After reading Ham on Rye, Fight Club, and Ghost World, three books that represent contemporary American culture, or for the most part, contemporary western culture, i noticed that they portrayed similiar overall traits of what society has become. In a conformistically adequated society, the non-conformist usually rebels against social norms through the use of violence and sex. These two innate instincts fulfill the need to escape from a world of structure and compliance in order …showed first 75 words of 731 total…

…showed last 75 words of 731 total…of nonconformity would be to leave town. <Tab/>As all three novels have very distinct and different plots, they all share a general theme. Society instills norms in all its members and these norms are sometimes reasons for intense pressure. Although the desire to not conform may be extensive it is not healty to let it prevail. The American Dream cannot possibly function or be believed in such a non-fuctional society.