The short story “Araby” by James Joyce

Love at a young age is just an obsession. As children, our first relationships are object relationships. The people we like aren’t people; they are objects of our obsession, and our obsessions are driven by vanity and narcissism. We are obsessed with what we consider an ideal, something we create. The main character in the … Read more

The novel, “Cry, The Beloved Country,” by Alan Paton

Discrimination against people who are different can be identify in every country around the world. People of every sex, color, religion, and in this case, ethnicity are tormented. In the 1940’s, 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s apartheid was an emanate injustice throughout the land of South Africa. Apartheid was the government’s rigid policy racial segregation between … Read more

The Role of Prejudice in ‘The Merchant of Venice’

William Shakespeare’s satirical comedy, The Merchant of Venice, believed to have been written in 1596 was an examination of hatred and greed. The premise deals with the antagonistic relationship between Shylock, a Jewish money-lender and Antonio, the Christian merchant, who is as generous as Shylock is greedy, particularly with his friend, Bassanio. The two have … Read more

“Our Town”, by Thornton Wilder

“Our Town”, by Thornton Wilder, written in 1938, was first performed at the McCarter theatre, New Jersey, on the 22nd of January1938. It is an example of meta theatre, and chronicles the lives of ordinary, everyday people, during their ordinary, everyday lives. The story is based in Grovers Corners, a small town in New Hampshire, … Read more

Pushed, Chosen, And Choosing

Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, was a novel about one womans self-revelation. It began when she was a very young girl, first being pushed, then chosen, and finally choosing. Born a victim of circumstance, Janie was subject to her position in life. She was raised to uphold the standards of the … Read more

The short story “The Lottery”

Shirley Jacksons insights and observations about man and society are reflected in her famous short story “The Lottery”. Many of her readers have found this story shocking and disturbing. Jackson reveals two general attitudes in this story: first, the shocking reality of humans tendency to select a scapegoat and second, society as a victim of … Read more

Sophocles “Oedipus the King”

Sophocles “Oedipus the King” is a tragic play which discusses the tragic discovery of Oedipus that he has killed his father and married his mother. The story of Oedipus was well known to the athenians. Oedipus is the embodiement of the perfect Athenian. He is self-confident, intelligent, and strong willed. Ironically these are the very … Read more

The Yellow Wallpaper – Short story

Often times what is meant to help can hinder. Positive intentions do not always bring about desirable effects. The “Yellow Wallpaper” is an example of such an occurrence. In this short story the narrator is detained in a lonesome, drab room in an attempt to free herself of a nervous disorder. During the era in … Read more

A Considerable Speck – Compared to 4 Other Poems

I think Robert Frost is a understandable, but yet an unconventional poet. Frost wrote in his own style, and as a result, he took quite a bit of heat from the critics of his period. Frost has an elegant style of writing descriptive and understandable poems. I am going to tell you about the five … Read more

Emily’s Father Essay

Throughout this story, the overbearing presence of Emily Grierson’s father is perhaps the greatest influence on her behavior. The story describes how Miss Emily’s father rejected her suitors by standing in front of her and aggressively clutching a horsewhip whenever the young men came to call. Without her fathers influence and overprotective behavior it is … Read more

Mrs. Ramsay, Larger Than Life

Mrs. Ramsay is a mother in every fiber of her being. Motherhood is her occupation, her personal life, her hobby and her passion. And in motherhood, Mrs. Ramsay is an expert. And although motherhood is not frequently valued as a prestigious, viable career choice, people who knew Mrs. Ramsay recognized her uncanny talent for it, … Read more

Beowulf and Values

The Anglo-Saxons living in the time of Beowulf did not believe in the afterlife. To them, the only way to experience life after death was to live on in the memories of others. One could fulfill this goal by being known for ones generosity, courage, and strength. Beowulf, the protagonist of this epic poem, embodied … Read more

The Great Gatsby – American dream

The Great Gatsby is a novel that is about the rich people of the roaring twenties and in particularly about a man named Gatsby in search of the American dream. The story starts out with the narrator Nick Carraway moving from the west (Chicago) to a New York suburb called West Egg. His is trying … Read more

Hamlet in act III scene II

Hamlet in act III scene II is left alone and starts to philosophize about the concept of suicide. He presents a logical argument both for and against ending his own life and seems to be governed by reason rather than frenzied emotion as in the previous two major soliloquys . To be, or not to … Read more

Voltaire Notes About Candide

Candide, a novel by Voltaire, is an adventure story that can be summed up into one word: eccentric. The story begins with the introduction of an extremely wealthy family that resides in the England province known as Westphalia. While there, he encounters two people who will have a greater impact on his beliefs, goals, and … Read more

Catcher in the Rye Essay

“I keep picturing all these kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody’s big but me. And I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff -What do I have to do, I have to catch them. I mean their running, and they don’t look … Read more

