The pilgrimage of a “good life” begins with the individual. There is no special recipe to follow and no special road map that will lead the individual to the good life. The individual must create his or her own path of self enlightenment as demonstrated in the book Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. The book Siddhartha exposes how the individual can only discover the good life through experiences and self realization. On the other hand, the essay “Families in the Fifties,” by Stephanie Coontz brings to light the creation of societal formalities and norms, and the pressure that the society forces upon the individual. The good life cannot be taught, it can only be discovered through experiences; however, societal pressures steer individuals off the
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Siddhartha found himself conforming to society, which resulted in his inability to achieve a “good life;” however, he was able to over come this barrier once he realized it was only an obstacle and not a blockade. Siddhartha lost himself in, “pleasure and power, in women and money, he had to become a merchant, a dicer, a drinker, a grasper, until the priest and the samana inside him were dead (Hessee 88).” Even though Siddhartha deviated from the good life his experiences that he gathered on his detour, would eventually allow him to obtain the good life. Siddhartha conformed to society, but overcame the societal obstacle, as did many Americans in the 1950’s. Women were especially susceptible to societies obstacles, “women were expected to subordinate her own needs and aspirations to those of both her husband and her children (Coontz 9).” Society’s pressures were oppressive and began to fuel the Women’s Rights movements campaign engine. Life Magazine explains how, “women were seized with an eerie restlessness (Coontz 9),” exposing that women were yearning for equality, but society created an obstacle for women to climb. Therefore, proving that society creates obstacles that may block the individual’s path to the good life, but these obstacles can be
Siddhartha found himself conforming to society, which resulted in his inability to achieve a “good life;” however, he was able to over come this barrier once he realized it was only an obstacle and not a blockade. Siddhartha lost himself in, “pleasure and power, in women and money, he had to become a merchant, a dicer, a drinker, a grasper, until the priest and the samana inside him were dead (Hessee 88).” Even though Siddhartha deviated from the good life his experiences that he gathered on his detour, would eventually allow him to obtain the good life. Siddhartha conformed to society, but overcame the societal obstacle, as did many Americans in the 1950’s. Women were especially susceptible to societies obstacles, “women were expected to subordinate her own needs and aspirations to those of both her husband and her children (Coontz 9).” Society’s pressures were oppressive and began to fuel the Women’s Rights movements campaign engine. Life Magazine explains how, “women were seized with an eerie restlessness (Coontz 9),” exposing that women were yearning for equality, but society created an obstacle for women to climb. Therefore, proving that society creates obstacles that may block the individual’s path to the good life, but these obstacles can be