Study Like a Boss
It all started 20 years ago. I was 16 years old then, and a recent initiate to the religion of Wicca. Like most neophytes, I was eager to begin work on my Book of Shadows, the traditional manuscript liturgical book kept by most practicing Witches. I copied down rituals, spells, recipes, poems, and tables of … Read more
In today’s society we let our lives be led by a certain force that we believe in very strongly. Yet, a common debate that still rages today is whether we, as a species, have free will or if some divine source, some call it fate, controls our destiny. In the play, Oedipus the King, that … Read more
During the late nineteenth century, women were beginning to break out from the usual molds. Two authors from that time period wrote two separate but very similar pieces of literature. Henrik Ibsen wrote the play A Doll’s House, and Thomas Hardy wrote Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Ibsen and Hardy both use the male characters to … Read more
In the story of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Mr. Broklehurst becomes a very controversial character that Jane encounters early in the story. Mr. Broklehurst, a rather annoying clergyman, feels that he has a specific goal. His goal, at least in his eyes, is to save the otherwise lost souls of his girls in the … Read more
The cruel dominance of a father, can distinguish any flame of hope that builds in the people around him. In William Faulkner’s short story “Barn Burning,” Abner is that father. The story portrays a nomadic life of a family driven from one home to another. Abner had a craving hunger to belittle those around him … Read more
Generally when some one writes a play they try to elude some deeper meaning or insight in it. Meaning about one’s self or about life as a whole. Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie” is no exception the insight Williams portrays is about himself. Being that this play establishes itself as a memory play Williams is … Read more
Although there are lots of things to suggest this is a racist play I don’t think that racism actually dominates the play, even though it has a racist theme. There is a romantic union between black and white which gets destroyed because most people think the relationship is wrong. At the time the play was … Read more
Many things can be said about great men. You never can tell exactly just what makes a man great. Looks, personality, a strong mind, these are all good qualities to look for in a man. Speaking as a woman, I know women look for all these qualities and then some. Does he have a good … Read more
Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most analyzed plays. The Danish prince is developed into a mysterious and fascinating man. A philosopher and a fencer, he is a man disgusted with the rottenness of life around him and is obligated to set things right. Under the guise of madness he attempts to achieve his ends; yet … Read more
This poem by Robert Frost was first read to me in the last year of my high school experience. Back then, not only did I have absolutely no interest in any literary work, but moreover, had no intension to lye there and analyze a poem into its symbolic definitions. Only now have I been taught … Read more
Joseph Campbell describes a hero’s journey as a cycle where the person is a hero from birth. This holds true for the character of Huck Finn because he fits the description of a hero in the book Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. There are different parts of the hero’s journey that can be applied to Huck, … Read more
Willy Loman is one of the most tragic heroes in American drama today. He has a problem differentiating reality from fantasy. No one has a perfect life. Everyone has conflicts that they must face sooner or later. The ways in which people deal with these personal conflicts can differ as much as the people themselves. … Read more
With few exceptions, our male dominated society has traditionally feared, repressed, and stymied the growth of women. As exemplified in history, man has always enjoyed a superior position. According to Genesis in the Old Testament, the fact that man was created first has led to the perception that man should rule. However, since woman was … Read more
Beowulf, the great Geatish warrior, lives a very adventurous life filled with many voyages, battles, and victories. Through all of these events, he meets various people who are considered to be heroes like himself. These heroes, however, are unable to have the same abilities and characteristics of Beowulf. His great achievements cannot be matched by … Read more
The four parts of the bool are arranged in a planned order to show Swifts shame and disgust against humans. Swift seems to be criticizing human nature where as gulliver shows respect more than they deserve yn his first adventure in Lilliput where miniature people fight wars over the proper way to break an egg. … Read more
The character named Victor in the book Frankenstein written by Mary Shelly, is a likeable figure. His demeanour on the whole was very pleasant as he grew from a boy into an adult. Victor? s passion for the sciences is very strong, and had stayed studious in his youth. Victor? s mother died when he … Read more
The two villains in Much Ado About Nothing and Othello share much in common, despite their numerous differences. It is evident that Shakespeare framed the second piece of literature to be similar to the first. Although shorter, the plot of Othello is definitely more complex. The villains play a major part in the novels, and … Read more
