An Overview of the Non-Conformism in American Literature

Some people naturally choose a path in life that is different from that chosen by the majority. Henry David Thoreau famously said, “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.” Literature is filled with proof of that. Whether it is as aged as Patrick Henry’s Speech in the Virginia Convention or Jerome Lawrence’s and Robert E. Lee’s The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, as civil as Martin Luther King Jr.

’s Stride Towards Freedom or Malcolm X’s interview Necessary to Protect Ourselves, or as modern as Margaret Craven’s I Heard the Owl Call My Name, examples of Thoreau’s powerfully true aphorism have always existed. American literature has always provided a plethora of non-conformists. America has always had writers, thinkers, and dreamers, and Patrick Henry is no exception. His immortal speech at the Second Virginia Provincial Convention proves his independent creativity. Congress needed to decide whether Virginia should take up arms to defend itself against a feared British attack, and many thought not, but Henry believes strongly in arms for protection.

He wants freedom, and knows that all Americans deserve it—that there is no greater purpose and gift in life than to be free.

It should be won and protected at all costs. “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!” (266). He ends his fiery speech with such a strong statement, and demonstrates that others opinions on this matter are obsolete; arms must be taken up because liberty and freedom must be won.

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Henry loves this land and though others in Congress do as well, they are not ready, at this point, to make such a swift and bold move to collect arms. Because Henry has such a devotion to liberty and life, and is willing to die for the preservation of it for all posterity, he can form such opinions to collect arms. While others are concerned and make decisions through fear, Henry uses something else. “I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience” (264). This truly demonstrates Patrick Henry’s non-conformity, because no one else has the exact same experiences that he has. Another great non-conformist in American literature is, of course, Henry David Thoreau who is specially portrayed in The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. He is known as being a creative, free-thinking individual. That is the key; he is an individual—he thinks for himself.

Possibly, the greatest thing Thoreau ever says is, “BE YOUR OWN MAN!” (30). This stands as the essence of the non-conformist spirit as it explains how not be a clone of society, doing as everyone else is doing, but rather, to be yourself. This also proves especially true when Thoreau really spends his night in jail. He decides that he will not pay his taxes because that money just goes to support the Mexican-American War, of which Thoreau disagrees with. Therefore, the police have no choice but to arrest him and keep him in jail (68). Even though dire consequences arise, Thoreau holds true to his principles and does not quaver one iota from his firm ground, thus proving a real non-conformist. A third example, slightly more modern, is Martin Luther King Jr. He is forever remembered as being a non-conformist. During King’s time, African Americans faced much oppression and King addresses this abomination in his Stride Toward Freedom.

One of the major weapons that many African Americans used when undergoing repression is acquiescence, or doing nothing. King believes strongly against this, as a matter of fact, he considers it just as terrible as actual oppression and thinks that no one upright person can acquiesce such oppression. “Acquiescence—while often the easier way—is not the moral way. It is the way of the coward” (302). King counters the popular method of the time. Actually, he proves to be very wise in that he sees the greater issue. Most people at the time consider it an issue of blacks verses whites but King knows better. “It is not a struggle between people at all, but a tension between justice and injustice” (304). The issue of race relations, especially at that time, is very deep, and King understands this; however, he is not the only one acknowledging the issues of society (as is the duty of non-conformists). Malcolm X is another non-conformist who sees and understands race issues. He is a contemporary of Martin Luther King Jr. He performs an interview with Les Crane and expresses his non-conformist viewpoints. Unlike King and others at the time, including Roy Wilkins and Ralph Abernathy, Malcolm X believes in more aggression towards obtaining freedom.

They all possess a peaceful attitude, but Malcolm X believes it is okay to attain freedom through “whatever is necessary” (305), whether it is as violent as a firearm. Though King and a small minority stand up to the government and others causing oppression to African Americans, Malcolm X proves to be part of this minority-another example of a non-conformist-and addresses the government by pointing out its flaws. “Does the government and the law respect us?” (306). This is something most Americans do not do, whether then or now. Malcolm X is a true non-conformist. A final example of non-conforming in American literature is found in Margaret Craven’s I Heard the Owl Call My Name. It is about a young vicar, Mark Brian, who goes to live in the secluded Kingcome Village. Mark believes that the village is special and the people are individuals and the more he stays there, the more he comes to disagree with the outside world. For example, the village is once visited by an anthropologist who believes that white culture should never have approached the village, because then the natural culture would have remained intact. “Mark tried to say that no village, no culture, can remain static” (103).

The majority of the outside world, it seems, believes that the culture can survive on its own, but Mark knows better. Also, Mark visits the city. While there, he looks up some old college friends and meets with them, but while together realizes how much he has changed. They no longer have the same concerns but have very different worries. Most of them worry about minor things while Mark understands what is important in life, and knows better (108). Truly, he is a non-conformist. All of the men given as examples Patrick Henry, Henry David Thoreau, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Mark Brian—serve as great examples of non-conformity. While the rest of society sit about doing what everyone else is doing or, worse yet, doing nothing, these men delved into the world and accomplished something. They made something out of their lives. That, in my opinion, is the true definition of non-conformity. For instance, people (parents, teachers, bosses, family friends, even strangers) may have goals for me, but what really matters are my goals. After all, it is my life, and I am the one who must live with the consequences of my decisions. Therefore, everyone has a different drummer and listens to him, or if he fails to do so, then he is the failure. He does not accomplish his purpose in life, and conforms to the preconceived notions of people who do not live his life. That is dumb. I will not be dumb. I will stand as a non-conformer and embrace the drummer created for me.