Missy Ramirez
Dr. Pattison
Date
Class
Why Human Nature Tends to Conform
Given that humans are the only animals intelligent enough to reason, they still manage to
stick to their own pattern of living without question. There is an inevitable instinct for mankind
to conform. Sherman Alexie, author of Don’t Go Gentle, and Shirley Jackson, author of The
Lottery, do an incredible job of portraying the nature of man within a community that fails to
question leadership. These texts demonstrate the ways in which a lack of communication within
a small community results to blind leadership. This is can be demonstrated in areas of text that
display characters who fail to question authority weather the reason is peer pressure,
miscommunication, or because someone of authority has taken the reins of the community.
Shirley Jackson’s work demonstrates how one strong-headed leader can manipulate a
group of villagers into the perpetuation of an outlandish tradition. In the text, there is a moment
when one of the villagers asks Old Man Warner if they should give up the lottery and Warner
responds with a straightforward remark. Jackson writes, “‘Nothing but trouble in that,’ Old Man
Warner said stoutly. ‘Pack of young fools.” (434). He uses his communication skills to prevent
anyone from inputting their voice in the matter. By using word such as “trouble” and “fools”
(434) Old Man Warner has put the villagers in a position that pins them as the bad guys for
wanting to stop the lottery. This is a prime example of how one man can manipulate an entire
village just by using his words. Even though the villagers argue that other towns have given up
the lottery, Old Man Warner still holds his immovable opinion over the heads of the villagers.
The way Old Man Warner leads the village is similar to the way Adolf Hitler used his
communication skills to manipulate Germany during World War II. (insert quote about how
hitler lead Germany into wwii). One strong-willed individual has the power to inflict their will
on an entire community which can lead to mankind blindly forfeiting their right to democracy.
Another example of this is seen in Sherman Alexie’s work.
Manipulation can also occur in the form of peer pressure. For instance in Do Not Go
Gentle, the narrator brings a giant dildo into a children’s hospital. He begins running around and
