John Steinbeck book, The Grapes of Wrath

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

Disagreement between Telemachus and Penelope in the Odyssey

The disagreement between Telemachus and Penelope arises from differing opinions on the entertainment of Phemius. Phemius is singing the tale of the Greek warriors of Troy and their homecomings when Penelope descends from her chambers to protest this choice of music. She scolds him, and orders him to stop because he has reminded her of … Read more

Lorraine Hansberrys novel, A Raisin in the Sun

Lorraine Hansberrys novel, A Raisin in the Sun, revolves around a middle-class African-American family, struggling during World War II. By reading about the Youngers true to life experiences, one learns many important life lessons. One of the aforementioned would be that a person should always put familys needs before their own. There are many examples … Read more

Miller, Author “Death of a Salesman”

Willys life in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman can be summed up by Charleys one line, “When the hell are you going to grow up? ” (97) Willy’s spends his entire life in an illusion of a great man with both popularity and successful. Meanwhile, Willy displays many childlike qualities. Many of these qualities … Read more

Crime and Punishment, Dostoyevsky

Many great literary works emerge from a writer’s experiences. Through The Crucible, Arthur Miller unleashes his fears and disdain towards the wrongful accusations of McCarthyism. Not only does Ernest Hemmingway present the horrors he witnessed in World War I in his novel, A Fair Well to Arms, he also addresses his disillusionment of war and … Read more

Good vs Evil

“I am not what I am. ” What is Iago? , as distinct from what he pretends to be, and what are his motives? In Shakespeare’s, Othello, the reader is presented the classic battle between the deceitful forces of evil and the innocence of good. It is these forces of evil that ultimately lead to … Read more

The Great Scarf of Birds by John Updike

All poets have a certain structure in order for their poem to be understood in an artistic and unique way. Through the use of organization, diction and figurative language, the poem is composed in a creative manner. In The Great Scarf of Birds, by John Updike, the speaker is understood through the use of all … Read more

Oedipus The King as Greek Tragedy

The genre of drama is wide and contains works of varied forms and subjects. The first drama, on which all later works are based, developed in Greece and dealt with religious and social issues. According to AristotleOs The Poetics, a Greek Tragedy must deal with a serious purpose, arousing a sense of pity or fear … Read more

Analysis of “The Chrysanthemums”

John Steinbeck’s short story “The Chrysanthemums” revolves around the character Elisa. She lives on a ranch with her husband and is very isolated from the world. Yearning for a more fulfilling life, Elisa falls prey to momentary attractions and ends up being crushed for her efforts. In this story, Steinbeck uses chrysanthemums to portray her … Read more

John Miltons epic poem Paradise Lost

John Miltons epic poem Paradise Lost is extremely similar to the Bibles story of creation in many ways, but its most apparent difference is character structure. Milton uses soliloquies in order to give the reader insight to Satans emotions and motives. They also reveal his tragic flaws: envy, pride, and ambition towards self-glorification. It is … Read more

The Postman Always Rings Twice

The postman always rings twice Author: James M. Cain Characterisation Frank, a man who falls in love with Cora. Hes a type of guy whos rough but smart. His passion for Cora makes him mad of love. Cora, the Greeks wife (Hes always called the Greek in the book so Ill better call him the … Read more

Brave New World Reaction Paper

As man has progressed over time there has been one thing strived for more than anything else. That has been to arrive at a utopian society, where everyone is happy, disease is nonexistent, and conflict, anger, or sadness are unheard of. In a utopian society only happiness exists. While reading Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, … Read more

Fight Club Compared To Siddhartha

Since the beginning of time, man has been on a quest to find his inner self. This topic has been the theme of many books and researches. This is no exception, in the 1959 book, Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. In this particular story the main character, Siddhartha, is trying to find his inner self. He … Read more

Fate – Would Homer & Virgil be the same with out it

In Virgil’s Aeneid and Homer’s Iliad, a picture of the supernatural and its workings was created. In both works, there is a concept of a fixed order of events which is called fate. Fate involves two parts. First, there are laws that govern certain parts of mens’ lives, such as human mortality and an afterlife. … Read more

Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, written in approximately 1385, is a collection of twenty-four stories ostensibly told by various people who are going on a religious pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral from London, England. Prior to the actual tales, however, Chaucer offers the reader a glimpse of fourteenth century life by way of what he refers to … Read more

Identity Crisis Of Gilgamesh and Enkidu

In this paper, I seek to explore the identities and relationships between Gilgamesh and Enkidu in the epic poem of Gilgamesh, up through Enkidu’s 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

Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman The Main Conflict

BANG! Your father is dead. Within a few seconds, although he attempted many times, your father dies. He gave up. All the fights, all the disrespect, and all the struggles are behind you. However, all the hope, all the passion, and all the love is still there. In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, the … Read more

