This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
PERIOD 4 - THE BEAR THAT WASN'T
Yesterday, we read The Bear That Wasn't by Frank Tashlin. Please share with the class your thoughts about the story and be sure to post at least one comment on another classmate's reflective post.
55 comments:
James Harrold Period 7
said...
Response to “The Bear that Wasn’t”
In my opinion, the book “The Bear that wasn’t” depicts the ever present ideals of a Capitalist system in which those with power (The Bourgeois), dictate and control those without power (The Proletariat). The Bear represents the Proletariat class, he wakes up to find his home has been taken and turned into a factory. He is confronted by several people in positions with power (The Foreman, the managers, the V.P, and presidents) of the factory. In a Capitalist system, the Bourgeois have control over the media, and they control what can be considered the public thought. Being a member of the Proletariat holding little to no power, being told that he is not a bear, they were using their influence to change what the bear thought. People with power in society; ultimately dictate how everyone else lives. The Bourgeois use their power and influence to spread their ideas, and those without the willpower to resist, will be swept up in it, like the bear almost was in the end. In the end, the bear’s willpower, his knowledge of himself, ultimately overcame the Bourgeois idealism and created and fortified his own identity. The bear is one of the few in a Capitalist system that realizes this truth, I feel that many are very unaware of what is happening in their society behind the closed curtains, the shroud that separates classes in society.
After reading "The Bear That Wasn't" I came away with some thoughts about an individual in relation to society. In the book, the bear's identity was defined by society, which was the factory workers, the host of vice-presidents, and the president. All of these people thought of the bear as a man, who was silly and needed a shave. As more and more people thought this, and as the issue went up the chain of power in the company, it became more difficult for the bear to convince anyone that he truly was a bear.
My point is that sometimes in life, the identity of a person isn’t based upon what that person thinks of him or herself, but rather the opinion of the public. As a group, we are usually quick to make judgments on individuals, and occasionally think that people have to follow our thoughts. This was shown in the book, as the factory people didn’t think that the bear could actually be a bear, which would go against their stubborn beliefs.
This is in relation to Doug Casey's post : I agree that social norms are created by those in the upper echelons of power (like those in a company chain). It is very difficult to refute those in power, with so many people in power, it becomes hard for an individual with very little power to overcome the Bourgeois machine.
“The Bear That Wasn’t” showed how in today’s society people are constantly seeking for other people’s or group’s approval, especially of those who are “higher” than them. This story shows how easily the opinions of others can shape the identity of an individual. People should not be so desperate for the approval of others and they should stay true to who they are.
I thought that "the bear that wasn’t" was a very good example of the way people find their identities are today. Most people find their identity based on their environment or what people are telling them to be. In "the bear that wasn’t" the vice presidents and the president were telling him that he was a silly man and him hearing that over and over made him accustom to that and he started to act like something he wasn’t. I think it was a very good way of showing how the society thinks now and that us hearing things from a person with more respect or more power than us might have a greater influence on us now.
I thought that the book as simple as it was as it wasn’t. The book expressed a major issue in our society in small words and basic logic. I think that it was clever from the author to represent the idea to the people that way, because people tend to understand and believe simple, obvious and logical facts. Such as: presenting the identity of a person as bear then making the people around the bear to see him as a silly man. That fact convinced the readers that the true identity of the character is a bear because it was only logical and obvious, where if the author used another example like a reality example of a person being misplaced then the readers may have different opinions and won’t get the idea as fast and be convinced by it.
Nicole Noble period 4 said… Response to “The Bear that Wasn’t”
To me this book was a reflection on society, and how stereo typical people have become. In “The Bear That Wasn’t” the bear was not recognized because he wasn’t what every other bear looked like. Such as the bears with the stripped hat at the zoo, that laughed at the bear and told him he was a man in a fur coat that needed to shave. This shows how even people who are very similar now a days in society do not except others just because they may not appear to be the same. “The Bear That Wasn’t” shows how people frequently wake up knowing who they are and even at the end of the day you can find you again. However along the way there are so many superior people that may shape you to think that you are someone you are not.
I thought the story “The Bear that Wasn’t” was a good example of how no matter what you hear from others, you should always stay true to yourself. In the story the bear was constantly being told he wasn’t who he thought he was. After a while he started to believe it himself. This can happen to people because they want to fit in so badly that they morph themselves into people they aren’t. I think everyone is looking for approval and they will sacrifice being themselves for it.
“The Bear That Wasn’t” has a true meaning behind it. The fact that he could not convince the higher power that he in fact was a bear shows that people don’t care about the opinions of people lower than them. Their title as “President” automatically makes them correct in the question of if he is a bear or not. The president believed this, and eventually so did the bear. So many people told him that he was not a bear, that he convinced himself that they were right. He then found himself in a situation where he wished he was a bear. In society, people can convince you to be something you’re not. You have to make the decision if you want to believe them, or stay true to yourself. He had to make the decision if he wanted to be a bear, or a silly man who needed a shave.
Gillian Robertson Period 4- "The Bear that wasn't"
After reading “The Beat that Wasn’t” I felt that it really showed how life is like today. People with power over others can make you think something that is untrue about yourself. The bear was told that he wasn’t a bear by everyone he talked to, even other bears told him he didn’t fit in. He started believed what they were saying. Today, people try to fit in around what others say and lose who they are. If someone tries to stand up for themselves, they can be laughed at like the bear was by the vice presidents, bears and workers. This story showed how people try to fit in with what others want from them.
