with derision, laughter, or fear by many, despite only a few having seen or spoken to them. This quote reveals the society's tendency to judge those who are wrongly labeled as mentally unstable (as in Frame's case). The division created by society between what they perceive as normal and abnormal is evident in the characters Kayson and Janet.

The text discusses the theme of alienation in relation to the societal norms of the time. In Girl Interrupted, the protagonist Kayson experienced this alienation during her adolescence in the late 1960s, when the youth culture was challenging traditional values. The older generations found the unconventional music, anti-war views, and drug culture of the young people to be unfamiliar and strange, leading them to institutionalize individuals in mental hospitals.

Kayson’s parents were disturbed by her rejection of her school and career. They didn't understand her uncertainty during a confusing time. This mental alienation resulted from not conforming to traditional values and the elders' lack of understanding of the younger generation. In Wrestling With The Angel, King pointed out that Frames was diagnosed with schizophrenia because her unique perception was misunderstood. People didn't comprehend her thought process. Doctors even intercepted letters where she compared the smell of gorse to peanut butter.

The society and those in positions of power, like the Nazi Germans and the white English who are described under racial

alienation, judge others who do not conform to the strict guidelines most people follow. This is evident in how they perceive a creative mind as disordered and confuse a bread spread with a spiky bush. Characters Kayson and Frame represent uniqueness within a race that emphasizes uniformity, thus stepping out of the majority. Consequently, society isolates them and treats them like problems, imposing alienation upon them.

This engenders inner feelings of alienation, even though these individuals have not committed any wrongdoing. Those who hold positions of authority and those who conceal their true selves to fit in are responsible for the estrangement of those courageous enough to be unique. The world would be a dismal setting if everyone were identical. Nowadays, medication and therapy can assist individuals with genuine disorders instead of locking them away. However, this does not resolve the problem of psychological alienation since humans will always pass judgment on others either to boost their own self-esteem or because they believe they are superior to that person.

The judgment of individuals who stand out from the crowd is a common occurrence, but fortunately, modern society is increasingly acknowledging the importance of acceptance and individuality. Religious alienation is one aspect of this phenomenon, where following a specific religion can result in the loss of personal freedom and identity. To be accepted within a religious community, individuals must conform to the rules imposed by that religion. This theme is explored in Nicholas Hyther's film The Crucible, set in a theocratic society where the state and church are intertwined and both moral and state laws are enforced.

The text highlights the lack of

tolerance for non conformity, using Elizabeth's accusation of witchcraft as an example. Despite being innocent, her non conformance led to isolation and loss of livelihood. This era of intolerance often resulted in alienation or death for women accused of witchcraft. The theme of Hysteria depicts how people exploit it for personal gain. Those who accused Elizabeth benefited by acquiring her possessions. Hysteria suspends normality and exposes people's hidden desires beneath their outward righteousness. Religion not only oppresses people's true identities but also empowers individuals to use it as a weapon to alienate others for their own benefit. This recurring theme is evident in all the texts studied. In society, there will always be selfish individuals who seek to improve their own positions by hurting or alienating others. Strict religious societies foster this behavior as non conformity is punished with alienation.

In religious groups, there are consequences if the rules are not followed. In Jodi Picoult's "Plain Truth," a character named Jacob is alienated for choosing not to conform. In the Amish community, education is prohibited after the eighth grade. Jacob's desire to learn led him to attend university, resulting in his banishment from the Amish community, which included the only people he knew. His father regarded him as a "dead son." The Amish community views themselves as one identity and speaking against this is frowned upon.

Religious groups that enforce conformity create alienation regardless of the choice made. There is no room for deviation from their social norm, so individuals continue to conform. It is puzzling why someone would choose to sacrifice their own identity for a community with such strictness that

it limits personal decision-making. However, each member has the right to stay or leave. The issue arises because either way, alienation occurs: if one stays, they live a life isolated from the modern world; if one leaves, they have complete freedom but find themselves "all alone when all you have ever known is how to be part of the group."

Ultimately, the significance of diversity in the world cannot be underestimated. It is vital to expect and respect diversity, enabling individuals to freely determine their own identities without apprehension of being judged. To conclude my research, I have discovered that alienation has been a prevalent problem throughout history and still persists today. The quest for power serves as a major cause of alienation, as seen in works such as Schindler's List and The Telephone Conversation. This theme of power also intersects with psychological and religious alienation, where individuals or groups manipulate others for their own benefit.

It is inevitable for humans to desire what is most beneficial for themselves. This longing for power can be seen in works such as Girl Interrupted and Wrestling With The Angel, where individuals who did not conform to society's idea of "normal" were marginalized due to a lack of scientific and psychological understanding. Kayson and Frame, as characters in these texts, experienced suffering because their unique qualities were perceived as signs of mental illness by those in positions of authority. These texts highlight the tendency of human beings to hastily judge those who differ from societal norms, rather than embracing their individuality.

In today's society, there is an increasing recognition and appreciation for embracing diversity. Psychological alienation

is closely tied to religious alienation. Within religious communities, marginalized individuals are expected to conform, with non-conformists being further marginalized. Both The Crucible and Plain Truth examine the inevitable nature of alienation that follows involvement in a strict religion. Non-conformity leads to personal alienation, while conformity results in the alienation of one's authentic self. Departing from the religious group also results in feelings of isolation since one suddenly finds themselves alone after only knowing how to fit in with others.

No matter what decision is made, alienation will occur. Alienation is inevitable for everyone in the world. The longing for a better status is inherent to all species on Earth. To guarantee a positive result, it is crucial to prevent individuals with malicious and vengeful motives from attaining power, as this could potentially lead to the recurrence of events like the Holocaust. While some level of alienation and competition may persist in contemporary times, overt racism and discrimination are unfair and should be halted.