Three Female Characters in Greek Tragedies

In the times of the ancient Greeks, women had an unpretentious role. They were expected to do take on the accepted role of a woman. In most cases, a womans role is restricted to bearing young, raising children, and housework. In Sophocles Oedipus the King, Antigone, and Medea, the dominant female characters impacted upon men … Read more

The Odyssey In Popular Culture

Many forms of popular culture today are inspired by themes, characters, and other references in various types of classical literature. John Denvers song Calypso parallels with a number of the themes in Homers the Odyssey. The Odysseys themes involving Odysseus journey back home and the aid of gods and goddesses directly influence Calypso. The first … Read more

Eudora Weltys A Worn Path

Eudora Weltys A Worn Path is a story that emphasizes the natural symbolism of the surroundings. As the story begins, we are introduced to our main character, Phoenix Jackson; she is described as a small, old Negro woman. I believe that the name Eudora Welty gives our main character is very symbolic. The legend of … Read more

The main character in the book The Epic of Gilgamesh

The main character in the book The Epic of Gilgamesh is Gilgamesh himself. In the beginning of the book one realizes that Gilgamesh is an arrogant person. Gilgamesh is full of himself and abuses his rights as king. He has sexual intercourse with the virgins of his town and acts as though he is a … Read more

Husbands: The Cause Of Conflict In Literature

Being that writing is inherently romantic in nature, throughout the history of literature, we see many authors’ insights into the enigmatic and often ambiguous subject of love and relationships. Three short stories written by three separate American writers deal with such matter; Charlotte Perkins Gillman in “The Yellow Wallpaper”, Kate Chopin in “The Storm”, and … Read more

Romeo and Juliet, a story of two young lovers

Romeo and Juliet, is a story of two young lovers, whose love was destined for destruction. They did not imagine that their love would lead to the tragedies that it did. These two young people did nothing wrong except fall in love. Three aspects of their destruction included the feud between the two families, the … Read more

A Flaming Lobster is Linked to Medussa Macbeth is Linked to Himself

Many children are constantly trying to find new ways to entertain themselves. One might suggest that rollerblading as fast as possible and jumping off a deck would be a great possibility for pleasure. Well, this has happened in the past, and the results have mostly been broken bones. Ultimately its the choice of the youngster … Read more

Othello: Act 5 Analysis

Iago’s intelligence causes the self destruction of Othello. He appears to be the most intelligent person in the play, Othello, by the way he acts and handles some situations. Iago is set to plan revenge on Othello for not making him lieutenant. He gains the trust of Othello by telling lies to him, and these … Read more

Odysseus Is Not A Hero

A hero is “a man noted for his special achievements” according to the dictionary, but if you ask most people what a hero is, you will get the same general response. They will probably say “someone who does something for other people out of the goodness of his heart. ” Odysseus, who is the main … Read more

A Clockwork Orange: Violence and Corruption

Alex, the fifteen year old narrator of Anthony Burgess’s novel, A Clockwork Orange, lives in a society where violence reigns. This novel has a very direct nature, and is often blunt to the point of offense, but this makes it more powerful and helps to further its point. This point is that everyone is out … Read more

Macbeth: Appearance vs Reality

The way people act on the outside and who they really are on the inside may be two totally different things. Some may change because they feel they don’t fit in. Others pretend to be something they truly aren’t. No matter which way you look at it, if you try to act like someone your … Read more

The novel, Gulliver’s Travels

The novel, Gulliver’s Travels, is just that, a novel about the main character, Gulliver who goes on many journeys. The part of this book that brings out the reader’s interest is Gulliver’s character and the ways his character changes as the story progresses. He begins as a naive Englishman and by the end of the … Read more

Jocasta Role in Oedipus

Jocasta is an integral part of the play, Oedipus The King, by Sophocles. Her actions and thoughts are important to the reader as well as the characters within the play. In this passage there are several themes and significant items that she is addressing. Jocasta is trying to help relieve Oedipus of his fears that … Read more

Adventures Of Huck Finn And Civilization

In the book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck rejects “sivilized” life. He dreads the rules and conformities of society such as religion, school, and anything else that will eventually make him civilized. He feels cramped in his new surroundings at the Widow Douglass house. He would rather be in his old rags and sugar-hogshead … Read more

Beowulf (Christianity vs. Paganism)

In the story of Beowulf, there is a noticeable struggle between Christianity and Paganism, and the characters personal battle between the two. Throughout the story the characters display actions that lead towards Paganism and Christianity. Contrary to Pagan belief Beowulf is seen as the epitome of good and beneficent to all of mankind. In Beowulf, … Read more

Telemachus as a rash, untrained boy

Early in the Odyssey we see Telemakhos as a rash, untrained boy. He clearly is not Odysseus’ equal as a host, leader, or fighter. However, as the book goes on we see Telemakhos become more and more like his father, in every respect as he is taught and guided by some of the best examples … Read more