I felt that the story “The Bear Who Wasn’t” was very applicable to everyday life. Some people are motivated proving others wrong who tell them they are not who they think they are, or more commonly, they are not capable of doing something. I personally am not motivated by negative people who tell me something different about myself than what I believe. For example, when someone tells me I am not capable of doing challenging school work, when I go to attempt the work, all I can hear is that negative voice in the back of my head telling me I am going to fail. Often times, this pressure leads me to give up. A similar situation occurred with the bear when people told him he was not a bear. At first, like me, he protested against them. After a while though, he became afraid to return to his bear cave because he did not feel he was a bear and ended up facing the adversity of nature because of it. Luckily, in the bear’s case, he was able to overcome what others were saying and retrieve his true identity from within himself.
To me this book was a reflection on society, and how stereo typical people have become. In “The Bear That Wasn’t” the bear was not recognized because he wasn’t what every other bear looked like. Such as the bears with the stripped hat at the zoo, that laughed at the bear and told him he was a man in a fur coat that needed to shave. This shows how even people who are very similar now a days in society do not except others just because they may not appear to be the same. “The Bear That Wasn’t” shows how people frequently wake up knowing who they are and even at the end of the day you can find you again. However along the way there are so many superior people that may shape you to think that you are someone you are not.
I thought the story The Bear That Wasn’t was realistic of what can happen to anyone that does not feel like they belong to a certain group. When the bear walked over to the factory he was told that he was not a bear because bears do not belong in factories. Eventually, after so many repeatedly told him he was not a bear, he started to believe it. I think that for many people when they feel like they don’t belong somewhere, they morph themselves into someone that will fit in. The way that society views a person can eventually be what they become because they start to believe in and fit the identity given to them by others. I think ultimately a person is happier when they create their own identity and express who they truly are so that they don’t stress over having to fit a certain role, just like the bear did towards the end. Maintaining your true identity can be difficult in a society where there is pressure to fit in, and often people conform to the way that others view them like the bear.
The ways of an individual and their personality are shaped by society today, and change depending on the way that people will look at them in certain situations. This is what happened to the bear in the story, “The Bear that Wasn’t”. Since the bear woke up in a factory, all of the workers there automatically assumed that he was not a bear, but a worker at the factory. Nobody would believe the bear because society tells them that bears do not belong in factories, and people will almost always go along and believe what society tells them. The bear started to become a victim of conforming to society. He started to believe that maybe he was not a bear, but a man. This was caused by everyone telling him what he is, which caused the bear to start and believe them. At the end of the day, the bear realized that he was right, and that he didn’t care what everybody else thought or said. This was a result of not having the social influence while he was in his cave. That can relate to everyday people too. Many people will change who they are when they step outside of their house to try and “fit in”, but their real personality is when they are not influenced by society.
In my opinion, the story “The Bear that Wasn’t” represents how identity and self-worth are becoming less and less important to people these days. The bear knew for himself at the very beginning of the story that he was a bear and not anything else, but once the factory workers told him that he wasn’t a bear, he started to believe them and let himself fall into the social order for a large amount of time. The disappointing thing is that in society in the 21st century, it seems that identity isn’t so much based on how you act and the things you accomplish but how the people around you feel about you, which is exactly what happened in the story. The bear had a hold of his identity at the start, and lost is somewhere when he was continuously told that he was wrong.
After reading “The Bear That Wasn’t” it sparked me with many thoughts about individuals and how they change to fit in with society. Many people have their own views and values on a specific thing but change their thoughts to fit in with the norm. This is because it’s harder to get your thoughts out their if the majority is in disagreement. So as the bear in the story knew who he was as a bear at the start of the story and after getting constantly questioned with the thought of him not truly being a bear changed his views. So the bear at the end of the story changed who was to truly think he was a furry human. So in the end the bear lost his identity and changed who he was to fit in with the thoughts of the people surrounding the bear. -Sean Corcoran, Period 4
“The Bear That Wasn’t” is a story that is relatable to almost anyone at some point in their lives. Feeling out of place and alone can be difficult because it means you need to stand up and support yourself in who you are and what you believe in. You’ll feel a lot of pressure to give up when you see multiple people going against you and feeling judged by a crowd can easily take over someone’s self-confidence. The bear felt defeated and unfortunately let other people’s comments around him bring him down which made him question who he really was. What I got out of the story was that being judged and stereotyped will always happen no matter where you are, and it’s up to you whether or not you let it get to you or if the negative reactions can make you stronger.
I agree with what Nicole Noble said. I also believe people have become very stereotypical throughout time. I like the point that she makes about at the end of the day you can find yourself and be who you are, because I’d like to think this is true.
I agree with Carolyn Monette very much when she says “people are constantly seeking for other people’s or group’s approval, especially of those who are “higher” than them.” I think she hits the point very clearly because people are looking to fit in most often and they do whatever they can to fit in. I also think that people also look for approval from someone who is higher than them or who is more respected than they are and think that she gets that point very clearly.
in respose to doug casey I totally agree with him on that how a person's true identity is what he or she thinks of herself, not what others think of him/her, although life and society tend to interfere alot and want to keep people in ways which they think its supposed to be.
In relation to Carolyn Monette's post: I agree that people should not look for approval by groups in order to fit in. I think that people often try to be in groups that they dont belong in because they want to be something that they are not. If people stay true to themselves, they will find the right group to be in.
In the book that we just read called “The Bear That Wasn’t” it showed how society is very quick to judge on other people. When someone sees another person who doesn’t fit in they usually judge them before actually getting to know them and finding out who they are. Some people are always looking to fit in with the groups that are in society. In the book the people just thought he was just a guy who was hairy and wore a fur coat, when he was actually a bear and lived in a cave and the factory came and took over where he lived. It also shows how the way people think can affect your opinion of yourself. As in the book the bear thought that maybe he wasn’t a bear and he was just what everyone said he was. Some people try to become what society wants instead of being who you are. You just have to be yourself and not try to be what everyone wants you to be.