Joseph Conrad develops themes of personal power, individual responsibility, and social justice in his book Heart of Darkness. His book has all the trappings of the conventional adventure tale – mystery, exotic setting, escape, suspense, unexpected attack. Chinua Achebe concluded, “Conrad, on the other hand, is undoubtedly one of the great stylists of modern fiction … Read more
We often think of the “Old English” time as an era filled with mighty pagan warriors gathered in a dark wooden room, drinking ale to celebrate their victory in a brutish bloody battle. Or maybe we picture brawny Vikings with dirty faces wearing animal skins while sailing in large wooden ships. You may even imagine … Read more
In Brontes novel Wuthering Heights the idea compensation for love lost is discussed. Wuthering Heights is a quiet house in the country where the Earnshaws and Heathcliff live. Heathcliff loves Catherine Earnshaw very much but, she decides to marry another man, Edgar. Heathcliff marries Edgars sister just to make Catherine jealous. At the end Heathcliff … Read more
The emergence of the Australian legend in the late nineteenth century is largely explained as a desire of many artists and writers of the period, as an escape from the conditions and pressures of society, and as a retreat into an alternate reality. This essay, will examine the works of Graham Davison, Henry Lawson, Banjo … Read more
The journey of Dante through Hell, in both its structure and content, symbolizes the nature of sin and punishment. The structure of the book takes the reader step by step through greater and greater sins. The content of the book shows the different punishments for sins which are symbolic of the sins themselves; it also, … Read more
In the days of Jesus through the mid 1900s, people had many different superstitions, or beliefs, about life. People believed if they were to do certain things, they would have good luck. Like Indians used to do a dance, called the Indian rain dance, when they wanted it to rain so it would help their … Read more
The American Dream as portrayed in The Great Gatsby is the reality of the love of money. The characters in the novel dwell on the fact that they have money. The novel is about the power of money. Daisy is the main character who fulfills the American Dream; being rich. Her lifestyle revolves around money. … Read more
William Shakespeare and Henrik Ibsen are two great authors of their time and are still read by many today. William Shakespeare wrote many plays; one that is more well known is Hamlet. Henrik Ibsen is a not so well known author but wrote a great rival play named A Doll’s House. These two plays were … Read more
When reading Shakespeare’s “Othello the Moor of Venice”, the two main hero’s seem to be very different, both in character and actions. Othello seems to be an honest man who believes other people. He is respected by society for his nobility and bravery. Iago is a villain, plotting around not only against Othello. Othello demotes … Read more
Homer uses tone, imagery, epithets, and similes to describe Paris character. Outwardly, Paris is a brave person, but inwardly, he is full of doubts and fears. He is like a stallion that has been pampered too much, a child who is allowed to get everything he wants. Because of his attitude, he starts the Trojan … Read more
Shortly before Christopher Marlowe’s untimely death during a bar brawl, he was arrested and charged with atheism, a high crime at the time. Much of the basis for this claim may have stemmed from his controversial play, “Doctor Faustus,” which deals heavily with necromancy and the devil. Using only this play as a basis to … Read more
Helmer is a successful bank lawyer in the drama “A Doll House” written by Henrik Ibsen. His wifes name is Nora. She is a housewife with three children and gets help raising them from her maid Helen. Nora and Helmer are both busy people within their lives. Little do they know that their marriage is … Read more
Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley is a complex novel that was written during the age of Romanticism. It contains many typical themes of a common Romantic novel such as dark laboratories, the moon, and a monster; however, Frankenstein is anything but a common novel. Many lessons are embedded into this novel, including how society acts towards … Read more
In Act 1 Scene 5 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the ghost of King Hamlet can be portrayed as either, a harsh, mean, and demanding father or a caring, nice, and understanding dad. This depends on how you manipulate the lighting, actions, which includes speech, and other special effects. By manipulating the lighting on the ghost of … Read more
When people accept an ideal to live by it can be a glorious and noble thing unless they become so obsessed with the the ideal that it becomes a yolk and they are unable to realize their dream. This is especially true for two characters in Arthur Miller’s plays Death of a Salesman and The … Read more
Thesis One: In principle a case can be made on moral grounds both supporting and opposing capital punishment. Thesis two: Concretely and in practice, compelling arguments against capital punishment can be made on the basis of its actual administration in our society. Two different cases can be made. One is based on justice and the … Read more
Holden Caulfied: Saint, Snob, or Somewhere In-between? Although J. D. Salinger has only one novel to his credit, that novel, The Catcher in the Rye, is recognized as an exceptional literary work. The key to the success of The Catcher in the Rye is the main character, Holden Caulfield. There are many different critics that … Read more