Adventures Of Huck Finn By Twain

When children are born into the world they are completely free and uncontaminated from outside influences and ideas but as life continues they grow and are affected by society, their environment, and personal aspirations. All of these reasons cause people and society to react in certain ways when confronted with particular situations and people. Often … Read more

Othello’s Jealousy Essay

In Shakespeare’s Othello we are introduced into a web of a world entangled with lies, jealousy, and ultimately tragedy. We observe as Iago single handedly destroys the matrimony shared between Othello and the beautiful Desdemona. He does so with a flurry of deceit and trickery, playing upon one of the strongest human emotions, that of … Read more

Comparing And Contrasting The Character’s Oedipus And Othello

When comparing and contrasting the character’s Oedipus and Othello by means of the different theatrical practices, one must take in account that there have been many interpretations, and productions of each of their respected plays. The differing presentations of each may lead someone to think differently about the play than another would. In comparing and … Read more

The Representation of Women in Literature

The role of women in society is constantly questioned and for centuries women have struggled to find their place in a world that is predominantly male oriented. Literature provides a window into the lives, thoughts and actions of women during certain periods of time in a fictitious form, yet often truthful in many ways. Ernest … Read more

Great Gatsby’s American Dream

The Great Gatsby, a novel by Scott Fitzgerald, is about the American Dream, and the downfall of those who attempt to reach its impossible goals. The attempt to capture the American Dream is used in many novels. This dream is different for different people; but, in The Great Gatsby, for Jay, the dream is that … Read more

Good Intro To Wuthering Heights

“That is how Im loved! Well, nevermind. That is not my Heathcliff. I shall love mine yet; and take him with me: hes in my soul” (Bronte, page 157). Wuthering Heights is the story of a passionate love between the two main characters, Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw. Theyre longing for each other result in violence … Read more

The expectations imposed upon Nora

The expectations imposed upon Nora were created by society and her husband. In the nineteenth century women had few alternatives to marriage; they were not expected to step beyond their roles as housewife and mother. Females were confined in every way imaginable. Women were limited by their identities as it relates to society and their … Read more

Scarlet Letter Literary Criticism

All great stories have thorough reports from several different literary critics, what do they have to say on The Scarlet Letter? The Scarlet Letter in the nineteenth century is comparable to early twentieth century and late twentieth century criticism. Early nineteenth century critics think the story was a tremendous work of art. A Review of … Read more

The use of Symbolism in Rappaccini’s Daughter

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s work is unique. His writings are full of subtle imagination, analysis, and poetic wording. His short stories are known for their originality and for their ability to provoke the reader’s thoughts. Although a large portion of his stories are allegories, Hawthorne’s preference is to draw more heavily on symbolism (Pennell 13). His use … Read more

Antigone – Selfish Essay

Through the many centuries and numerous civilizations, men have clearly taken the role as dominator. For many generations of men, their names and property pass down to an eligible male member of the family. Those men that favor these hierarchical systems are Patriarchies. Patriarchy refers to a social situation where men are dominant over women … Read more

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne”s, The Scarlet Letter is a book about a woman, Hester, who moves to Boston from England during the Puritan times. She has a husband, and tells the colonists of Boston he will be arriving to be with her soon. After years go by and he doesn”t arrive, Hester finds another man whom she … Read more

Brave New World, a book about a future

On a superficial level Brave New World is the portrait of a perfect society. The citizens of this Utopia live in a society that is free of depression and most of the social-economic problems that trouble the world today. All aspects of life are controlled for the people of this society: population numbers, social class, … Read more

How the Setting Reinforces the Theme and Characters in Araby

The setting in “Araby” reinforces the theme and the characters by using imagery of light and darkness. The experiences of the boy in James Joyce’s “Araby” illustrate how people often expect more than ordinary reality can provide and then feel disillusioned and disappointed. The author uses dark and obscure references to make the boy’s reality … Read more

John Updike’s short story “A&P”

In John Updike’s short story “A&P”, small town New England life is teeming with a whole lot of nothing. Sammy, the man who tells all, seems very uninterested in his job as a check out boy at the local A&P, yet very interested in the people who shop there. He uses his boredom as a … Read more

Daisy’s Role in The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald

In one of the greatest works of the Twentieth Century, The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald, there are many dynamic and round characters which greatly add to the story’s theme. One character, Daisy Fay Buchannon, is made essential by way of her relation to the theme. An integral part of the plot, Daisy conveys the … Read more

Morality In Frankenstein

Morality. It has been questioned by people, honored by people and revered since the beginning of time. Yet even today not one person can say what is morally right. It is a matter of opinion. It was Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s opinion that it was alright to create a “monster”. Frankenstein’s creation needed a companion. Knowing … Read more

Homer & The Odyssey

Homer, name traditionally assigned to the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, the two major epics of Greek antiquity. Nothing is known of Homer as an individual, and in fact it is a matter of controversy whether a single person can be said to have written both the Iliad and the Odyssey. Linguistic and … Read more