Conformity In Cool Hand Luke

Improved Essays
Everyday individuals all over the world partake in actions that conform or contradict the societal norm. A majority of the population choose to mimic behaviour that is considered acceptable by society because they are afraid of being singled out and labelled an outsider. Others demonstrate a more deviant nature, yearning to be unique. Social scientists such as Philip Zimbardo, Stanley Milgram, and Solomon Asch examine an individual’s willingness to conform to individuals in power and or in groups. The film Cool Hand Luke follows a man who refuses to conform to accepted norms within a prison, as well as the prisoners who blindly follow the commands of the guards. The movie demonstrates the general principles of conformity, obedience to authority, …show more content…
For example, when Luke insists that he can eat fifty eggs in an hour, a fellow prisoner nicknamed Dragline challenges him although he is aware of the health risks. The other prisoners struggle with their own morals before reluctantly agreeing with Dragline. Although many are disgusted by the concept of eating fifty eggs in such a short period of time, they do not hesitate to cheer on Luke as he completes the request. Some even take bets, looking to profit from the dangerous act. Following his first attempt to flee, Luke is fed a large portion of rice. One prisoner acknowledges the subtle cruelty in the gesture and eats some of the rice as he walks by. As the scene progresses, more and more convicts mimic the actions of the first, and assist Luke in finishing the large …show more content…
At the beginning of the film, Luke is shown cutting heads off of parking meters, which is an act that deviates from the societal norm. Through the act of destroying public property, Luke establishes his need to stray from accepted rules and regulations. His behaviour is deviant as he fails to conform to the laws set by society, and is labelled as an outsider from the very first scene as he is arrested for his actions. In fact, the prison itself is a home to individuals who refuse to partake in 'normal ' actions. Luke 's three attempts to escape also demonstrates his defiance to the rules established by the prison. He refuses to live his life in a setting where his every action is analyzed and controlled by strangers and seeks to find freedom. He is especially compelled by the idea of rebellion after he is locked in “the box” upon learning of his mother’s death. The warden is afraid he will try to run and attend his mother’s funeral, and as a result, Luke makes it his mission to do so. In his end, his death signifies Luke 's ultimate act of non-conformity as a fellow prisoner refers to him as a "natural born world

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    The social context is always a substantial influence on the decisions of any individual. In the case of Jon in the short story “jon” from In Persuasion Nation by George Saunders, there is a wide range of institutional as well as social implications that affect Jon’s mindset. Living in a homogenous society with little individuality, Jon encounters a predicament in which his personal interests conflict with those of the marketing facility’s. He conceives a child with Carolyn despite not being aware of what to do once the child was born. Once Carolyn expresses her unyielding desire to leave for the sake of her child, Jon is subsequently plunged into an internal dilemma between staying in a haven where he is guaranteed the necessities of life and…

    • 1835 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The American judicial system is riddled with corruption, racism, and privilege. In his book, Just Mercy, author and lawyer Bryan Stevenson chronicles the unfortunate and rapid deterioration of the mental health of his client and friend Walter McMillian following his release from death row. Mental illness resulting from wrongful imprisonment on death row stands as a deplorable and preventable collateral consequence of the negligence of the judicial system. The trauma of the death row experience as an innocent man sparks Walter’s symptoms of anxiety and dementia.…

    • 713 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Prison Camp Andersonville

    • 527 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The prisoners only get one spoonful of mush on average, once every two…

    • 527 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Luke is a character you would describe as a non-conformist, anti-hero, who always preferred to be left alone and persistently resisted authority and regulations, you might even call him a rebellion. Luke is a man who refuses to conform to life in a rural prison, that being said, Luke quickly gains respect and…

    • 1287 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Cool Hand Luke Symbolism

    • 1254 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Introduction The movie Cool Hand Luke has been analyzed, reviewed, and evaluated by critics from every perspective possible. The manner in which the film is perceived varies drastically depending on the author; some pieces written about this film are rather literal and discuss it as it appears. However, there are many analyses that consider the symbolism and religious innuendos, but these are often misunderstood or overlooked completely.…

    • 1254 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The film focuses more on the separation and initiation stages of the hero’s journey to help Luke overcome obstacles to transform from a boy to a man, and prepare him for his path. In this adventure we meet Luke Skywalker, this is his hero’s journey. Luke lives in the Tatooine planet. This is his ordinary world.…