Harriet Beecher Stowe was born June 14, 1811 in Litchfield, Connecticut. She was the daughter of a Calvinist minister and she and her family was all devout Christians, her father being a preacher and her siblings following. Her Christian attitude much reflected her attitude towards slavery. She was for abolishing it, because it was, to … Read more
For decades, Guy Debord’s The Society of the Spectacle was only available in English in a so-called “pirate” edition published by Black & Red, and its informative—perhaps essential—critique of modern society languished in the sort of obscurity familiar to political radicals and the avant-garde. Originally published in France in 1967, it rarely receives more than … Read more
Kate Chopin underscores the expression “free as a bird” in the novel The Awakening through the consistent use of aviary symbolism. Throughout the story she cleverly weaves images and descriptions of birds to express the psychological state of mind of her main character, Edna Pontellier. Perhaps the most obvious example of this symbolism is in … Read more
Odysseus and his crew were just leaving the Land of the Dead on their way to Kirkes island to bury Elpenor as Dawns finger tips of rose slowly crept over the morning sky. Odysseus was telling his men the stories and prophesies he had just learned when the sky started to darken. A storm was … Read more
Voltaire’s Candide is the story of an innocent man’s experiences in a mad and evil world, his struggle to survive in that world, and his need to ultimately come to terms with it. All people experience the turmoil of life and must overcome obstacles, both natural and man-made, in order to eventually achieve happiness. In … Read more
An act of chivalry is described as the qualifications or character of the ideal knight. Knights were expected to uphold this code of conduct. In the English literature Le Morte d? Arthur, French for ? The Death of Arthur? , by Sir Thomas Malory, the characters display acts of chivalry from beginning to end. Though … Read more
Throughout the play Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare, Brutus is torn between passion and responsibility. There are three very good examples of this, the first being, obviously, Brutus mental conflict dealing with the conspiracy surrounding Caesars assassination. Less obvious number two, the conflict between himself and Cassius, dealing with Cassius less than noble hoarding of … Read more
Animal Farm is a book written by George Orwell, pen name for Eric Blair. Animal Farm was first published in 1945. George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a political satire of a totalitarian society ruled by a mighty dictatorship, in all probability an allegory for the events surrounding the Russian Revolution of 1917. The story takes … Read more
In Arthur Millers’ Death of a Salesman, we see how the American Dream had such a great impact on the lives of people, and how it meant a promise of freedom and opportunity for everyone. People believed that by working hard they could accomplish anything they wanted, along with financial support for their families and … Read more
Many of the critics who have critiqued Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels have used the word extraneous more then once. Swift was viewed as an insane person who was a failure in life. But this is far from the truth. Swift wrote Gulliver’s Travels, a book that has been assigned to students for years, and it … Read more
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the letter “A” changes it’s meaning many different times. This change is significant. It shows growth in the characters, and the community in which they live. The letter “A” begins as a symbol of sin. It then becomes a symbol of her ability to do and help things, and … Read more
Goodman Brown was not asleep in this short story. As I read, I believed that Goodman did indeed meet the devil in the forest. If he had indeed dreamt about the trip he was sent on and meeting the devil, I think his nervousness would have been described in more detail then it was. Concentrating … Read more
The Effects of Morality In every persons life at one point they will have to make a choice based on their moral beliefs. These decisions can show what a person believes in right from the start. In Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the main character Huck, makes two very important moral decisions. The … Read more
The way in which society tries to live today goes hand in hand with the quote “What really matters is on the inside, not the outside”, which is often repeated, maybe because people want everyone to feel equal and no one inferior or maybe because a person just wants to feel better about his or … Read more
With the shift from industrial to postindustrial capitalism, our culture has become increasingly concerned with the problem of how to represent subjects in a technologized world. Traditionally, dominant conceptions of the subject have relied on Western metaphysics; naturalized monolithic categories arranged in hierarchic binary oppositions: male/female, human/machine, subject/object, etc. In this system, the discourse of … Read more
The Insanity Plea is a book about the Uses & Abuses of the Insanity Defense in various cases. The book is by William J. Winslade and Judith Wilson Ross. In this report, I will basically summarize the book and tell you different ways people have used and abused the Criminal Justice System using The Insanity … Read more