Zelig: A Social Norm

There are many different thoughts and personalities throughout society, but some prevail more than others. This creates a social norm. In Erich Fromm’s Sigmund Freud’s Mission, he describes how individuals suppress their thoughts due to the fear of being isolated, but can be helped by understanding. In the film Zelig, directed by Woody Allen, the life of a man who doesn’t quite fit in with society, but struggles to, is revealed. Leonard Zelig takes on the character of whomever he is around. This eventually causes problems as he is noticed and Dr. Eudora Fletcher, a psychoanalyst, desperately tries to cure him. According to Fromm, Zelig is subduing his unconventional thoughts because of the possibility of being an outcast. Fromm would say Zelig’s out of ordinary behavior began when …show more content…
The reason why Zelig changed his physical appearance based on whomever he was around was because he was afraid of being shunned, saying, “so I don't stand out” (Zelig). The horror of standing out is the effect of being insecure “through having thoughts and feelings which nobody would share” (Fromm). If Zelig were confident about himself, he would take pride in his character and wouldn’t have the need to take on others’ characters. However, he is frightened of being unusual compared to those near him, so he conforms to the people of his society. By doing this, he “”protects himself by becoming whoever he is around” (Zelig). Zelig didn’t strive to be approved of, he just had the dread of being rejected and “wanted to be accepted, to fit in” (Zelig). He is scared of a situation that has not happened to him. It seems unreasonable for him to be terrified when he doesn’t know the outcome. However, Zelig’s terror of isolation led to his isolation. He isolated himself, not the people. He is protecting himself from the possibility of seclusion, but ironically, he could not be cured until he was brought out of