After reading "The Bear that Wasn't", it became clear to me how easy it is for society, especially our superiors, to influence our actions and personality. The bear in the story knew he wasn't a bear, but as he went further up the bureaucracy, he began to question his identity. If these powerful people were telling him he wasn't a bear, then maybe he wasn't. And then, when he came across the zoo bears, and the circus bears, they all said he wasn't a bear because they weren't doing what they were doing. All the issues the bear was facing in the story are issues us, as humans, face as well. Our superiors constantly shape how we act and what we do. Many children do things solely because it's what their parents or guidance counselor told them to do. Far too often do kids struggle in school, or take a class they loathe because it's what they think colleges want. They don't think for themselves. Not only do our superiors influence us, but our peers as well. Often times people do something they wouldn't normally do, because a large group of people are already doing it, and if one person doesn't do it, he/she is a social pariah. Like the bear who didn't ride a unicycle, and therefore wasn't a bear, we face issues like that every day. It is very difficult for people to maintain their independence in society.
In Response to Sara Krane, I agree with what you where you said “it seems that identity isn’t so much based on how you act and the things you accomplish but how the people around you feel about you”. I think that the way that others perceive a person is eventually what they are known by. I personally think that makes it more important to express who you actually are so that people can perceive you that way, instead of fitting into the mold they create for you.
The story of “The bear that wasn’t” was a great example of how people might change because of society telling them what to do. The bear was being influenced by the people in the factory. Since everyone from a higher power was telling him he was a man that needed to shave and wore a fur coat. In the end, the bear came to realize he needed to stay true to himself and he did.
In the book “The Bear That Wasn’t” the bear was constantly told by everyone that he isn’t a bear, but instead a silly man who wears a fur coat and needs a shave. It wasn’t that the people didn’t know he wasn’t a bear, but instead the fact that they didn’t want him to be a bear. They wanted him to be someone different than who he really was, and as the story progressed, more and more people told him he wasn’t a bear. As the bear came face to face with each person of the story, such as the zoo bears and circus bears, they told him he wasn’t a bear due to the fact that he was different. He didn’t live in the zoo or the circus, so they didn’t accept him as a bear. As more and more people told the bear he wasn’t in fact a bear, the bear began to believe them due to the fact that he wasn’t like them. Everyone the bear met throughout the story didn’t want him to be a bear because that meant he would be different. The bear believed everyone else instead of believing in himself like he should have, and began to lose his true identity because of other people.
I agree with what Katie Priest said about how people are happier when they create their own identity and how she said it is hard to keep own identiy when there is pressure to fit in.
Society forces people to conform and stray away from their individuality because it focuses too much on stereotypes and where people as a majority belong in the world. This story illustrates this idea by having something as unique as a bear (belonging in nature) exist in an industrial world full of people. Despite the fact that the bear is as different as possible from everyone in the working community, all the people just naturally believe that he has to be one of them, because an actual bear would typically never be in that environment. The workers then convince the bear, who desperately wants to retain his identity, that he is not who or what he actually is. He is not in a zoo or at a circus, but working alongside humans in their industrial world, so he comes to truly believe that he is simply a man with a beard and fur coat. When more and more people, with greater power and what is believed to be greater “intelligence” tell the bear the same thing, it essentially becomes the truth, despite the fact that the bear is indeed a bear. This shows how society and the powers of our society control the identities of individuals in today’s world. Because stereotypes and specific groups and cliques exist, it is very difficult for people to stay true to who they are, and the bear in this story is the perfect example of an everyday individual struggling to do just that.
In response to Annie King, I strongly agree that people will often believe what people think especially when they may be more superior. I believe this happens mostly when people don’t know who they truly are themselves. I think one way the bear could have stayed true to himself like you said is if he really knew who he was. Although he knew he was a bear I believe he didn’t know what he was deep down not just the outside. If he had known who he was when he first entered the factory that may have helped him to not change. Although sometimes experiences like these that the bear went through most likely shaped him and cause his identity to be known from that day on. I totally agree with your response though and how people should stay true to themselves no matter what people say.
When reading “The Bear that Wasn’t” by Frank Tashlin it dawned upon me that situations like this happen every day. The short story really illustrates an example on how pressure from other people that are around you can make you change your view on yourself. The bear in the beginning of the story knew he was a bear, but towards the end of the story he wasn’t quite sure who he was because people around him were telling him he wasn’t a bear. This is a prime example on what goes on in every one’s life. This story shows how people can forget who they truly are just by being around other people. It’s extremely hard to stand up for yourself when you are being told by with more notoriety than you that you are not the person you say you are. This is what happens when all the president’s call him,” A silly old that needs to shave and wears a fur coat.” When people constantly tell you who they want you to be you start to turn into that person whether you want to or not.
I agree with Jillian Gardner because higher power does not care about your own opinion even if you are right, since they are the higher power they believe that they are right.
This is in response to Annie King’s post… I agree with her statement about always staying true to yourself and to not let go of your idea of yourself. Even though the bear lost who he was for a period of time, he came to his senses at the end and realized that he shouldn’t have let those people tell him who he was because that is up to him, not anyone else. I also agree with her statement about people feeling the need to fit in and needing the approval of others, especially in this day and age, and also because of the point our society is in now it seems like approval from our peers is the most important thing to a lot of people.
