How are the females’ self-consciousness, opposition, and pursuit blighted by the patriarchal society? In the play, Othello, William Shakespeare establishes abundantly colorful female images in order to interpret the rigid female gender roles of that era of sexism and to outline varying degrees of self-awareness...
What defines a “hero” can vary immensely, depending on whom you ask: some heroes can be veterans who fight for their country, while others can just be common citizens who help and save others. But could someone who survives a risky operation have the qualities...
In the novel The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne establishes a duality between piety and sin that manifests itself in the character of Arthur Dimmesdale. Throughout the plot, Dimmesdale is presented as a faithful and religious minister. Hawthorne primarily portrays this by detailing the power of...
Although the nature vs. nurture debate seems as though it is a rather contemporary argument, it was actually a common thematic element of Elizabethan literature. Christopher Marlowe, in particular, focused on human behavior and the influences of natural instinct versus learned habit. In his “minor...
In 1955 C. S. Lewis wrote and published The Magician’s Nephew, a high fantasy adventure story set in early 20th century England, a prequel to the other stories in The Chronicles of Narnia. In the story, Digory Kirke, a young boy, travels to a strange...
It is natural for people to like or love one person more than another, but it may not feel as natural to the one who is not loved more. In Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Francie and her mother, Katie, fight and argue...
There’s a reason the archetypal character of the Wise Woman exists – all over the world, mothers, sisters, aunts, and grandmothers have come together to share their stories, offer their insight, and help guide the next generation toward success. But not all of us are...
Life and death situations are held in the most inconvenient moments, whether it be planned or just a coincidence. In the young adult novel “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins; the main character Katniss finds herself rooting for her life against 23 other tributes in...
Moliére’s dramatic play “Tartuffe” is considerably one of his best written works of all time. The play Tartuffe, written in 1664 was set during the time of the Restoration period. During this Restoration period, women were expected to be under a man’s authority. Women were...
In the book, The Death of a Salesman, written by Arthur Miller, Willy Loman is a businessman from New York City. He has a concerned but loving wife, Linda, and his two sons, Happy and Biff. Willy is a man with a vision to live...
Margaret Atwood’s novel, “The Handmaid’s Tale” is set historically and geographically in the American 1980s, with its “liberal anxieties” concerning women’s and civil rights. It is a representation of the individualistic and pluralistic feminism of the late 60s and 80s. Encompassing a span of “feminine...
We meet the character of Mark Antony three times before Julius Caesar’s death, though he speaks little and we do not get much of an indication of his character. Antony fully enters the play exactly halfway through, when he makes a gripping speech, and his...
Feste, the fool character in Twelfth Night, in many ways represents a playwright figure, and embodies the reach and tools of the theater. He criticizes, manipulates and entertains the other characters while causing them to reflect on their life situations, which is similar to the...
As a result of betrayal, Silas Marner of George Eliot’s so titled novel becomes a man in body without incurring any of the duties normally associated with nineteenth century working class adults. Eliot creates these unusual circumstances by framing our title-hero so it appears to...
Tekst B: Me Talk Pretty One Day David is 41 years old and returns to school. After some French lessons back in New-York, he goes to Paris were he wants to learn perfect French. As student you have some advantages, like discounts on food and...
In Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” two lovers find themselves being torn apart by a feud between their two families. Mercutio is a friend of Romeo, one of the main characters. Thought only present for half of the play, Mercutio’s cocky, loyal and risque personality have...
For many Years efforts are compelled to show that Richard III wasn’t out the out and out celeb which Shakespeare items to individuals on condition that Richard III is only one at a drama that was affluent sport. However he is just one persona Shakespeare...
In J.B Priestley’s timeless, symbolic sermon about social conscience, he explores the change in Eric Birling: from an intractable and pompous juvenile to a mature and increasingly confident socialist. His transformation is perhaps the easiest for the audience to relate to: he blames the world...
Reality is the state of being true and existent, whereas an illusion is a false idea or belief that is not true. Fifth Business portrays the battle between illusion and reality, which reveals the theme of guilt. Illusion and reality are portrayed by several characters...
Teenagers deal with a lot of opportunities for self-discovery and growth. Adolescence is likely the most difficult time in one’s life because everybody seeks their true selves, hopes and dreams, and true friends. Adolescents will meet new people and go to new places in search...
Starting from 1341, the first expedition to the Canary Islands, and with the expeditions to India, Brasil and Japan, the Portuguese people opened their vision towards the undiscovered world. Besides reaching the goods that started to be traded (gold, silver, spices, silk, sugar and slaves),...
Throughout Antigone, Creon maintains complete confidence in his belief that, in order to prevent anarchy and chaos, the rule of a king must be obeyed even it contradicts proper morals and/or the will of the gods. The decisions that he makes in an effort to...
In her novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen channels many of her perceptions of 18th century English society through both her dominant and smaller characters. Austen uses unfailingly sarcastic Mr. Bennet as a vehicle for the deception and spite rampant in such a community. While...
Power is the predominant theme of Ken Kesey’s ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’: who holds power, who doesn’t, who wants it, who loses it, how it is used to intimidate and manipulate and for what purposes, and, most especially, how it is disrupted and...
One of the tragedies in The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton is that Lily Bart is unable to marry Laurence Selden and thereby secure a safe position in society. Their relationship fluctuates from casual intimacy to outright love depending on how and where Selden...
Holden Caulfield is a 17-year-old boy who has been temporarily sent to Happy Farms (mental institution) to observe his behavior and recover from some nervous breakdown. Holden himself is the narrator and he tells the readers his story while he is at the Happy Farms....
Shakespeare’s classic tragedy entitled Macbeth tells the story of a proud nobleman who attempts to reach the pinnacle of the hierarchy commanding the kingdom he serves by following a cryptic, supernatural prophecy. Considering the treacherous deeds he would have to commit to achieve this prophecy,...
Introduction The play “Mulatto” by Langston Hughes deals with life in the south in the 1930s. During this time, the system of white dominance over the black race is absolute and uncompromisingly harsh. The play focuses on the father-son relationship between Colonel Tom Norwood and...
In the short story “A&P” by John Updike, Updike develops a theme of maturation and humbleness. The story is a growth and development story where the main character, Sammy makes the foolish decision to do something he has presumed is an adult thing to do....
Shakespeare’s play ‘The Merchant of Venice’ displays an array of human experiences, lived out by the characters. These experiences differ between people due to the context of the play. Set in Venice, the atmosphere is multicultural, exotic and extremely money and power driven. This text...