Abstract This paper compares two Holocaust memoirs: Elie Wiesel's "Night" and Blanca Rosenberg's "To Tell At Last". While they are from two completely different perspectives, the two books share a number of features. The paper describes the obstacles that each author overcame and discusses the similarities between the two authors.
Abstract This paper discusses how various characters in the novel "House of Spiritis" (Isabel Allende), use sex to reveal their hidden emotions. Sex represents revenge for Esteban Garcia, an outlet for Esteban Trueba's emotions, love for Pedro Tercero and Blanca and a means of self-gratification for Jean de Satigny. The paper shows that sex also signifies love for Clara; because she does not love Esteban Trueba, she does not want to have sex with him. Allende uses sex to display the types of relationships between the characters. For some, sex is a consummation of their love; for others, sex is a pleasurable experience used to release their emotions.
From the Paper "Another way that Esteban Trueba uses sex as an outlet for his emotions is when he is with Transito Soto. Although Esteban Trueba is ?not a man for whores,? he likes Transito Soto because "she was indefatigable and never complained" (69). Esteban Trueba visits Transito Soto after he is married when he is having problems in his relationship with Clara. Transito Soto helps Esteban Trueba "weep out all the misery and loneliness of recent years" after they have sex together (317). Esteban Trueba turns to Transito Soto to release his feelings because he knows that she will not ask questions and that she can understand his pain through their sexual relations together."
Abstract This paper traces the history, origins, and traditions of Santeria. The influence that Christianity and Yoruba traditions had on Santeria is described, and the manner in which they were incorporated into the Santeria religion, known as syncretism, is explained in detail. Finally, the paper traces the origins and philosophy of Spiritism and explains its influence on Santeria.
From the Paper "Santeria and its Puerto Rican variant, often referred to as La Mesa Blanca, are both extremely unusually and intriguing religions. Santeria descends from various traditional religious practices associated with the Yoruba region and peoples of Africa. The Yoruba religion was transferred to Cuba during the European trade in African slaves during the colonial period, as many of the slaves came from this African region. Although many of the most salient aspects of the source religion of the Yoruba are preserved in Santeria, it has also developed into its own and unique tradition. The uniqueness of Santeria is largely due to the syncretism, or mixing, of Santeria with other religious practices. The most famous syncretic combination in Santeria is that between the Yoruba tradition and Christianity, specifically the Catholic tradition. In this practice, santeros conflated the traditional Gods, known as the Orishas, with the Catholic saints."
Abstract Created millions of years of ago through geologic action, the Ogallala aquifer is a vast underground reservoir that runs west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains. This paper examines the evolution and deposition of the aquifer and discusses problems facing it today.
From the Paper "The main concern for the Ogallala is the fact that the aquifer has been cut off from most of its natural recharging sources (Ogallala pp). The Rocky Mountains have not supplied the aquifer for more than a thousand years, and the High Plains climate today is classified as semi-arid, receiving only fifteen to twenty inches of rainfall annually, most of which is subject to a high rate of evaporation due to the dry air and high winds (Ogallala pp). Moreover, many of the rivers, such as the Platte, Canadian, and Arkansas, actually drain the aquifer since they have water tables below that of the aquifer (Ogallala pp)."
Abstract This paper explains that Isabel Allende's "The House of the Spirits"
contains a steady conflict within characters as they try to achieve harmony between their inner and outer worlds. The author points out that Clara is a character who is seemingly trapped in her inner world because she cannot escape what is happening within her own mind; however, Blanca and Alba are affected much more by the happenings in the outside world and their lives constantly are torn apart by the actions of other people. The paper relates that, because it is the driving force behind many of the characters' actions, the setting of this novel, which is assumedly Chile during periods of political turmoil, is important.
From the Paper "Esteban Trueba is a character whose main interest is in the outer world, with very little attention paid to the happenings of his inner world. He is a hard-working man who wants to achieve great wealth before his time on Earth is over. His main goal is to become rich because of all the material goods that such status would bring him. He is a short-tempered and violent man as well. He never seems to be happy with anyone in this novel, as there is always something that sets him off. He is more concerned with controlling people and having them do exactly as he pleases than he is with changing the type of person that he is."
Abstract This paper analyzes the way in which women are portrayed in Allende's "The House of Spirits." Specifically the paper examines magic realism and the discussion of female power and autonomy in the lives of the women characters.
From the Paper "Isabel Allende's novel "The House of Spirits" is best known as a journey into a world of magical realism. However, it is important to note Allende's other mission within the narrative, namely a discussion of female power and autonomy in the lives of her characters. In fact the way in which women are portrayed in "The House of Spirits" relates plainly to one of the novel's key themes and allows Allende to articulate an interesting point about the rights of women within a patriarchal society."