After reading “That Bear That Wasn’t” I had many thought regarding individuals and society. In the story, the bear was being an individual, but the rest of society saw him as different. They saw him as a man who needed to shave and wore a fur coat, not a bear. As more people told the bear this, the bear began to believe what they were saying and started to question whether he actually was a bear or not. The people in the story made him feel isolated and pressured him to change his identity. As more and more people started to convince the bear that he was actually a man, it became increasingly difficult for the bear to remain an individual and retain his true identity. This is an example of how society can influence and change an individual.
I read “The Bear That Wasn’t yesterday and enjoyed it. It was a great example of how a group can affect an individual. The bear was put down constantly and was not supported by anyone, especially his own species. This tends to affect people mentally. People feel isolated when no one has an opinion similar to theirs and usually begin to give in to the group’s opinion in order to feel welcomed. The bear started to believe that he wasn’t a bear after all of the people told him he wasn’t. It was really a shame to see him cave in to the pressure, but eventually he regained his confidence and believed he was a bear.
I agree with Nicole's comment about people being so sterotypical to one another even if they are similar just because they don't fit in. This is 100% true and I feel that everyone does it even if they don't realize what they're doing because they are so caught up in being like everyone else just to blend in.
I agree with Ryan Baxendale when he said that someone’s real personality is when they are not influenced by society. Many times society’s influences make people think they believe something that isn’t really who they are. When ideas and beliefs get planted into someone’s head, agreeing and going along with the idea is easier than standing up for yourself and going against it. It is difficult not to be passive, but if you believe in yourself than your own self-confidence can overcome it.
The story of “The Bear That Wasn’t.” included a very obvious lesson about society and powerful people but also had a very meaningful lesson about people judging other people. When reading the book many people thought about the message of powerful people controlling the less powerful but I had something else in mind. When I read the book one key thing I picked up on was when the worker says the bear is a man just because he found the bear walking around the factory. The worker automatically assumes this bear is a man that needs a shave just because of the place he is found. This shows how people judge people based on where they are from no matter what kind of person they are. This bear is automatically assumed to be a man who needs a shave because he is walking through a factory, not based on who this bear, not human, actually is. People need to know that someone can come from somewhere and be different from everyone else that is from that same place. Every person is unique and where you are from doesn’t change that.
this is in relation to Nicole nobles post: I dont think that the people who can influence who you are always superior. I believe you can be influenced by any person no matter who they are. -Sean Corcoran period 4
The story of The Bear that Wasn’t is an allegory about how society can shape or change a person’s identity. The bear is used as a hyperbole to show how a society can change a personality. The author used a bear as his character to show the effects society had on the individual more noticeable. This allows the reader to grasp a deep meaning on such a simple story. The bears changed his identity because of the power opposing his identity into something he wasn’t. When there is great support for an opposing idea it is natural to want to change your views in order to be a part of a group. It becomes even harder to be someone with an opposing opinion when the other side of the argument has people in positions of power because they have strong influence on numerous people by being a leader or role model.
In my opinion, what i understand about the book "The Bear that wasn't is the society costoms are something the cannot understand. There is discrimination and recism because they didn't accept him in any group. well I can say about what I got it is how somebody has relationship with other people and how you act with other people says who you are. The bear knows he is not a silly bear but everybody descrinated against him.
I liked and agreed with what Zach Diamond said about how even the bear's own species told him that he wasn't a bear because i think that truly emphasizes the meaning of the story
I agree with Carolyn's post. I agree that people should not try to change themselves just to fit in to other groups. If people can be themselves and be true to who they are, they will find a group that they fit into.
After reading Jill’s post I find points where I both agree and disagree. I believe that the reason the presidents all told the bear he was not a bear did not have to do with their higher position in society. I think that they were kind in giving him the time of day to speak with them. However, I believe they told him he was not a bear out of ignorance. Sense the presidents did not know a bear could live outside, away from circus and zoo bears, they inferred that he simply was not a bear. I do see where she is coming from though. They did use their position to be very disrespectful and not hear out his reasoning for his opinions.
@Kevin Doherty "This story shows how people can forget who they truly are just by being around other people." I feel this sentance can sum up a lot of the principles shown in this short story.
This story was a great example of how society is and how stereotypical it can be. The bear was told by many people that he wasn’t a bear even though he believed that he was but once the other bears told him that he wasn’t a bear because he wasn’t inside the cage with them in the zoo or on the bicycles at the circus. It was all about fitting in and since he wasn’t in any of the places the people in the factory told the bear he should be in he just stuck to what they were telling him.
I personally feel that the story reflects the social pressure that people are put under to be what the greater population sees is correct. The bear is faced with the issue of deciding his identity and choosing whether or not to agree with what the people told him he is, or to remain independent despite what the majority tells him. Nowadays in society, people are judged by a standard and are stereotyped for being different than the norm. “The Bear That Wasn’t” is a perfect example of a person living in society and keeping their independence and identity rather than conforming and following the standards of the mainstream.
I very much agree that as humans, our peers and superiors shape our identities and change who we are in the long run. "The Bear That Wasn't" is a perfect example of this idea.
I couldn't agree more with how Sophie W. said that the book showed both the bear getting defeated by a stereotype and then shows him overcoming it by staying true to himself. I like how she talked more about the sticking up for yourself part of the story because ultimately the lesson isn’t that you have to live with people that will constantly try and bring you down, it is the lesson of not letting them that makes you a stronger person in the end.
