Outcasts of Poker Flat" by Bret Harte, and "To Brooklyn Bridge" by Hart Crane. Specifically, it discusses what reasons the two main characters have for conforming (or not conforming) to the norm in these two works.

The characters in these works symbolize America - both the best and the worst. They also symbolize how society expects much from its citizens, and how some people, no matter how hard they try, simply cannot conform to the norm and fit in to a society that will only accept them on its' own quite demanding terms.

Conforming to the "norm" is one way people manage to get along in society. Society certainly does demand a lot from most people - ethically and politically, and those who do not openly conform to society's rules are often cast out or seen as outsiders. In both of these works, the main characters must conform to society's...
[ View Full Essay]