This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The Bear Story - Period 1
Today you 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.
Mr. Gallagher
I thought the story was based entirely on the fact that a true identity is hard to achieve and can be easily lost or forgotten. In this story the bear was convinced that he was not a bear, everyone had told him otherwise and he actually took on the role of a man in a fur coat. This story just exemplifies the need to be apart of a group and how very important it is because one can either be against it or for it. The bear just shows how your identity can change based on others and your willingness to do so is justified because of the absolute need to fit in.
I agree with most of what Elise said. However, I disagree that the bear's identity was formed through a need of his to be a part of the group. The bear's identity was formed by the rest of the society when he accepted what everyone else was saying as the truth, and it was because of this he became a part of the group, not the other way around.
I thought the bear story contained a brutal and underlying truth underneath the childish shell. It showed the development of someone's personal identity being corrupted and eventually taken over by the opinions and thoughts of other people. Personal identity should be found within by oneself. When a group of people or society constantly start to tell you something different that what you think you start to second guess yourself. It becomes so bad that you completely forget who you are originally. The way to stand up to this would be to remember who you are and to consider other people's opinions, but to never let go of your own.
The bear started out knowing who he was and was convinced it wasnt who he was but then in the end figured it out on his own with out anyones help. I think that this story was the harsh truth of reality. A lot of people try to be their own individual and say they arent influenced and dont fall under the influence of others. but in the end everybody is influenced by someone in some way or another it can be something so small or something huge. many people end up in some kind of group and conform to what each person in the group likes and does. even though at the same time deep down they might know its not who they truly are and eventually as time goes on many people realize that and change. I do think that conforming to a group or something that you are not is something that everyone goes through atleast once in their life and it is a learning expierence just like the bear had.
Jared, I like how you said "The way to stand up to this would be to remember who you are and to consider other people's opinions, but to never let go of your own." I agree with that and when people dont stand up for what they know is right they just conform to the others and lose their identity.
I agree with you that the bear's identity wasn't formed by his need to be part of group, because the bear didn't want to join the other people. The bear never joined the people and thought about how he wasn't meant to be there. He joined them because the people changed the way he thought, so that he thought that he was a human and part of society. In his mind he thought he was human because everybody had told him he was, and eventually it just stuck in him.
I think the bear story proves my mommy's point. Your friends define who you are or the people you hang around with define who you are... Why? Well b/c the bear was in a factory everyone thought he was not a bear. The deeper in the factory he went the harder it was to prove he was a bear. The bears didn't believe he was a bear either b/c he was standing with the people from the factory... At the circus one bear said "if he was a bear he would not be sitting up there with you....."
I also believe the bear story proves that when someone is standing by themselves to prove their identity it is hard and it can eventually cause a person to believe what people think of them is true... =)
Elise.... I think you bring out a good point about how people have the need to want to fit in that eventually they forget who they are. In this case though I feel that the bear wasn't worried about fitting in, it was more about everyone, even bears like him, being against him causing him to think how they think.... =)
I agree with Jared that "the bear story contained a brutal and underlying truth underneath the childish shell." It reminded me of the story Doctor Seuss wrote which we read in sophomore year, the one about the two nations which fought over buttering their bread. I really admire a writer who can disguise such a powerful message as a simple story.
That said, I think one of the most interesting things was that the entire time, the bear argued that he actually was a bear, but he didn't really get that upset about it. He seemed kind of nonchalant, like, "I'm a bear. You don't believe me? Oh, okay." I think that that rings true in society a lot today. I'll use an example from my own life - if I don't get a certain role in a play which I thought I could get, I think to myself, "I could have played that part, but since I wasn't cast in that role, I must not be able to play it." I think a lot of people feel the same way.
Sammy aka Da Princess... It wasn't that I was trying to say that the bear desperately wanted to fit in, I was trying to say that after a while identities can be altered and can be changed by those around you. Maybe not in this case but identities change and sometimes it is justified by the wanting to be in a group SO bad. The bear is different because he was trying to convince those who didn't want anything to do with it....he soon took on the role that he never believed in or wanted. This bear shifted his identity because society as a whole wanted him to....although he didn't change it willingly or knowingly, his identity was changed accordingly
I thought The Bear That Wasn't was a story of how society impacts an individual. The days before his hibernation, the bear did all his normal bear activities, however when we awoke from his hibernation, he was in a new environment. And in this environment the society around him told him that he was something that he wasn't. The bear then began to believe everyone in the society around him. This goes to show that people in today's world are so easily influenced by society, and that fitting in with the world around them is the most important thing.
Elise...... Okay, I get it and I think you bring out a a good point. Society does change our identity as a whole... Your a very smart girl...lol... But really I understand what you meant and I strongly agree with you....
Jared "Dugon" Milbank- In response to your magical fantastical quote: "When a group of people or society constantly start to tell you something different that what you think you start to second guess yourself. It becomes so bad that you completely forget who you are originally. The way to stand up to this would be to remember who you are and to consider other people's opinions, but to never let go of your own." I thought that this statement was truly the best thing posted here. What you said is something that everyone in this world can truly take to heart.
The bear story was really interesting. It showed how the dominate society can change a persons way of thinking and viewing things. When your put into a society, you must have the same thoughts and views as everybody else in order to survive. The bear was brainwashed into thinking that he was a part of their society. You tend on getting used to the fact that you are part of the group now and that everybody must do the same things. This is the same concept on how the holocaust started.
The Bear Story strongly tackled a big issue in our society today: stereotyping. It also shows the strength of a group opinion in our society. The Bear was so sure of his identity, but as more and more people/bears convinced him that he was a silly man, there was nothing else to do but believe them. We are always told as kids to believe in whatever we believe in. However, this book cracks the reality of our society, and that the majority will prevail most of the time. However, in the end, the Bear decides to be a Bear again, simply because he never believed he was a man. This shows that ultimately, we need to keep on believing in our beliefs no matter what the adversity might be, and that we can succeed one day if we go against the negative majority.
Michael- I liked how you related this story's morals to the holocaust. It provided an interesting point of view to think about. It also was pretty evident to see from everyone's comments that fitting into a society is a necessity in our world today.
I agree with elise as well for the most part, however, I do not think the bear wanted to be apart of a group or try to fit in for that matter. It seemed more like the bear wanted to be a bear, but society tried to force it's view upon the bear in an assertive manner, and because the bear was the minority in the situation and did not have evidence or back up to prove he was a bear like the factory workers did, it gave in to "peer pressure" so to say and went along with the human view in order to satisfy apart of his mind that was loosing to the humans in an argument of reason and intellect. he just couldn't take it anymore and by then the humans had made an "imprint" in his mind that he was a furry man who needed to shave and wore a fur coat, because they kept telling him that so often.
Andy, i like how you stated that everybody should always believe in themselves no matter what. Make sure no one brings you down with what you believe in. Don't let anybody make you believe in the things you don't believe in because your identity will change overall and you will never be yourself. You will be the person the society wants you to end up as.
I think the story was a good story about how identity can be questioned by so many people that you believe for a second that it is true. In the story the bear knew what he was, and he continued to tell all the people who said he was a man, that he was a bear. However, after trying to convince people he was a bear, he was left in the snow alone, and thought about what a man would do. He then re-thought his identity and realized that he was still a bear no matter what anyone said. Last but not least, I think this books shows a lot about society. In the factory all the managers did not allow the bear to say otherwise. Due to appearances and what they knew about bears they assumed the bear was a man. They followed this assumption and didn't allow anyone to say otherwise. This made it very difficult for the bear to prove himself.
Neil, I completely agree with the fact that society tried to press its view on the bear. Although the bear was a bear, knew he was a bear, and wanted to be a bear, society kept forcing it instead of listening and taking it into consideration.
I believe that the bear story was an excellent example of how we often define ourselves by our environment. In the beginning, the bear was in the forest, and acted like a bear. When he awoke from hibernation, he found himself in a factory of humans. After a period of change, which was chaotic and turbulent (as all periods of change are), he finally gave in to his environment and began to believe that he really was a man who needed a shave and wore a fur coat. However, once the factory shut down, he went through another period of change where he had to realize that he was really a bear. In my opinion, we define ourselves to a certain extent by our society and our environment. The need to fit in is an inherent trait in human. behavior. One way or another, we always try to find something in common between us and our society, environment, and friends.
"The Bear that Wasn't" is a statement condemning society's tendency to force conformity upon its members. I think that the simplistic writing style, as well the pictures accompanying and complementing it, made the story more accessible and the message stronger by showing that this lesson is a fundamental one. People try to be accepted by their peers beginning in childhood, referenced by the picture book presentation, and continue throughout their lives. This is often necessary to a certain degree in order to allow everyone to live with everyone else, but once someone begins to lose their own identity and conform to whatever image society imposes upon them they lose part of their individuality. Just as the bear would have frozen if he had not realized that he was a bear and could go into the cave for warmth, all of us need to remember the importance of our identity as we go about our lives.
Andy, I agree with your comment about stereotyping and the strength of group opinion in society, and how we need to face up to it and just be ourselves.
Jarmander, I think you made an interesting point when you said "The way to stand up to this would be to remember who you are and to consider other people's opinions, but to never let go of your own." We should never blindly conform to society, for fear of committing atrocities like many societies before us. We should take societies opinions into account and learn to separate constructive criticism from conformism. This is an important point and in my opinion one of the few ways to retain one's identity in our society today, but at the same time be a part of the same society.
I feel this story was a strong play on identity through conformity. By conforming to a general stereotype about him, the bear talked himself into being a man, instead of what he truly was, a bear. The more and more people who told him he was different than what he thought, the more of an accepted idea it became for him to actually be a man. The fact that he was alone amongst the rest made his need to be the same grow even more, until the conclusion where he finally lost who he was to slip into the masses. Then, when it came to life or death, his true self emerged and he hibernated. Good tale.
Mr. Covino, Your wonderful words of "This goes to show that people in today's world are so easily influenced by society, and that fitting in with the world around them is the most important thing." this was a great depiction of this story, with your use of the environment as a critical element was something that while seemingly present, is a huge part of the motivation toward the bears change. You words captivate the raw essence of this story.
I agree with Lina. The bear kept telling everyone that he really was a bear and not a man with a beard wearing a fur coat. However, in the end he got confused and he changed his identity because he gave in to what everybody thought and said about it. It shows how much people can sway your thoughts and what you truly believe. But in the end, you have to go with what you know and believe because in the bear's situation he was not prepared for hibernation.
I agree with Neil and Lina when they said that society was trying to change the bear's mind into convincing that he was a human and not a bear. It shows how much of an influence the outside world can be.
This story was based on identity. The bear faced constant rejection and it helped him in the end form his identity. Because no one believed he was a real bear, it at first made him very confused about who he was. When he thought about it, he realized that he should not have gone by what other people view you as, but of how you view yourself. Do not let the power of influence make you, make yourself. I thought the author portrayed the bear really well by showing the different emotions he went through, throughout the story.
I believe that the bear story depicts society’s views on the identity of one’s self. The bear knows who he is, and tries to tell the managers of the factory who he is. They don’t believe him because he doesn’t match the stereotypes or the characteristics of a bear. In society we are characterized into many different groups, depending on race, age, religion etc. Each group has its own stereotype. Since the bear did not fit in with the other bears, the managers assumed, and made him (the bear) believe in what they said, that he was a human. The bear knew all along whom he was, but since everyone else told him otherwise he began to follow the crowd. When he realized that he no longer “belonged” to that crowd, his real identity shines through.
Katie, your right a lot of people jump to the conclusion that if they don't achieve something, it means their bad at it or they just can't do it. But back to the bear story it was different because each of the authorities were denying who he really was. But the bear was lucky and realized not to let people judge him, and he accepted who he was.
I agree with Jenn, but I think that it’s not so much the ideas put into his head, but the urge to belong. Since he didn’t match with the other bears, he decided to take part in what he did.
From what a fellow classmate informed me today about the bear story i believe that the bear deep inside knew who he truly was and no matter what the society told him or made him believe in the back of his mind was that bear instinct.Society did achieve a change in him but in the end he always knew who he was a bear. nothing could change that. Yes his outer appearance could be arranged so he could fit in but his inner self would be unchangable.
I agree with what Salik said about the environment we live in having a big affect on who we are and how we perceive ourselves. I also think Maria's statement about steroetypes is correct, and that society divides people into groups through stereotypes.
Well I got on here way later than I was planning to, so it's tough to really put anything down that hasn't already been said. But here it goes... "The Bear That Wasn't" takes something very large and powerful, the effects of a society and people in power on the individual, and in some of the simplest terms possible explains how easy it is for an individual like the bear to lose identity around a group of others who are forcing the bear to conform.
I'm going to go way up near the top of the comments and agree with Sam about disagreeing about the bear not needing to become part of the group. Although people (or bears) can lose their identity also by wanting to become like another group of people, this bear didn't want that. The bear in the story wanted to be like himself, a bear. The bear didn't form his identity like the workers, the workers formed the bear's identity, and the bear gave in.
I think the story is very thought provoking in its presentation of this bear who has lost its identity. The reader watches the bear forget who it really is in the face of intense pressure to fit in. Because he couldn't successfully identify with bears he was labeled as a human being which is meant to be absurd because it is sending the message that major generalizations are sometimes made and these circumstances can get out of control quickly. It is true that once one without identity is lost, it is too stressful on the mind to stand completely alone and maintain sanity.
I decided to contribute a day late, but I'd still like to share my opinion anyhow. The bear woke up to find his whole world changed. Before he knew the woods and that was his home until one day he literally woke up and things were completely different. Acting out of confusion and being overwhelmed. All he could do is beleive he was a bear when he was told he wasn't, but he didn't really fight over it, and he didn't think it would amount to anything. Finally all it took was time. The bear was caught off gaurd and the people were strong and sure and outnumbering. It's part of human nature to question things that isn't favored by the general population. But the bear is supposed to represent someone going agaist the grain and coming out at the end still a bear.
The bear story was about a bear who believed in his individuality as a bear. He knew who he was and even though he let others tell him the contrary he still believed in what he though was right. The bear story helped me realize that in our modern day we still let others perceive us for who we are, although we might not agree completely with them. We as a society let others define us for who we are, and when we repeatedly hear someone tell us other wise we start to question ourselves. The bear shows us that if one believes in himself that is all it takes to stand up against anything, and stand next to what you think is right. Whether it's you identity or your views you have the right to stand up against anything or anyone. In the end the bear was the only one who truly knew himself.
Today you 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.
Mr. Gallagher
42 comments:
I thought the story was based entirely on the fact that a true identity is hard to achieve and can be easily lost or forgotten. In this story the bear was convinced that he was not a bear, everyone had told him otherwise and he actually took on the role of a man in a fur coat. This story just exemplifies the need to be apart of a group and how very important it is because one can either be against it or for it. The bear just shows how your identity can change based on others and your willingness to do so is justified because of the absolute need to fit in.
I agree with most of what Elise said. However, I disagree that the bear's identity was formed through a need of his to be a part of the group. The bear's identity was formed by the rest of the society when he accepted what everyone else was saying as the truth, and it was because of this he became a part of the group, not the other way around.
I thought the bear story contained a brutal and underlying truth underneath the childish shell. It showed the development of someone's personal identity being corrupted and eventually taken over by the opinions and thoughts of other people. Personal identity should be found within by oneself. When a group of people or society constantly start to tell you something different that what you think you start to second guess yourself. It becomes so bad that you completely forget who you are originally. The way to stand up to this would be to remember who you are and to consider other people's opinions, but to never let go of your own.
The bear started out knowing who he was and was convinced it wasnt who he was but then in the end figured it out on his own with out anyones help. I think that this story was the harsh truth of reality. A lot of people try to be their own individual and say they arent influenced and dont fall under the influence of others. but in the end everybody is influenced by someone in some way or another it can be something so small or something huge. many people end up in some kind of group and conform to what each person in the group likes and does. even though at the same time deep down they might know its not who they truly are and eventually as time goes on many people realize that and change. I do think that conforming to a group or something that you are not is something that everyone goes through atleast once in their life and it is a learning expierence just like the bear had.
Jared,
I like how you said
"The way to stand up to this would be to remember who you are and to consider other people's opinions, but to never let go of your own." I agree with that and when people dont stand up for what they know is right they just conform to the others and lose their identity.
Sam,
I agree with you that the bear's identity wasn't formed by his need to be part of group, because the bear didn't want to join the other people. The bear never joined the people and thought about how he wasn't meant to be there. He joined them because the people changed the way he thought, so that he thought that he was a human and part of society. In his mind he thought he was human because everybody had told him he was, and eventually it just stuck in him.
I think the bear story proves my mommy's point. Your friends define who you are or the people you hang around with define who you are... Why? Well b/c the bear was in a factory everyone thought he was not a bear. The deeper in the factory he went the harder it was to prove he was a bear. The bears didn't believe he was a bear either b/c he was standing with the people from the factory... At the circus one bear said "if he was a bear he would not be sitting up there with you....."
I also believe the bear story proves that when someone is standing by themselves to prove their identity it is hard and it can eventually cause a person to believe what people think of them is true... =)
Elise....
I think you bring out a good point about how people have the need to want to fit in that eventually they forget who they are. In this case though I feel that the bear wasn't worried about fitting in, it was more about everyone, even bears like him, being against him causing him to think how they think.... =)
I agree with Jared that "the bear story contained a brutal and underlying truth underneath the childish shell." It reminded me of the story Doctor Seuss wrote which we read in sophomore year, the one about the two nations which fought over buttering their bread. I really admire a writer who can disguise such a powerful message as a simple story.
That said, I think one of the most interesting things was that the entire time, the bear argued that he actually was a bear, but he didn't really get that upset about it. He seemed kind of nonchalant, like, "I'm a bear. You don't believe me? Oh, okay." I think that that rings true in society a lot today. I'll use an example from my own life - if I don't get a certain role in a play which I thought I could get, I think to myself, "I could have played that part, but since I wasn't cast in that role, I must not be able to play it." I think a lot of people feel the same way.
Sammy aka Da Princess...
It wasn't that I was trying to say that the bear desperately wanted to fit in, I was trying to say that after a while identities can be altered and can be changed by those around you. Maybe not in this case but identities change and sometimes it is justified by the wanting to be in a group SO bad. The bear is different because he was trying to convince those who didn't want anything to do with it....he soon took on the role that he never believed in or wanted. This bear shifted his identity because society as a whole wanted him to....although he didn't change it willingly or knowingly, his identity was changed accordingly
I thought The Bear That Wasn't was a story of how society impacts an individual. The days before his hibernation, the bear did all his normal bear activities, however when we awoke from his hibernation, he was in a new environment. And in this environment the society around him told him that he was something that he wasn't. The bear then began to believe everyone in the society around him. This goes to show that people in today's world are so easily influenced by society, and that fitting in with the world around them is the most important thing.
Elise......
Okay, I get it and I think you bring out a a good point. Society does change our identity as a whole... Your a very smart girl...lol... But really I understand what you meant and I strongly agree with you....
Jared "Dugon" Milbank-
In response to your magical fantastical quote:
"When a group of people or society constantly start to tell you something different that what you think you start to second guess yourself. It becomes so bad that you completely forget who you are originally. The way to stand up to this would be to remember who you are and to consider other people's opinions, but to never let go of your own."
I thought that this statement was truly the best thing posted here. What you said is something that everyone in this world can truly take to heart.
The bear story was really interesting. It showed how the dominate society can change a persons way of thinking and viewing things. When your put into a society, you must have the same thoughts and views as everybody else in order to survive. The bear was brainwashed into thinking that he was a part of their society. You tend on getting used to the fact that you are part of the group now and that everybody must do the same things. This is the same concept on how the holocaust started.
The Bear Story strongly tackled a big issue in our society today: stereotyping. It also shows the strength of a group opinion in our society. The Bear was so sure of his identity, but as more and more people/bears convinced him that he was a silly man, there was nothing else to do but believe them. We are always told as kids to believe in whatever we believe in. However, this book cracks the reality of our society, and that the majority will prevail most of the time. However, in the end, the Bear decides to be a Bear again, simply because he never believed he was a man. This shows that ultimately, we need to keep on believing in our beliefs no matter what the adversity might be, and that we can succeed one day if we go against the negative majority.
Michael-
I liked how you related this story's morals to the holocaust. It provided an interesting point of view to think about. It also was pretty evident to see from everyone's comments that fitting into a society is a necessity in our world today.
Sammy,
Well Thank You Sammy!!!
You are very intelligent girl also if I might add...
I agree with elise as well for the most part, however, I do not think the bear wanted to be apart of a group or try to fit in for that matter. It seemed more like the bear wanted to be a bear, but society tried to force it's view upon the bear in an assertive manner, and because the bear was the minority in the situation and did not have evidence or back up to prove he was a bear like the factory workers did, it gave in to "peer pressure" so to say and went along with the human view in order to satisfy apart of his mind that was loosing to the humans in an argument of reason and intellect. he just couldn't take it anymore and by then the humans had made an "imprint" in his mind that he was a furry man who needed to shave and wore a fur coat, because they kept telling him that so often.
i guess because the bear was not like the humans, they wanted him (the bear ) to comform to their ways, to make him more like them.
Andy, i like how you stated that everybody should always believe in themselves no matter what. Make sure no one brings you down with what you believe in. Don't let anybody make you believe in the things you don't believe in because your identity will change overall and you will never be yourself. You will be the person the society wants you to end up as.
I think the story was a good story about how identity can be questioned by so many people that you believe for a second that it is true. In the story the bear knew what he was, and he continued to tell all the people who said he was a man, that he was a bear. However, after trying to convince people he was a bear, he was left in the snow alone, and thought about what a man would do. He then re-thought his identity and realized that he was still a bear no matter what anyone said. Last but not least, I think this books shows a lot about society. In the factory all the managers did not allow the bear to say otherwise. Due to appearances and what they knew about bears they assumed the bear was a man. They followed this assumption and didn't allow anyone to say otherwise. This made it very difficult for the bear to prove himself.
Neil, I completely agree with the fact that society tried to press its view on the bear. Although the bear was a bear, knew he was a bear, and wanted to be a bear, society kept forcing it instead of listening and taking it into consideration.
I believe that the bear story was an excellent example of how we often define ourselves by our environment. In the beginning, the bear was in the forest, and acted like a bear. When he awoke from hibernation, he found himself in a factory of humans. After a period of change, which was chaotic and turbulent (as all periods of change are), he finally gave in to his environment and began to believe that he really was a man who needed a shave and wore a fur coat. However, once the factory shut down, he went through another period of change where he had to realize that he was really a bear. In my opinion, we define ourselves to a certain extent by our society and our environment. The need to fit in is an inherent trait in human. behavior. One way or another, we always try to find something in common between us and our society, environment, and friends.
"The Bear that Wasn't" is a statement condemning society's tendency to force conformity upon its members. I think that the simplistic writing style, as well the pictures accompanying and complementing it, made the story more accessible and the message stronger by showing that this lesson is a fundamental one. People try to be accepted by their peers beginning in childhood, referenced by the picture book presentation, and continue throughout their lives. This is often necessary to a certain degree in order to allow everyone to live with everyone else, but once someone begins to lose their own identity and conform to whatever image society imposes upon them they lose part of their individuality. Just as the bear would have frozen if he had not realized that he was a bear and could go into the cave for warmth, all of us need to remember the importance of our identity as we go about our lives.
Andy, I agree with your comment about stereotyping and the strength of group opinion in society, and how we need to face up to it and just be ourselves.
Jarmander, I think you made an interesting point when you said "The way to stand up to this would be to remember who you are and to consider other people's opinions, but to never let go of your own." We should never blindly conform to society, for fear of committing atrocities like many societies before us. We should take societies opinions into account and learn to separate constructive criticism from conformism. This is an important point and in my opinion one of the few ways to retain one's identity in our society today, but at the same time be a part of the same society.
I think the bear story shows how people changes because of ideas that is put into their heads.
I feel this story was a strong play on identity through conformity. By conforming to a general stereotype about him, the bear talked himself into being a man, instead of what he truly was, a bear. The more and more people who told him he was different than what he thought, the more of an accepted idea it became for him to actually be a man. The fact that he was alone amongst the rest made his need to be the same grow even more, until the conclusion where he finally lost who he was to slip into the masses. Then, when it came to life or death, his true self emerged and he hibernated. Good tale.
Mr. Covino,
Your wonderful words of "This goes to show that people in today's world are so easily influenced by society, and that fitting in with the world around them is the most important thing."
this was a great depiction of this story, with your use of the environment as a critical element was something that while seemingly present, is a huge part of the motivation toward the bears change. You words captivate the raw essence of this story.
I agree with Lina. The bear kept telling everyone that he really was a bear and not a man with a beard wearing a fur coat. However, in the end he got confused and he changed his identity because he gave in to what everybody thought and said about it. It shows how much people can sway your thoughts and what you truly believe. But in the end, you have to go with what you know and believe because in the bear's situation he was not prepared for hibernation.
I agree with Neil and Lina when they said that society was trying to change the bear's mind into convincing that he was a human and not a bear. It shows how much of an influence the outside world can be.
This story was based on identity. The bear faced constant rejection and it helped him in the end form his identity. Because no one believed he was a real bear, it at first made him very confused about who he was. When he thought about it, he realized that he should not have gone by what other people view you as, but of how you view yourself. Do not let the power of influence make you, make yourself. I thought the author portrayed the bear really well by showing the different emotions he went through, throughout the story.
I believe that the bear story depicts society’s views on the identity of one’s self. The bear knows who he is, and tries to tell the managers of the factory who he is. They don’t believe him because he doesn’t match the stereotypes or the characteristics of a bear. In society we are characterized into many different groups, depending on race, age, religion etc. Each group has its own stereotype. Since the bear did not fit in with the other bears, the managers assumed, and made him (the bear) believe in what they said, that he was a human. The bear knew all along whom he was, but since everyone else told him otherwise he began to follow the crowd. When he realized that he no longer “belonged” to that crowd, his real identity shines through.
Maria a.k.a Lisbeth..
Good point about the stereotypes. That is also an issue!!!!
Katie, your right a lot of people jump to the conclusion that if they don't achieve something, it means their bad at it or they just can't do it. But back to the bear story it was different because each of the authorities were denying who he really was. But the bear was lucky and realized not to let people judge him, and he accepted who he was.
I agree with Jenn, but I think that it’s not so much the ideas put into his head, but the urge to belong. Since he didn’t match with the other bears, he decided to take part in what he did.
From what a fellow classmate informed me today about the bear story i believe that the bear deep inside knew who he truly was and no matter what the society told him or made him believe in the back of his mind was that bear instinct.Society did achieve a change in him but in the end he always knew who he was a bear. nothing could change that. Yes his outer appearance could be arranged so he could fit in but his inner self would be unchangable.
I agree with what Salik said about the environment we live in having a big affect on who we are and how we perceive ourselves. I also think Maria's statement about steroetypes is correct, and that society divides people into groups through stereotypes.
Well I got on here way later than I was planning to, so it's tough to really put anything down that hasn't already been said. But here it goes... "The Bear That Wasn't" takes something very large and powerful, the effects of a society and people in power on the individual, and in some of the simplest terms possible explains how easy it is for an individual like the bear to lose identity around a group of others who are forcing the bear to conform.
I'm going to go way up near the top of the comments and agree with Sam about disagreeing about the bear not needing to become part of the group. Although people (or bears) can lose their identity also by wanting to become like another group of people, this bear didn't want that. The bear in the story wanted to be like himself, a bear. The bear didn't form his identity like the workers, the workers formed the bear's identity, and the bear gave in.
I think the story is very thought provoking in its presentation of this bear who has lost its identity. The reader watches the bear forget who it really is in the face of intense pressure to fit in. Because he couldn't successfully identify with bears he was labeled as a human being which is meant to be absurd because it is sending the message that major generalizations are sometimes made and these circumstances can get out of control quickly. It is true that once one without identity is lost, it is too stressful on the mind to stand completely alone and maintain sanity.
I decided to contribute a day late, but I'd still like to share my opinion anyhow. The bear woke up to find his whole world changed. Before he knew the woods and that was his home until one day he literally woke up and things were completely different. Acting out of confusion and being overwhelmed. All he could do is beleive he was a bear when he was told he wasn't, but he didn't really fight over it, and he didn't think it would amount to anything. Finally all it took was time. The bear was caught off gaurd and the people were strong and sure and outnumbering. It's part of human nature to question things that isn't favored by the general population. But the bear is supposed to represent someone going agaist the grain and coming out at the end still a bear.
The bear story was about a bear who believed in his individuality as a bear. He knew who he was and even though he let others tell him the contrary he still believed in what he though was right. The bear story helped me realize that in our modern day we still let others perceive us for who we are, although we might not agree completely with them. We as a society let others define us for who we are, and when we repeatedly hear someone tell us other wise we start to question ourselves. The bear shows us that if one believes in himself that is all it takes to stand up against anything, and stand next to what you think is right. Whether it's you identity or your views you have the right to stand up against anything or anyone. In the end the bear was the only one who truly knew himself.
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