55 comments:
Response to “The Bear that Wasn’t”
In my opinion, the book “The Bear that wasn’t” depicts the ever present ideals of a Capitalist system in which those with power (The Bourgeois), dictate and control those without power (The Proletariat). The Bear represents the Proletariat class, he wakes up to find his home has been taken and turned into a factory. He is confronted by several people in positions with power (The Foreman, the managers, the V.P, and presidents) of the factory. In a Capitalist system, the Bourgeois have control over the media, and they control what can be considered the public thought. Being a member of the Proletariat holding little to no power, being told that he is not a bear, they were using their influence to change what the bear thought. People with power in society; ultimately dictate how everyone else lives. The Bourgeois use their power and influence to spread their ideas, and those without the willpower to resist, will be swept up in it, like the bear almost was in the end. In the end, the bear’s willpower, his knowledge of himself, ultimately overcame the Bourgeois idealism and created and fortified his own identity. The bear is one of the few in a Capitalist system that realizes this truth, I feel that many are very unaware of what is happening in their society behind the closed curtains, the shroud that separates classes in society.
After reading "The Bear That Wasn't" I came away with some thoughts about an individual in relation to society. In the book, the bear's identity was defined by society, which was the factory workers, the host of vice-presidents, and the president. All of these people thought of the bear as a man, who was silly and needed a shave. As more and more people thought this, and as the issue went up the chain of power in the company, it became more difficult for the bear to convince anyone that he truly was a bear.
My point is that sometimes in life, the identity of a person isn’t based upon what that person thinks of him or herself, but rather the opinion of the public. As a group, we are usually quick to make judgments on individuals, and occasionally think that people have to follow our thoughts. This was shown in the book, as the factory people didn’t think that the bear could actually be a bear, which would go against their stubborn beliefs.
This is in relation to Doug Casey's post : I agree that social norms are created by those in the upper echelons of power (like those in a company chain). It is very difficult to refute those in power, with so many people in power, it becomes hard for an individual with very little power to overcome the Bourgeois machine.
“The Bear That Wasn’t” showed how in today’s society people are constantly seeking for other people’s or group’s approval, especially of those who are “higher” than them. This story shows how easily the opinions of others can shape the identity of an individual. People should not be so desperate for the approval of others and they should stay true to who they are.
I thought that "the bear that wasn’t" was a very good example of the way people find their identities are today. Most people find their identity based on their environment or what people are telling them to be. In "the bear that wasn’t" the vice presidents and the president were telling him that he was a silly man and him hearing that over and over made him accustom to that and he started to act like something he wasn’t. I think it was a very good way of showing how the society thinks now and that us hearing things from a person with more respect or more power than us might have a greater influence on us now.
I thought that the book as simple as it was as it wasn’t. The book expressed a major issue in our society in small words and basic logic. I think that it was clever from the author to represent the idea to the people that way, because people tend to understand and believe simple, obvious and logical facts. Such as: presenting the identity of a person as bear then making the people around the bear to see him as a silly man. That fact convinced the readers that the true identity of the character is a bear because it was only logical and obvious, where if the author used another example like a reality example of a person being misplaced then the readers may have different opinions and won’t get the idea as fast and be convinced by it.
Nicole Noble period 4 said…
Response to “The Bear that Wasn’t”
To me this book was a reflection on society, and how stereo typical people have become. In “The Bear That Wasn’t” the bear was not recognized because he wasn’t what every other bear looked like. Such as the bears with the stripped hat at the zoo, that laughed at the bear and told him he was a man in a fur coat that needed to shave. This shows how even people who are very similar now a days in society do not except others just because they may not appear to be the same. “The Bear That Wasn’t” shows how people frequently wake up knowing who they are and even at the end of the day you can find you again. However along the way there are so many superior people that may shape you to think that you are someone you are not.
I thought the story “The Bear that Wasn’t” was a good example of how no matter what you hear from others, you should always stay true to yourself. In the story the bear was constantly being told he wasn’t who he thought he was. After a while he started to believe it himself. This can happen to people because they want to fit in so badly that they morph themselves into people they aren’t. I think everyone is looking for approval and they will sacrifice being themselves for it.
“The Bear That Wasn’t” has a true meaning behind it. The fact that he could not convince the higher power that he in fact was a bear shows that people don’t care about the opinions of people lower than them. Their title as “President” automatically makes them correct in the question of if he is a bear or not. The president believed this, and eventually so did the bear. So many people told him that he was not a bear, that he convinced himself that they were right. He then found himself in a situation where he wished he was a bear. In society, people can convince you to be something you’re not. You have to make the decision if you want to believe them, or stay true to yourself. He had to make the decision if he wanted to be a bear, or a silly man who needed a shave.
Gillian Robertson Period 4- "The Bear that wasn't"
After reading “The Beat that Wasn’t” I felt that it really showed how life is like today. People with power over others can make you think something that is untrue about yourself. The bear was told that he wasn’t a bear by everyone he talked to, even other bears told him he didn’t fit in. He started believed what they were saying. Today, people try to fit in around what others say and lose who they are. If someone tries to stand up for themselves, they can be laughed at like the bear was by the vice presidents, bears and workers. This story showed how people try to fit in with what others want from them.
I felt that the story “The Bear Who Wasn’t” was very applicable to everyday life. Some people are motivated proving others wrong who tell them they are not who they think they are, or more commonly, they are not capable of doing something. I personally am not motivated by negative people who tell me something different about myself than what I believe. For example, when someone tells me I am not capable of doing challenging school work, when I go to attempt the work, all I can hear is that negative voice in the back of my head telling me I am going to fail. Often times, this pressure leads me to give up. A similar situation occurred with the bear when people told him he was not a bear. At first, like me, he protested against them. After a while though, he became afraid to return to his bear cave because he did not feel he was a bear and ended up facing the adversity of nature because of it. Luckily, in the bear’s case, he was able to overcome what others were saying and retrieve his true identity from within himself.
