In “The Yellow Wallpaper”, the author Charlotte Gilman uses indirect characterization to describe the narrator and through several main quotes from 'The Yellow Wallpaper' we can image the protagonist. The main character is a woman who is overcome with an illness deemed nervous condition by...
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet has long been revered as a masterpiece of literature. It has stood the test of time and is still being studied and performed today. One of the most notable features of this play is the use of sarcasm. Sarcasm is a literary...
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims as they travel to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury. One of the most intriguing characters in this collection is the Nun, or Prioress, who tells a...
Character analysis is an essential aspect of literary criticism, enabling readers to gain a deeper understanding of the motivations, behaviors, and complexities of the individuals within a narrative. In Kelly Link’s short story “The Faery Handbag,” the characters are vividly portrayed, each with their own...
Introduction William Shakespeare’s Hamlet remains a pivotal work in the canon of English literature, not only for its exploration of existential themes and the nature of revenge but also for its intricate character dynamics. Among the most compelling relationships in the play is that between...
Chinua Achebe’s No Longer at Ease includes a variety of idealistic characters, from Obi Okonkwo, the typical educated young reformer, to Mr. Green, his curmudgeonly, racist boss. Despite these characters’ differing views, they share the characteristic of being trapped in their world views, unable to...
In the digital era, children are exposed to digital devices and the internet practically at birth through iPods, iPads, and iMacs–an element of modern childhood completely foreign to the parents raising these children. In the chapter “Pure Language” from A Visit From the Goon Squad,...
The Lambert family, the protagonists of Jonathan Franzen’s The Corrections, view the world through a lens which attaches monetary value to people, objects, and actions. Money is a constant presence in their lives, whether there’s plenty or not enough. Alfred, Enid, Gary, Denise, Chip, and...
The tortures of Garcin, Inez, and Estelle each other. After being escorted to the room by the valet, they all remark on where the torturer. Garcin asks the valet where the torturer is and the valet states that there is none. Inez makes a similar...
People work hard and gain positive things all the time. People who don’t work don’t gain positive things. This is what happens in the book The Treasure of Lemon Brown by Walter Dean Myers. In this story a boy named Greg leaves his house and...
A & P by John Updike, was written in 1961. Updike is known for his real fictional, but situational stories about middle-class lifestyle. In this time period, having a job already gave you an opportunity to climb up when working for a growing company like...
The Merchant of Venice is a traditional Shakespeare comedy, which means there is an abundance of romance and love (Devine, 29 Aug). The two main lovers in this play, Portia and Bassanio, are newly-wed lovers after Bassanio becomes the only suitor in all of Europe...
Human beings are complex creatures, driven by a multitude of factors that shape their thoughts, actions, and interactions with the world. One of the most fundamental aspects of human behavior is the concept of character traits, which can be defined as the inherent qualities that...
Introduction: In the realm of literature, certain narratives have the power to transport us to new worlds, challenge our perspectives, and leave an indelible mark on our minds. A Blizzard Under Blue Sky is one such tale that captivates readers with its intricate plot and...
In Harper Lee’s seminal novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” the character of Arthur “Boo” Radley is often overshadowed by the immediate complexities of Scout Finch’s narrative. Yet, Boo’s journey is a compelling study of transformation and growth that mirrors the quintessential coming-of-age experience, albeit in...
In the novel The Kite Runner, author Khaled Hosseini focuses on many critical parts of life. The main character, Amir, struggles to find redemption throughout the story, and finally finds it when he rescues Sohrab, his half-brother Hassan’s son, from the man who also tormented...
Sleep Rough Tonight, written by Australian author Ian Bone, addresses the idea of cultural violence and the effect it has among teens. The novel follows Alex, a young and troubled teenager who learns some tough lessons about life and growing up. As a challenge Alex...
Within the span of British literature, it should come as no surprise that the themes and motifs which appear in written works evolve in nature. Times, cultures, and peoples change, so it is only natural that the things they write down change as well. An...
I chose to read Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller because I believe that he was a very talented American playwright and his plays always interested me. As I was marking the book and reading the play, I made sure to jot down any...
Published in 2007, the novel ‘the Relunctant Fundamentalist’, written by acclaimed Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid, is a coming of age story set in America during the 9/11 attacks. It follows the fictitious journey of protagonist Changez, a young Pakistani Princeton graduate who attempts, yet ultimately...
Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” bravely challanges the generalization about women of 1950’s America as a nation who believes that women are only for breeding and being good housewives. The women in this play, Mama, Ruth and Beneatha, speak to three ages of black...
Introduction ‘Private Peaceful’ by Michael Morpurgo is a poignant novel that invites readers to embark on a deeply emotional journey through the life of its protagonist, Tommo Peaceful. This character analysis delves into Tommo’s transformation, exploring the influences, challenges, and growth he experiences from his...
In The Crucible play, Miller presents a range of characters, some of whom undergo significant development throughout the course of the story, while others remain static. Static characters are those who do not experience significant change or growth throughout the narrative, maintaining a consistent personality...
Character is a fundamental aspect of the National Honor Society (NHS). The NHS is a prestigious organization that recognizes high school students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. While all of these qualities are important, character is often...
Introduction Andrea Cavalcanti, a pivotal character in Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel The Count of Monte Cristo, is a masterful study in deception and ambition. His role in the narrative is not merely that of a secondary character, but rather a cleverly constructed instrument that underscores...
The course of growing up is always influenced by the people around you, since the people in your environment are vital in shaping the person you will become. Harper Lee demonstrates this reality in the classic tale To Kill a Mockingbird, through the eyes of...
The 19th century was a time of great development, especially so in the realm of knowledge and representation of disability in literature. Although physical disabilities receive the majority of the attention, mental illness does appear in many works even though it may not be openly...
Courage, intellect, and success: three typical characteristics which could easily be attributed to the hero of any story. Take cunning, manipulation, and eventual failure, and you have yourself the typical villain. In The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco has decided to take upon the...
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic coming of age novel about the very young protagonist, Scout, and her life in Alabama around the time of the 1930’s. Throughout the course of this novel, Scout comes across many conflicts in her life, however...
Bom Boy by Yewande Omotoso is written in the genre known as Bildungsroman. However, it is in the form of a dissensual Bildungsroman. Peiker (2015) states that “A key plot difference between the dissensual and the traditional Bildungsroman is that a finished Bildung, the essential...