Social Values in Men Without Chests

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Social Values in Men without Chests C.S. Lewis opens his lecture Men without Chests with the traditional carol, “So he sent the world to slay and slew the little childer” (Lewis 1). One may believe that this carol was added to help introduce the social norms of society that C.S. Lewis thought were dreadful. C.S. Lewis appears to believe that the world has corrupted the people of society and made bad habits into the norms of society. These norms of society that C.S. Lewis focuses on are the lack of individuality, creativity, morals, and emotions. In The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis discusses these norms and the necessity of changing society’s ways. In Men without Chests, C.S. Lewis makes the comment that “[Men without chests] see the world around them swayed by emotional propaganda” (13). This statement speaks the truth about society today. In today’s world, society tries to make as many people as possible the same. People see someone on television, or in a magazine, doing something desirable and they automatically want to be in that person’s shoes. High school students are prime examples of men without chests in this circumstance. When high school students see other people with an item they believe will make them look better, or perform better in a sport, those students automatically want that item. This is why the sight of iPhones, Sperry’s, Power Balance Bracelets, Toms, etc. are commonplace in a high school atmosphere; thus, creating a lack of individuality within society. The majority of people believe that attempting to think, act, and look like others is ideal for a society. However, it can force more people apart in discrepancies. Creativity is an additional necessity, according to C.S. Lewis, that society is lacking. In Men without Chests he writes, “You can hardly open a periodical without coming across the statement that what our
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