To me this book was a reflection on society, and how stereo typical people have become. In “The Bear That Wasn’t” the bear was not recognized because he wasn’t what every other bear looked like. Such as the bears with the stripped hat at the zoo, that laughed at the bear and told him he was a man in a fur coat that needed to shave. This shows how even people who are very similar now a days in society do not except others just because they may not appear to be the same. “The Bear That Wasn’t” shows how people frequently wake up knowing who they are and even at the end of the day you can find you again. However along the way there are so many superior people that may shape you to think that you are someone you are not.
I thought the story The Bear That Wasn’t was realistic of what can happen to anyone that does not feel like they belong to a certain group. When the bear walked over to the factory he was told that he was not a bear because bears do not belong in factories. Eventually, after so many repeatedly told him he was not a bear, he started to believe it. I think that for many people when they feel like they don’t belong somewhere, they morph themselves into someone that will fit in. The way that society views a person can eventually be what they become because they start to believe in and fit the identity given to them by others. I think ultimately a person is happier when they create their own identity and express who they truly are so that they don’t stress over having to fit a certain role, just like the bear did towards the end. Maintaining your true identity can be difficult in a society where there is pressure to fit in, and often people conform to the way that others view them like the bear.
The ways of an individual and their personality are shaped by society today, and change depending on the way that people will look at them in certain situations. This is what happened to the bear in the story, “The Bear that Wasn’t”. Since the bear woke up in a factory, all of the workers there automatically assumed that he was not a bear, but a worker at the factory. Nobody would believe the bear because society tells them that bears do not belong in factories, and people will almost always go along and believe what society tells them. The bear started to become a victim of conforming to society. He started to believe that maybe he was not a bear, but a man. This was caused by everyone telling him what he is, which caused the bear to start and believe them. At the end of the day, the bear realized that he was right, and that he didn’t care what everybody else thought or said. This was a result of not having the social influence while he was in his cave. That can relate to everyday people too. Many people will change who they are when they step outside of their house to try and “fit in”, but their real personality is when they are not influenced by society.
In my opinion, the story “The Bear that Wasn’t” represents how identity and self-worth are becoming less and less important to people these days. The bear knew for himself at the very beginning of the story that he was a bear and not anything else, but once the factory workers told him that he wasn’t a bear, he started to believe them and let himself fall into the social order for a large amount of time. The disappointing thing is that in society in the 21st century, it seems that identity isn’t so much based on how you act and the things you accomplish but how the people around you feel about you, which is exactly what happened in the story. The bear had a hold of his identity at the start, and lost is somewhere when he was continuously told that he was wrong.
After reading “The Bear That Wasn’t” it sparked me with many thoughts about individuals and how they change to fit in with society. Many people have their own views and values on a specific thing but change their thoughts to fit in with the norm. This is because it’s harder to get your thoughts out their if the majority is in disagreement. So as the bear in the story knew who he was as a bear at the start of the story and after getting constantly questioned with the thought of him not truly being a bear changed his views. So the bear at the end of the story changed who was to truly think he was a furry human. So in the end the bear lost his identity and changed who he was to fit in with the thoughts of the people surrounding the bear.
-Sean Corcoran, Period 4
I argee with annie that you should always stay true to yourself regardless of what others say or think.
“The Bear That Wasn’t” is a story that is relatable to almost anyone at some point in their lives. Feeling out of place and alone can be difficult because it means you need to stand up and support yourself in who you are and what you believe in. You’ll feel a lot of pressure to give up when you see multiple people going against you and feeling judged by a crowd can easily take over someone’s self-confidence. The bear felt defeated and unfortunately let other people’s comments around him bring him down which made him question who he really was. What I got out of the story was that being judged and stereotyped will always happen no matter where you are, and it’s up to you whether or not you let it get to you or if the negative reactions can make you stronger.
I agree with what Nicole Noble said. I also believe people have become very stereotypical throughout time. I like the point that she makes about at the end of the day you can find yourself and be who you are, because I’d like to think this is true.
I agree with Carolyn Monette very much when she says “people are constantly seeking for other people’s or group’s approval, especially of those who are “higher” than them.” I think she hits the point very clearly because people are looking to fit in most often and they do whatever they can to fit in. I also think that people also look for approval from someone who is higher than them or who is more respected than they are and think that she gets that point very clearly.
in respose to doug casey I totally agree with him on that how a person's true identity is what he or she thinks of herself, not what others think of him/her, although life and society tend to interfere alot and want to keep people in ways which they think its supposed to be.
In relation to Carolyn Monette's post: I agree that people should not look for approval by groups in order to fit in. I think that people often try to be in groups that they dont belong in because they want to be something that they are not. If people stay true to themselves, they will find the right group to be in.
In the book that we just read called “The Bear That Wasn’t” it showed how society is very quick to judge on other people. When someone sees another person who doesn’t fit in they usually judge them before actually getting to know them and finding out who they are. Some people are always looking to fit in with the groups that are in society. In the book the people just thought he was just a guy who was hairy and wore a fur coat, when he was actually a bear and lived in a cave and the factory came and took over where he lived. It also shows how the way people think can affect your opinion of yourself. As in the book the bear thought that maybe he wasn’t a bear and he was just what everyone said he was. Some people try to become what society wants instead of being who you are. You just have to be yourself and not try to be what everyone wants you to be.
