Composers Explore The Reasons For and Outcomes of The Conflict Between An Individual and Their Society

Alan Song
Composers explore the reasons for and outcomes of the conflict between an individual and
their society.
Composers explore the reasons for and outcomes of the conflict between an individual and
their society through their texts. Shakespeare, Steinbeck, and Weir present their different
perspectives on conforming to society through their texts ‘Macbeth’, ‘Of Mice and Men’,
and ‘Truman Show’. ‘Macbeth’ focuses on the detrimental effects of disrupting the Great
Chain of Being in society, ‘Of Mice and Men’ criticises the American Dream, and ‘Truman
Show’ vilifies the manipulation of an individual by society.
In his play ‘Macbeth’, Shakespeare condemns the devastating outcomes of unchecked

ambition and reinforces the importance of a social hierarchy in society. He uses the example
of Macbeth’s downfall from power to portray the detrimental results of not conforming to
society, leading to paranoia, madness, and ultimately his demise. Macbeth has come to
exemplify the character and methods of the modern dictator, as he is ruthless and merciless
in his extermination of real and potential threats to his power, murdering more than one
person who threatened the position of king. His initial greed and ambition along with Lady
Macbeth’s influence led him to murder Duncan, committing regicide and disrupting the
great chain of being, is the first sign of their paranoia, shown in the line “Get on your
nightgown, lest occasion call us and show us to be watchers”. Lady Macbeth’s ruthless
manipulation of her husband by criticising his masculinity portrays her own ambition for
power, but the rapid deterioration of her mental condition after she attains power shows
that too much greed is detrimental to everyone. The exchange between Macduff and
Malcolm highlights the traits that a good king should possess, in “the king-becoming grades,
as justice, verity, temperance, stableness, bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, devotion,
patience, courage, fortitude”, demonstrates that Malcolm, the legitimate ruler, has in
abundance the qualities of a good king in contrast of Macbeth, who represents the
antithesis of the good king. Shakespeare clearly opposes the conflict between and individual
and their society, as it can cause unrest and lead to disasters.
John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ exposes the fallacy of the American Dream through
depicting the unachievable dreams of the characters. Written in the early 20 th century when
racism and discrimination were a prevalent issue in society, the novel focuses on the trivial
nature of human existence and the loneliness and isolation felt by people at that time.
George’s story of the dream farm is symbolic for freedom and happiness, but the dream
evidentially is not fulfilled due to Lennie’s clumsiness. The recurring motif of the rabbits is
emblematic for self-sufficiency, but we know that Lennie tends hurt whatever he pets, and
have it taken away from him. George and Lennie let in Candy and Crooks on their secret
dream, making an agreement to live on the farm together, but only adding to the fallacy of
the American Dream when their dream collapses. The ending of the novel “Come on,
George. Me an' you'll go in an' get a drink” shows how without Lennie, George is just like
the other workers, with no purpose in life, spending his money as he makes it, representing
the failing of the American Dream. Through the rise and fall of hope within his characters,
Steinbeck shows how the American Dream can never come true.
Through his film ‘Truman Show’, Weir satirises the restriction and manipulation of the
individual, and compels viewers to challenge societal expectations. As Truman begins to
Alan Song
notice inconsistencies within his life, he begins to question his surroundings and challenge
things he hasn’t noticed before. Christof has created a complex web of emotional
manipulation in order to keep Truman on Seahaven Island through the people closest to him
such as his mother, Meryl, and Marlon, evident to the audience by cutting shots between
Christof giving instructions and the actors with Truman. Christof takes advantage of
Truman’s fear of the sea, instilled in him by the death of his father, to manipulate Truman
into staying on the island through his mother, in “You're just feeling bad because of what
happened. You, sailing off into that storm - but I've never blamed you, Truman, and I don't
blame you now.” The moment when Truman first begins to question his surroundings when
he said “I’ll cross my fingers for ya” signifies that Christof’s emotional manipulation may no
longer work on Truman, and that he decides that he is going to fight back and find out what
is really going on, causing conflict with his society. The statement “you never had a camera
inside my head” challenges Christof’s arrogant belief that he knows Truman better than
himself, resulting in Truman’s escape. Weir promotes challenging societal expectations as
shown in the positive ending in his film ‘Truman Show’.
Conflict between the individual and their society can be viewed in positive and negative
ways, shown in ‘Macbeth’, ‘Of Mice and Men’ and ‘Truman Show’. Disrupting the natural
order of things through excessive ambition and murder can result in severe consequences
but questioning one’s surroundings can result in liberation from society’s oppressions.
Society can be manipulative and deceptive, shown through the fallacy of the American
Dream, that hopes and dreams may not necessarily come true, and also through the guise
of the Truman Show. Through their various texts, composers explore the reasons and
outcomes of conflict between the individual and their society.

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Alan Song

In his play ‘Macbeth’, Shakespeare condemns the devastating outcomes of unchecked

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