Psychological Effects On Society In Truman Capotes In...

Addressing how the drive for perfection in America ultimately leads to psychological damage as a result of unattainable expectations, writers of American literature refuse to shy away from social conventions in their works. These writers depend on stereotypes, social conventions, and norms to get their views across to the readers. These societal standards portray how Americans are affected by society on such a scale that it takes it toll on their psychological and mental wellbeing. According to Gregory Corso, a poet and influential part of the Beat Generation, the authorities of America are brainwashing the youth to believe that happiness comes from one source, the American way. They are falsely shown what perfection is, leading to the†¦show more content†¦He was extremely intelligent yet he never used his intelligence to its full extent. Weighed down by society, not being able to show how smart he truly was, Dick turned to crime, something that made him feel less normal and more like an individual. This is yet another example of how societal norms can take a psychological toll on individuals. This idea of being held back from one’s true potential by society is showcased in countless works of American Literature. It is used to show how the American experience, perceived to be some holy grail of happiness, is, in reality, a sad excuse for it, generating insecurities and self-doubt upon Americans. This idea of society weighing one down is reiterated throughout Tim OBriens story, The Things They Carried. During war, soldiers carry emotional baggage along with them in their fight for their country that weigh them down. Their reputation is on the line if they are distracted by something and not holding up to standards, they are to be embarrassed, which was their biggest fears (O’Brien, 14). Realizing they are not capable of living up to what is expected of them, perfection, the soldiers slowly become damaged internally, weighing down their abi lities even more. O’Brien explores how the pressure soldier’s experience to protect their country without hesitancy nor vacillation results in cognitive impairment, following the trend of American literature to characterize life experiences based on society’s influences. Everyone,Show MoreRelatedEssay on Vengeance in Truman Capotes In Cold Blood2075 Words   |  9 Pagesfifty years ago in the [rural] heartland of America, that word evoked emotion out of the entire town’s population. Prior to writing In Cold Blood, Truman Capote had written several pieces that lead him to writing a piece of literature that would infuse fiction and nonfiction, thus In Cold Blood was created, albeit after six years of research (â€Å"Truman† 84). Truman Capote is one of the more fascinating figures on the American literary landscape, being one of the countrys few writers to cross the borderRead MoreIn Cold Blood Authorial Intents1703 Words   |  7 PagesIn Cold Blo od: Two Intents, One Novel On November 15, 1959, the whole nation was shocked by a ghastly murder involving four family members in the discrete farm town of Holcomb, Kansas. It was most shocking because a crime of this magnitude with no motive was rare. This was so discomforting a well known author, by the name of Truman Capote, moved to Holcomb to record the townspeople’s reaction to the tragedy. The idea of how they responded to the crime gave Capote the idea to write a book. In Cold