What is the harm in subscribing to social constructs that exist today? Why must we question the society that has served us well? The issue with The Stranger's discussion of existentialism is that it poses a radical change in perspective from what we are used to. However, the message simply cannot be conveyed without presenting the argument in such a profound manner.
What many fail to recognize is that there is a spectrum, there is an extreme who questions all but another extreme who conforms to every social barrier. Alison Pope from Saunders' "Victory Lap" represents an extreme. Her life is molded by the social expectations of a beautiful, white girl in the 21st century. A key component of the story is her apparent naivete once she is afflicted by pain. It's evident that Alison has a liberated conscious, as in she recognizes the absurd; nevertheless, she ignores her thought, and thus she relishes in the idea that "Ignorance is bliss". Her parents enforcement of what happened the day Kyle came by into her head supports this statement. Saunders uses Alison as a critique of society, in that enough ignorance can sometimes be excessive and destructive to the community.
Mr. Heidkamp's address on Wednesday represents another extreme in which dependence on social constructs is completely eliminated. Obviously, that alternative is not popular amongst people today. So, wherein does there exist a happy medium?
It must be understood along a spectrum. The social constructs that are ingrained in our society cannot be understood as obstacles but rather inevitable components of society. At the same time, one cannot overlook how we are affected by social constructs because questioning is natural and induces growth. A true scholar learns to not only answer the question, but respond with another question.
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