The Bear by William Faulkner

In The Bear by William Faulkner, there are several different personalities and attitudes that come into play at various times in the story. The story is told from the perspective of Isaac McCaslin, the boy of the story and one of the main characters as well, and many critics feel that this was probably a … Read more

Love Loss And The Court Of King Claudius

Shakespeare worked with the simplest of principals, writing at the mind’s own speed, using everything he read, but reworking it first, and depending upon characters for the defining trait or flaw. One theme which constantly emerges throughout Hamlet is the theme of love and loss, revealed by the characters of Hamlet, Laertes, and Ophelia. Hamlet, … Read more

Places In Gulliver’s Travels

Gulliver’s Travels has several places that Gulliver visits. In this paper we will take a look a in-depth look at each of the places that Gulliver visits. In my opion Gulliver parelles many places to is home country, England. Lets take a look at the first stop in Gulliver’s travels, Lilliput. Lilliput is inhabitited by … Read more

Holden Caulfield’s In The Catcher in the Rye

Holden Caulfield’s Perception and Gradual Acceptance of the “Real” World. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden views the world as an evil place where there is no peace. This perception of the world does not change significantly throughout novel. However, as the novel progresses, Holden gradually comes to the realization that he is powerless … Read more

Grapes Of Wrath By Steinbeck

Explain how the behavior of the Joads shows Steinbecks view of the responsibility of the individual to society as a whole. Chapter 14 made an interesting point. At one point in the chapter it was stated that a farmer lost his farm. As this mans family picks up their belongings and heads west they meet … Read more

The play, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

In the play, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, Linda Loman’s character is viewed differently by many people. Some critics have seen Linda as a “controlling mother figure” who is actually the one to blame for this failure of both her sons and her husband. In this report I will defend this view citing … Read more

Othello – Brabantio, Roderigo and Iago

1. In the opening scene of the play, the audience gets their first impression of Othello in third person. Three characters have been given the role of projecting Othellos character to the audience, these are: Brabantio, Roderigo and Iago. These characters play the important role to contrast Othellos moral fibre. In comparison to Iago and … Read more

The Moral Implications of The Pardoners Tale

During the Middle Ages, England was a nation in social chaos. Deception of every kind was rampart throughout the lands. Many people felt that there was a great need for moral improvement in society. In Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales he clearly brings to light his thoughts and concerns of ethical cleansing. No tale more … Read more

The Monk and the Parson of The Canterbury Tales

In the prologue, The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is about the pilgrimage of many different characters to Canterbury. Chaucer writes about the characters’ personalities and their place on the social ladder. The Monk and the Parson are examples of how Chaucer covered the spectrum of personalities. The Monk is self-centered, while the Parson cares … Read more

The novel A Clockwork Orange

To leave out the final chapter of A Clockwork Orange is to change the entire meaning of the novel; as Burgess says in the introduction, his story is transformed into a fable. Without the last chapter the reader is left with a dark and pessimistic theme, that absolute good and evil exist in this world … Read more

Cry The Beloved Country: Book Review

“Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that is the inheritor of it all. Let him not love the earth to deeply. Let him not be too moved when the birds of his land are singing, nor give to much of his heart to a mountain or a valley. For fear will rob him … Read more

King Lear vs The Stone Angel

It has been said that, “Rivers and mountains may change; human nature, never. “(worldofquotes. com) This is a quote that can be deconstructed when examining William Shakespeare’s King Lear and Margaret Laurence’s The Stone Angel. When reviewing the two books the main characters, King Lear and Hagar, are easily comparable. The first similarity becomes apparent … Read more

Farm Subsidies: A Necessary Evil

Subsidies are payments, economic concessions, or privileges given by the government to favor businesses or consumers. In the 1930s, subsidies were designed to favor agriculture. John Steinbeck expressed his dislike of the farm subsidy system of the United States in his book, The Grapes of Wrath. In that book, the government gave money to farms … Read more

Biblical References in The Grapes of Wrath

The plot of John Steinbecks novel, The Grapes of Wrath, can easily be related to many biblical references as well as it could be applied to the daily struggles of the lives of Christians. Two particular portions of this novel stick out more than any other. Those are the characters of Jim Casey and Pa … Read more

A Developmental Study of Alex in Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange

In A Clockwork Orange, the main character is that of a mildly young child of 15 who, along with his fellow friends, or “Droogs”, partake in evenings of Ultra-Violence. Ultra Violence consists of random beatings, theft, destruction, and rape. The main character, Alex, is the self-proclaimed leader of the pack, and makes judgment on their … Read more

Impressions of The Glass Menagerie

Tennessee Willams’ The Glass Menagerie is a classic play that was written in the mid-forties, shortly after the close of World War II. In a time when people were beginning to become more interested in material wealth, Williams focused on the human soul and condition. He showed that many people are trapped in a fantasy … Read more