    • 1937 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In a social experiment conducted by Solomon Asch of 1951, Asch studied the impact of how social pressure from the majority can affect a person to conform (McLeod). The experiment consisted of one participant in a group of actors and all were asked to match the test line to a line most similar. In revealing their answers, the participant was asked to answer last out of the group while the actors all purposely answered incorrectly. With over 12 trials of the experiment, nearly 75% of the participants conformed to answering the question incorrectly at least once. This trend of conformity is also seen in today’s social influence.…

    • 1246 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The power of control may often change an individual’s character. Within the prison system, lies a prison guard subculture in which, the power of control is stressed. Control and power are the means of successively managing a prison. Throughout the novel New Jack: Guarding Sing Sing, author Ted Conover (2001) writes of his experience as a Correctional Officer at Sing Sing maximum-security prison. Behind the prison doors, a different world takes flight.…

    • 1385 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Luke is struck with boredom for most of his deployment, causing him to believe the army didn’t do a thing for him and he would just go live his old boring life back at home. However, on the last day, Luke goes to the top of the hill by himself and thinks he sees an enemy. Luke decides to watch him through the scope of the gun, but as Luke becomes indecisive, he shoots and kills an unarmed man who is accompanied by his son. He wants to help the child move the unarmed man, but instead, shoots the child too, then goes down the hill and flies back home from his deployment as if nothing ever happened. When a person allows the pressure of satisfying others, boredom, and unpleasant memories to affect their decision-making, it can lead a person to disconnect from the reality of life.…

    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One can examine Luke’s transition from war-veteran to the criminal through the lenses of role theory and instrumental conditionign. In this case, since Luke chooses to rebel against the social norms prescribed to him from society regarding following the law, he must face the repercussions; a lengthy jail sentence which serves to weaken his unlawful behaviour. When Luke followed his role as a “Sergeant” he was rewarded with being granted titles such as “hero” and being decorated with medals; however, by breaking the law he rejected his role as a “law abiding citizen” he is punished by being thrown into jail, causing him to transition into yet another role;…

    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    1984 Tone Analysis

    • 1109 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Cassidy Bulger In the novel, 1984, by George Orwell, there is a significant change in the tone between Part 1 and Part 2. As protagonist Winston Smith learns more about Big Brother and how he can join a rebellion against it, the tone of the novel begins to become more positive. In Part 1, the tone could be considered miserable, bleak, and hopeless. But as the audience reads into Part 2, there is a shift; and the novel begins to gain a rebellious, strong, and hopeful tone. The shifts in the tone of the novel between Parts 1 and 2 reflect upon the seemingly increasing probability for Winston to assist in eliminating the totalitarian Party rule over Oceania.…

    • 1109 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    1984 Character Analysis

    • 1126 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Do you ever feel like you need to do something but you just don’t know what it is? Imagine this, but if you don 't figure out what it is, you get physically and mentally tortured. This is what happens to Winston Smith in 1984 after he has been caught going against his government 's ideas. Since Winston is tortured physically and mentally, he has no choice but to conforms to the Party’s ideals.…

    • 1126 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Luke is merely one person with rebels to back him up. Luke conquered the Empire even though it seemed impossible. No one thought Luke could make it into the Death Star, and when Luke turned off his targeting computer yet still completed his mission against all odds. In the same way as Gilgamesh and death, Luke against the Empire has a strong “David vs. Goliath”…

    • 936 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It is a father’s love for his daughter that leads to Luke's dilemma between pursuing the truth to doing what is just and right, and love of the daughter. " A Father's Story," by Andre Dubus explores the love of a father to his daughter that he is willing to protect her even if the process calls for him to sacrifice part of himself. To protect his daughter, the father is forced to undergo challenges, a conflict of the mind and his values. In the story, Luke Ripley who is the protagonist drops his core principles and ethical values purposely to protect his daughter. I agree that the central conflict in "A Father's story" is a betrayal of a friend's trust and personal values and ethics for the sake of love.…

    • 1341 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Conformity is often criticized on grounds of morality, but tends to help society function correctly. Today there is an ascent in congruity and submission, which are two social standards which people are required to display in order to fit into the norm. However, when people, especially youth, disregard their identity and give up their own personal morals this causes problems within society. This subject has been explored in many ways, including in film. A Few Good Men, directed by Ron Reiner, confronts the issue of the nature of conformity when two young men, Dawson and Downey struggle with their morals being in conflict with an order.…

    • 1464 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays