Individual vs. Society

Where it surfaces

• Amaryllis at the Fair

  Amaryllis feels isolated in the crowd, torn between her own desires and societal expectations.

• IV

  Mr. Iden's inconsistent behavior—trapping mice in one place while feeding them in another—highlights the complexity and contradiction of human nature against societal expectations.

• VI

  Amaryllis stands apart from the crowd, a solitary observer critiquing the conformity and pettiness of the fair-goers, while the tramps are marginalized outsiders.

• IX

  Mr. Iden's solitary dew-wading is condemned by Mrs. Iden because 'nobody else does it,' illustrating the pressure to conform.

• XI

  Amaryllis's fierce independence and contempt for sycophancy set her against societal expectations, and her Flamma heritage marks her as different.

• XIV

  Amaryllis and Iden struggle against the indifferent, shoving crowd; Amaryllis feels insulted by Ned Marks's cynical appraisal, highlighting her isolation.

• XV

  Amaryllis's rebellious feelings against the Pamments and her Flamma hatred of authority clash with her grandfather's deference to the social order, illustrating the tension between personal conviction and societal expectation.

• XVI

  Raleigh's hedonistic lifestyle and his escape from societal consequences after the brawl reflect the tension between personal freedom and social norms.

• XVII

  Amaryllis's rebellion against the forced visit and her refusal to admire the art represent her struggle against societal expectations and family pressure.

• XXVII

  Alere Flamma's refusal to wear a dress coat and his disregard for social norms (smoking in a fire-prone building, working in shirtsleeves) set him apart from the expectations of clubs and high society. He lives on his own terms, even at the cost of social exclusion.

• XXVIII

  Alere Flamma stands apart from societal expectations of ambition and commercial success, choosing to remain in Fleet Street despite opportunities for fame and wealth.

• XXIX

  Alere Flamma represents the individual who defies societal norms by giving directly to the poor, while society's organized charity system is portrayed as a cold, bureaucratic mockery of true compassion.