Into_the_Wild_and_as_You_Like_It

THE RULES OF SOCIETY PLACED ON INDIVIDUALS DETERMINE ONES POTENTIAL TO BELONG This means that the rules or expectations that society places on someone has a direct bearing on whether an individual belongs Christopher Mccandles is put under an immense amount of pressure from society and his life back at home. His family try and persuade him to conform and go to university. This is a place where he does not belong – this is represented by the arguments that are happening at home and the conflict. This causes him to escape, in order to find a place where he can find new ways of belonging. Sean Penn’s into the wild is making a statement about how a sense of belonging can only be obtained when one is separated from the rules of society. In this situation, one is able to discover themselves, their desires for life, and their true identity. Chris leaves his home because he dislikes the idea of society and it’s rules. He feels under pressure by his parents to conform to societies expectations (attend university) Chris is able to overcome his difficulties in the presence of nature. In society, he has a number of social fears. This includes the fear of not being accepted, being judged, and a fear of developing close personal relationships. When he escapes he comes across people that he can relate too, and develops confidence and has a love interest. This is similar to the themes in “As You Like It” where characters such as Orlando and Rosalind receive poor mistreatment from the society in the court. This is because the court has a number of social rules in place. Orlando and Rosalind relocate to the forest (are they kicked out of the court') due to the fact they did not belong. We see that in both of the texts, the places that do not have their own set of social rules or expectations are places of pastoral convention. “The Golden Life” The new place, or the natural place, is represented by natural themes (forest of Arden and Alaska). This setting is where the characters feel that they are capable of finally belonging, happily. These places have no influence from city / court or industrialised life These places are “free from peril” It is obvious that in the court they did not feel like they could fit in, and they were unhappy and alienated among others. This caused them to flee.