After reading "The Bear that Wasn't", it became clear to me how easy it is for society, especially our superiors, to influence our actions and personality. The bear in the story knew he wasn't a bear, but as he went further up the bureaucracy, he began to question his identity. If these powerful people were telling him he wasn't a bear, then maybe he wasn't. And then, when he came across the zoo bears, and the circus bears, they all said he wasn't a bear because they weren't doing what they were doing. All the issues the bear was facing in the story are issues us, as humans, face as well. Our superiors constantly shape how we act and what we do. Many children do things solely because it's what their parents or guidance counselor told them to do. Far too often do kids struggle in school, or take a class they loathe because it's what they think colleges want. They don't think for themselves. Not only do our superiors influence us, but our peers as well. Often times people do something they wouldn't normally do, because a large group of people are already doing it, and if one person doesn't do it, he/she is a social pariah. Like the bear who didn't ride a unicycle, and therefore wasn't a bear, we face issues like that every day. It is very difficult for people to maintain their independence in society.
In Response to Sara Krane,
I agree with what you where you said “it seems that identity isn’t so much based on how you act and the things you accomplish but how the people around you feel about you”. I think that the way that others perceive a person is eventually what they are known by. I personally think that makes it more important to express who you actually are so that people can perceive you that way, instead of fitting into the mold they create for you.
The story of “The bear that wasn’t” was a great example of how people might change because of society telling them what to do. The bear was being influenced by the people in the factory. Since everyone from a higher power was telling him he was a man that needed to shave and wore a fur coat. In the end, the bear came to realize he needed to stay true to himself and he did.
In the book “The Bear That Wasn’t” the bear was constantly told by everyone that he isn’t a bear, but instead a silly man who wears a fur coat and needs a shave. It wasn’t that the people didn’t know he wasn’t a bear, but instead the fact that they didn’t want him to be a bear. They wanted him to be someone different than who he really was, and as the story progressed, more and more people told him he wasn’t a bear. As the bear came face to face with each person of the story, such as the zoo bears and circus bears, they told him he wasn’t a bear due to the fact that he was different. He didn’t live in the zoo or the circus, so they didn’t accept him as a bear. As more and more people told the bear he wasn’t in fact a bear, the bear began to believe them due to the fact that he wasn’t like them. Everyone the bear met throughout the story didn’t want him to be a bear because that meant he would be different. The bear believed everyone else instead of believing in himself like he should have, and began to lose his true identity because of other people.
I agree with what Katie Priest said about how people are happier when they create their own identity and how she said it is hard to keep own identiy when there is pressure to fit in.
Society forces people to conform and stray away from their individuality because it focuses too much on stereotypes and where people as a majority belong in the world. This story illustrates this idea by having something as unique as a bear (belonging in nature) exist in an industrial world full of people. Despite the fact that the bear is as different as possible from everyone in the working community, all the people just naturally believe that he has to be one of them, because an actual bear would typically never be in that environment. The workers then convince the bear, who desperately wants to retain his identity, that he is not who or what he actually is. He is not in a zoo or at a circus, but working alongside humans in their industrial world, so he comes to truly believe that he is simply a man with a beard and fur coat. When more and more people, with greater power and what is believed to be greater “intelligence” tell the bear the same thing, it essentially becomes the truth, despite the fact that the bear is indeed a bear. This shows how society and the powers of our society control the identities of individuals in today’s world. Because stereotypes and specific groups and cliques exist, it is very difficult for people to stay true to who they are, and the bear in this story is the perfect example of an everyday individual struggling to do just that.
In response to Annie King, I strongly agree that people will often believe what people think especially when they may be more superior. I believe this happens mostly when people don’t know who they truly are themselves. I think one way the bear could have stayed true to himself like you said is if he really knew who he was. Although he knew he was a bear I believe he didn’t know what he was deep down not just the outside. If he had known who he was when he first entered the factory that may have helped him to not change. Although sometimes experiences like these that the bear went through most likely shaped him and cause his identity to be known from that day on. I totally agree with your response though and how people should stay true to themselves no matter what people say.
I agree with what Jess has to say. The bear had a hard time figuring out who he was. Eventually realizing that he is a bear made him happier.
I agree with Caroline that people change themselves to fit in with their peers and to be the people that superiors want them to be.
When reading “The Bear that Wasn’t” by Frank Tashlin it dawned upon me that situations like this happen every day. The short story really illustrates an example on how pressure from other people that are around you can make you change your view on yourself. The bear in the beginning of the story knew he was a bear, but towards the end of the story he wasn’t quite sure who he was because people around him were telling him he wasn’t a bear. This is a prime example on what goes on in every one’s life. This story shows how people can forget who they truly are just by being around other people. It’s extremely hard to stand up for yourself when you are being told by with more notoriety than you that you are not the person you say you are. This is what happens when all the president’s call him,” A silly old that needs to shave and wears a fur coat.” When people constantly tell you who they want you to be you start to turn into that person whether you want to or not.
I agree with Jillian Gardner because higher power does not care about your own opinion even if you are right, since they are the higher power they believe that they are right.
This is in response to Annie King’s post… I agree with her statement about always staying true to yourself and to not let go of your idea of yourself. Even though the bear lost who he was for a period of time, he came to his senses at the end and realized that he shouldn’t have let those people tell him who he was because that is up to him, not anyone else. I also agree with her statement about people feeling the need to fit in and needing the approval of others, especially in this day and age, and also because of the point our society is in now it seems like approval from our peers is the most important thing to a lot of people.
