Question

According to this excerpt from "Loneliness . . . an American Malady" by Carson McCullers, what paradox do people struggle with in life?

Consciousness of self is the first abstract problem that the human being solves. Indeed, it is this self-consciousness that removes us from lower animals. This primitive grasp of identity develops with constantly shifting emphasis through all our years. Perhaps maturity is simply the history of those mutations that reveal to the individual the relation between himself and the world in which he finds himself.

After the first establishment of identity there comes the imperative need to lose this new-found sense of separateness and to belong to something larger and more powerful than the weak, lonely self. The sense of moral isolation is intolerable to us.

A.
Self-consciousness arises at an early age, but people continue to develop personality in later years.
B.
Maturity can only be gained once people become more aware of their personal needs.
C.
Even though other animals are unaware of self, humans and other animals still struggle with social conformity.
D.
Gaining awareness of one’s “self” causes a person to yearn for companionship with others.

Answer 1

The paradox identified in Carson McCullers' excerpt centers on the contrast between self-awareness and the need for social connection. While self-consciousness is essential for identity formation, it simultaneously leads to an imperative need for belonging to alleviate the distress of isolation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The paradox that people struggle with in life according to the excerpt from "Loneliness . . . an American Malady" by Carson McCullers revolves around the duality of self-consciousness and the need for social connection. On one hand, the awareness of self differentiates humans from animals and is a fundamental aspect of identity development. On the other hand, this newfound identity leads to an imperative need to belong to something greater than the individual's own self. There lies an inherent tension between the need to affirm one's own identity and the contrasting drive to merge with others, avoiding the distress of moral isolation.

According to psychological and sociological scholars like Sigmund Freud, Erikson, and Mead, the sense of self is intricately developed through various stages and is hugely reliant on social interaction. The very foundation of morality and social behavior, as posited by Charles Darwin, can be traced back to social instincts that have evolved over time. Thus, individuals undergo a multitude of psycho-social challenges throughout life's stages where they must balance personal identity formation with social integration.

Answer 2

A or d because of what the text says about loneliness