Introduction: Because They Say So. The Significance of the Authority Walking along the borderline that splits the world into a norm and the abnormal is one of the life’s most dangerous pleasures. Laws and rules are made for a reason, and breaking them means not only doing something unacceptable by the given society, in the given time and given circumstances, but also being separated from the rest of the world for a while and becoming an outcast. Unless one has serious concerns for his/her well-being, (s)he is unlikely to go beyond the boundaries the authorities set, since it is the existing system of rules that helps people to feel safe; however, when there is something essential at stake, one will definitely disregard the existing rules and go against the established standards of conduct. What the Authorities Are Meant for: The League of Justice Is on the Watch However, the question is, what the authority figures are meant for. On the surface, these people help the rest of the humankind feel considerably safer and know for sure that nothing happens to people as long as the latter follow what the authorities say. Rather important function, it is yet not the most essential one; when digging a bit deeper into the issue, one must add that the function of the authorities also contains an element of guidance, i.e., serving people as the social weather vane pointing in the right direction and helping to figure out what is right and what is wrong and, which is the most important, to grant his/her approval. Even when there is no obvious authority in the sight, and, therefore, no way to check the ultimately right position, people are apt to follow with the decisions that the group makes, thus, admitting the authority of the many, since the latter are likely to accept their follower into their mini-society: “When we’re in a group, we tend to think as that group does: we may even have joined the group to find ‘like-minded’ people” (Lessing 724). Pushing the Rules to the Breaking Point: The Passion Rules the Game However, there comes the time when the social rules are no longer an option. However, as it has been mentioned previously, following the standards of the society is crucial for people and is actually a part of their nature; therefore, the question is, what exceptional factors can push one to cross the threshold of the social standards and willingly face the threat of becoming a social outcast. Analyzing some of the most obvious factors, one can possibly see that, at certain points, the boundaries of law can become way too restrictive. Plotting a rebellion. The stubborn individuals The first and the foremost idea that crosses peoples’ minds when they think of going against the opinion of the authorities is the image of a tough rebel. In fact, this is pretty much the firs reason that makes people take a track which is different from the other alternatives. According to Lessing, the element that presupposes more freedom and allows people to feel that they actually do the things which they consider right, not the ones which are offered them by the obtrusive social norms, is a really strong factor in determining the ultimate choice. As Lessing explains, t