After reading “That Bear That Wasn’t” I had many thought regarding individuals and society. In the story, the bear was being an individual, but the rest of society saw him as different. They saw him as a man who needed to shave and wore a fur coat, not a bear. As more people told the bear this, the bear began to believe what they were saying and started to question whether he actually was a bear or not. The people in the story made him feel isolated and pressured him to change his identity. As more and more people started to convince the bear that he was actually a man, it became increasingly difficult for the bear to remain an individual and retain his true identity. This is an example of how society can influence and change an individual.
I read “The Bear That Wasn’t yesterday and enjoyed it. It was a great example of how a group can affect an individual. The bear was put down constantly and was not supported by anyone, especially his own species. This tends to affect people mentally. People feel isolated when no one has an opinion similar to theirs and usually begin to give in to the group’s opinion in order to feel welcomed. The bear started to believe that he wasn’t a bear after all of the people told him he wasn’t. It was really a shame to see him cave in to the pressure, but eventually he regained his confidence and believed he was a bear.
I agree with Nicole's comment about people being so sterotypical to one another even if they are similar just because they don't fit in. This is 100% true and I feel that everyone does it even if they don't realize what they're doing because they are so caught up in being like everyone else just to blend in.
I agree with Annie because, like she said no matter what people tell you should never change who you are.
I agree with Ryan Baxendale when he said that someone’s real personality is when they are not influenced by society. Many times society’s influences make people think they believe something that isn’t really who they are. When ideas and beliefs get planted into someone’s head, agreeing and going along with the idea is easier than standing up for yourself and going against it. It is difficult not to be passive, but if you believe in yourself than your own self-confidence can overcome it.
The story of “The Bear That Wasn’t.” included a very obvious lesson about society and powerful people but also had a very meaningful lesson about people judging other people. When reading the book many people thought about the message of powerful people controlling the less powerful but I had something else in mind. When I read the book one key thing I picked up on was when the worker says the bear is a man just because he found the bear walking around the factory. The worker automatically assumes this bear is a man that needs a shave just because of the place he is found. This shows how people judge people based on where they are from no matter what kind of person they are. This bear is automatically assumed to be a man who needs a shave because he is walking through a factory, not based on who this bear, not human, actually is. People need to know that someone can come from somewhere and be different from everyone else that is from that same place. Every person is unique and where you are from doesn’t change that.
this is in relation to Nicole nobles post: I dont think that the people who can influence who you are always superior. I believe you can be influenced by any person no matter who they are.
-Sean Corcoran period 4
The story of The Bear that Wasn’t is an allegory about how society can shape or change a person’s identity. The bear is used as a hyperbole to show how a society can change a personality. The author used a bear as his character to show the effects society had on the individual more noticeable. This allows the reader to grasp a deep meaning on such a simple story.
The bears changed his identity because of the power opposing his identity into something he wasn’t. When there is great support for an opposing idea it is natural to want to change your views in order to be a part of a group. It becomes even harder to be someone with an opposing opinion when the other side of the argument has people in positions of power because they have strong influence on numerous people by being a leader or role model.
I agree with Carolyn. Although it is hard to stay true to yourself, you should believe in your own opinion.
Yovani Gomez period 4 said..
In my opinion, what i understand about the book "The Bear that wasn't is the society costoms are something the cannot understand. There is discrimination and recism because they didn't accept him in any group.
well I can say about what I got it is how somebody has relationship with other people and how you act with other people says who you are. The bear knows he is not a silly bear but everybody descrinated against him.
In response to Sean Corcoran said,
I agree with Sean when he says that the bear changed his idenity to fit in with everyone.
I liked and agreed with what Zach Diamond said about how even the bear's own species told him that he wasn't a bear because i think that truly emphasizes the meaning of the story
I agree with Carolyn's post. I agree that people should not try to change themselves just to fit in to other groups. If people can be themselves and be true to who they are, they will find a group that they fit into.
After reading Jill’s post I find points where I both agree and disagree. I believe that the reason the presidents all told the bear he was not a bear did not have to do with their higher position in society. I think that they were kind in giving him the time of day to speak with them. However, I believe they told him he was not a bear out of ignorance. Sense the presidents did not know a bear could live outside, away from circus and zoo bears, they inferred that he simply was not a bear. I do see where she is coming from though. They did use their position to be very disrespectful and not hear out his reasoning for his opinions.
@Kevin Doherty "This story shows how people can forget who they truly are just by being around other people." I feel this sentance can sum up a lot of the principles shown in this short story.
This story was a great example of how society is and how stereotypical it can be. The bear was told by many people that he wasn’t a bear even though he believed that he was but once the other bears told him that he wasn’t a bear because he wasn’t inside the cage with them in the zoo or on the bicycles at the circus. It was all about fitting in and since he wasn’t in any of the places the people in the factory told the bear he should be in he just stuck to what they were telling him.
I personally feel that the story reflects the social pressure that people are put under to be what the greater population sees is correct. The bear is faced with the issue of deciding his identity and choosing whether or not to agree with what the people told him he is, or to remain independent despite what the majority tells him. Nowadays in society, people are judged by a standard and are stereotyped for being different than the norm. “The Bear That Wasn’t” is a perfect example of a person living in society and keeping their independence and identity rather than conforming and following the standards of the mainstream.
In response to Kevin's comment,
I very much agree that as humans, our peers and superiors shape our identities and change who we are in the long run. "The Bear That Wasn't" is a perfect example of this idea.
I couldn't agree more with how Sophie W. said that the book showed both the bear getting defeated by a stereotype and then shows him overcoming it by staying true to himself. I like how she talked more about the sticking up for yourself part of the story because ultimately the lesson isn’t that you have to live with people that will constantly try and bring you down, it is the lesson of not letting them that makes you a stronger person in the end.
i was not in attendance at the period where we were assigned this
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