To truly belong, you must be true to yourself

Belonging is an intrinsic human desire than can only be fully realized once an individual identifies their individual morality and desires. Arthur Millers play The Crucible explores conflict between the protagonist, John Proctors, search for personal truth and the conformity demanded by the rigid theocracy of Salem. In Rothemuns war film Sophie Scholl: The Final Days, the White Rose resistance group encounters the consequences of adhering to personal allegiance and flouting the strictures of society. Kate Chopins novel The Awakening portrays an individuals lack of connection within the family structure, due to unfulfilled desires for selfactualization. An individual might find it difficult to balance belonging with the preservation of their selfesteem and identity. In the Crucible, John Proctor prioritizes his personal integrity over conformity to society, leading to a stronger sense of contentment. The rigidity of the Salem theocracy is evoked through the militaristic imagery of the metaphor theology is a fortress; no crack in the fortress can be accounted small. The dichotomous nature of good and evil within the Salem view of morality is also evoked through the metaphor there be no road between. In the authorial intrusion of Act 1, Miller introduces Proctor through the contradictory statement respected and feared in Salem...(he) has come to regard himself as a kind of fraud, demonstrating that despite Proctors acceptance within such a strict society, there is a lack of personal belonging. Proctor, finds a sense of belonging within nature, exemplified by the stage directions with good feeling, he goes and looks up at the sky, however this comes at the cost of his belonging within society; Proctor is condemned for plough(ing) on Sunday. Ultimately, Proctor prioritizes his name, an extended metaphor for his personal integrity, over being a good example for society, demonstrating the importance of being true to ones self, even at the cost of social inclusion. Disillusionment with the dominant ideology of a society can lead to the alienation of individuals or groups. In Rothemuns film Sophie Scholl: The Final Days, the patriotism of the White Rose group acts in opposition to the Fascist Nazi regime of the society, which as in the Crucible, denies independent thought. Mohrs repeated rhetorical questions in the interrogation scene, How dare you make such derogatory remark...how dare you raise your voice are delivered in a loud shout, emphasises through contrast Sophies controlled questioning Is that order?. Like Proctor, Sophie and Hans find a sense of belonging in their conscience; the opposition to Mohrs Nazi views evoked through the use of alternating point of view shots. In the court scene, the crowd of men shouting traitor and the foregrounded red swastika emphasises the collective nature of the society. This is placed in opposition to Hans words (he is) leading Germany to disaster with mathematical precision, which utilize scientific imagery to evoke his certainty in his beliefs. Sophie, Hans and the members of the White Rose feel a sense of allegiance to a new intellectual Europe, a view which is shared by many. The metaphor Germany is bleeding to death and wants total peace utilizes militaristic imagery to evoke a sense of patriotism, contrasted to the accusations of treason. Sophie and Hans, through their continued unity in the face of death, forge a stronger sense of belonging and patriotism, despite opposing the views of society. A sense of belonging between individuals is impacted through an individuals decision to reject false perceptions and values. In Arthur Millers play The Crucible, the marital relationship of Elizabeth and John Proctor is strengthened in the face of adversity. Act I evokes the strained tension of their relationship through the stage directions her back is turned to him...a sense of

their separation rises, which utilizes body language. The cold wintry house acts as a metaphor for their lack of connection, while the evocative language of she receives (his kiss) further communicates through understatement the lack of passion within their relationship. Proctors relationship with Abigail is depicted with contrasting imagery of heat, demonstrating that it is symptomatic of his search for human connection not found in his marriage. However, in Act III, Elizabeth, a woman that never lied, and cannot lies for her husband, saying no sir. The repetition of Elizabeths inability to lie is contrasted to her short denial of the truth and conveys her rejection of the false social ideology of Salem to prioritize human connection. Furthermore, in Act IV, Proctor states now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor, the metaphor emphasising his attainment of personal integrity. The following stage direction he has lifted her and kisses her now with great passion is a contrast to the earlier depiction of their relationship and emphasises that both characters now feel a sense of personal connection. Both characters make choices to adhere to their personal morality throughout the play, which allows them to find belonging within their marriage. An individual will be unable to find belonging within their relationships if they are unable to achieve their personal desires. Kate Chopins novel The Awakening depicts a woman whose struggle to find a sense of personal acceptance impacts her relationships. 19th Century Southern society has imposed on Edna a responsibility which she had blindly assumed and for which fate had not fitted her, the alliteration emphasising her lack of connection to her children. Furthermore, the children are described as antagonists, who had overcome her, who had overpowered her and sought to drag her into the souls slavery. The repetition of over and the sibilance emphasises the repeating motif of slavery and clearly conveys Ednas lack of connection to her children. This motif is contrasted to the repeated imagery of nature, like Proctor, Edna finds self-actualisation nature. The description the open air, at the mercy of the sun, the breeze...and the waves utilizes accumulation to convey her sense of belonging. As in the Crucible, Ednas spiritual awakening leads to greater wisdom and self-awareness, which allows her to find a sense of personal belonging. The evocative imagery she began...to apprehend the deeper undercurrents of life emphasises through the wave imagery, a repeated theme in the novel, Ednas greater sense of contentment through self-actualization. In conclusion, a sense of connection to ones environment and relationships can only be achieved through a sense of integrity and self-awareness. Arthur Millers 1953 play The Crucible clearly evokes the importance of a search for personal truth through the characterisation of the protagonist, John Proctor. Rothemuns historical war film Sophie Scholl: The Final Days clearly portrays steadfast adherence to personal belonging through the actions of Sophie and Hans while Edna, in Kate Chopins novel The Awakening prioritizes an individual search for self-actualisation over her household relationships.