Life is defined by the choices we make. Sometimes the best way to find ourselves is to take the rocky path that is paved with overgrown weeds and filled with holes. Society places limitations on individuals to choose the right path in order to follow the crowd, or rather satisfy the standards of the society as a whole. There are rules that dictate how people live their lives, but it’s up to them to stand strong and own what is rightfully theirs.

In Emily Dickinson’s piece Much Madness is divinest sense, the path of righteousness is clearly the main topic of the prose. The author states, “Assent—and you are sane--, Demur—you’re straightway dangerous”, this alludes to the choice of good and evil (Dickinson 1). We all have a path to travel, and sometimes the road less traveled is the one that defines our entire lives. However, in the case of Emily Dickinson’s piece, there are consequences to choosing the wrong path. There is no room for unconformity; there is only discrimination and intolerance when a person chooses the wrong set of ideals.

In contrast, Alma Luz Villanueva’s poem Crazy Courage conveys a much deeper feeling of acceptance and an emphasis on being distinctive. There is unmistakably no judgment placed upon the man that comes to his fiction class one day as a man, and the next as a woman. The professor still see’s a man hiding under the feminine miniskirt, bright purple tights, a scooped-neck blouse, carrying as single red rose (Villanueva). There is a sense of adoration and acceptance towards this man, as the crowd is full of younger adolescents that have seen it all, being they are of the MTV crowd (Villanueva). A crowd that remains un-shocked when this man is showcasing his talents, rather than himself.

When it comes to discrimination and conformity, these poems are quit distinctive in their stance on the subject. In Dickinson’s piece, on the last line she states “handled with a chain”, as if there is no other option for choosing the wrong path (Dickinson). There will no acceptance for an ungodly way, a sinner’s life, or a darkened soul. The poem is completely one sided, which makes complete sense considering it was written years before a time that more accepting to outwardly diverse individuals.
However, in the piece by Villanueva, the professor openly hugged the man goodbye, his faced blossoming with delight, setting apart the pain of the situation, the crazy courage that it takes to be whole (Villanueva).

These poems both reminded me of the “The Road Not Taken”, written by Robert Frost. This piece is a clear depiction of conformity and discrimination, however the main character in the piece decides to take the road less traveled, and this has made all the difference (Frost 633).

Life is defined by the choices we make. Sometimes the best way to find ourselves is to take the rocky path that is paved with overgrown weeds and filled with holes. Otherwise, you can always take the straight path that leads to an easy life; however this life will be no different than the person walking beside you.