The Pearl: Depictions of Life

In John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, a destitute pearl diver finds a giant pearl with which he hopes to buy peace and happiness for his family. Instead, he learns that the valuable pearl can not buy happiness but only destroy his simple life. Throughout the fable, there is a constant theme woven through the characters and … Read more

Interpreting Poverty In The Grapes of Wrath

Throughout history, less fortunate people have been set apart or shunned from the general public. In the Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, this statement holds true. Throughout the whole book, all of the less fortunate people are treated like they aren’t even human. This is not much different than how our society is now. … Read more

Nora Helmer in a A Doll’s House

Nora Helmer in a A Dolls House is a women ahead of her time. In order to protect her children from a false life, she inflicts tragedy upon herself by leaving every thing she has by walking away. She puts herself in this tragic situation by not being honest. Nora lies to herself and the … Read more

Gilgamesh and Enkidu relationship

In this paper, I seek to explore the identities and relationships between Gilgamesh and Enkidu in the epic poem of Gilgamesh, up through Enkidus death. I will explore the gender identity of each independently and then in relation to each other, and how their gender identity influences that relationship. I will also explore other aspects … Read more

Roethke, “My Papa’s Waltz”, Response

In “My Papa’s Waltz”, Roethke discusses a very heartbreaking and distressful situation. He talks about alcoholism in the family and how it affects the members of the family. Growing up in a family full of alcoholism and abuse, I can relate to the point of view that this poem is written in. Although it is … Read more

Symbolism in The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a novel about one man’s disenchantment with the American dream. In the story we get a glimpse into the life of Jay Gatsby, a man who aspired to achieve a position among the American rich to win the heart of his true love, Daisy Fay. Gatsby’s downfall … Read more

Oedipus At Colonus

Sophocles was a Greek playwright who lived during the 5th century b. c. The Oedipus Cycle is one of his most famous works; the trilogy of plays traces the ill-fated life of a noble blooded man and his descendants. Oedipus at Colonus is the second play of the set. Oedipus at Colonus is set many … Read more

The book A Tale of Two Cities

This paper is a literary analysis over the book A Tale of Two Cities, written by Charles Dickens. It contains information about the author, plot, and characters in the story. Devices and styles used to complete the book are also in this paper. On February 7, 1812 in Portsea, Charles Dickens began his life. His … Read more

Handmaid’s Tale By Atwood

The creation of Offred, the passive narrator of Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale, was intentional. The personality of the narrator in this novel is almost as important as the task bestowed upon her. Atwood chooses an average women, appreciative of past times, who lacks imagination and fervor, to contrast the typical feminist, represented in this … Read more

“The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Although “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne was written in the mid-1800s, its themes and ideas are still a part of society today. The 19th century was a time of change, just as this, the millennium, is a time of great change. Hawthorne’s ideas about science, beauty, and life still play a major part in our … Read more

Faust as a Tragic Hero

In the story of Faust, written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust is whirled into an adventure of sin and deceit. The further Faust follows the devil the closer he comes to his own demise, taking down with him the innocent Gretchen. As Faust goes on he embodies the characteristics of a tragic hero in … Read more

The Catcher in the Rye and The Stranger

Holden Caulfield and Mersault have both been alienated in their worlds as the authors have so clearly portrayed in both books. But as much as both have been alienated, one is an essentialist while the other remains an existentialist. Holden Caulfield being the essentialist that he is, has psychological motivation for every action he takes. … Read more

The play Macbeth

In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as the normal man at first. Through his skills as a warrior, his friendship with Banquo and his loyalty to Duncan, Macbeth attempts to be the everyday man. As the play develops, however, Macbeth becomes over ambitious and power hungry. Like the book A Simple Plan, where people … Read more

A Typical Man

There are days that it would be nice outside and I’ll go out for a walk; I’d either go to the park up the block, the Bodega (a Spanish grocery store) at the corner, or a friend’s house. I would walk down the sidewalk and it’s like I’m a famous person or an expensive car … Read more

The Influence of Society on the Young Goodman Brown

Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown illustrates vividly how society and culture can very much influence a persons sense of identity and belonging, or in the case of Young Goodman Brown the lack thereof. Being a Puritan man in a society that scorned the ways of witches and the devil, Young Goodman Brown grew up with … Read more

The mid-sixteenth century play Othello

The function of imagery in the mid-sixteenth century play Othello by William Shakespeare is to assist characterises and defines meaning in the play. The enemy Iago is defined through many different images, Some being the use of poison and soporifics, sleeping agents, to show his true evil and sadistic nature. Othellos character is also shaped … Read more

Although Short, John Updike’s “A & P” is Big on Enjoyment

I enjoy stories that are long and involved. However, the short story “A & P” by John Updike is a wonderful exception to this rule. Updike writes the story from a viewpoint of what I believe to be a younger, more contemporary person. The story contains many other enjoyable attributes, such as the comments about … Read more