This paper discusses the concept of "Race" and "Religion" in American society and in the abolitionist literature "Interesting Narrative" by Olaudah Equiano.
Abstract The author states that in American society there is a backbone of religious intolerance; but, for the most part, the races have been forced to live and work together, thus racial inequality on the surface has been transcended. The author continues that in Equiano's "Interesting Narrative" the concepts of race and religion intertwine, and the violence in the text is often caused by differences in race and religion narrative. The paper concludes with the comparison of Equiano's concept of race and religion to that of the authors Cahan ( "The Rise of David Levinsky"), Forster ( "A Passage to India" ) , Roth ("Call it Sleep") and Sachs ("Black Hamlet").
From the Paper "Equiano mentions his sadness at leaving his schoolteacher first, before his experiences with religion and God. Indeed, the Miss Guerins were recognized first for teaching him to read, and then for imparting the ?knowledge of God.? Equiano also recognizes his social acclimations ? how to conduct himself ? and above all, the valuable presents he receives. Indeed, even in the face of religion, Equiano remains entirely a secular narrative force. Religion can only rank as a backdrop or a background theme and the forefront is secular life experience."
Abstract The concept of a task to be completed as portrayed in literature is addressed through an examination of two of Camus's works, "The Guest" and "The Myth of Sisyphus".
From the Paper "The concept of a task to be completed in literature is one that is revered highly. Hercules, for instance, is immortalized by virtue of his labors: he is presented with challenge after challenge, and though he struggles at first, somehow he prevails despite weaknesses, betrayals and even the gods? wrath. In Abraham Cahan's ?The Rise of David Levinsky,? the protagonist rises from poverty and discrimination to running his own successful business by the end of the novel. Camus, however, takes a different tilt on tasks. His view is that tasks and challenges endure and victory comes in how one deals with the daily repetition and lack of respite: the mettle of his characters is measured in their ability to deal successfully with tasks that persist despite all efforts to escape them."
This paper presents a review and comparison of three novels, focusing on the themes of ethnicity and American identity: Cahan's "Yekl", Yezierska's "The Bread Givers" and Morrison's "The Bluest Eye"
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 4 sources, 2002, $ 31.95
Abstract The paper explores the theme of racial identity in these three novels. The similarities in plot are highlighted For example; each novel's plot is centered on a character's attempt to transcend their racial otherness in order to be accepted by American society. The paper concludes with a discussion on Randolph Bourne's essay "Trans-national America", relating it to Morrison's desire to avoid racial hierarchy, and showing how the protagonists of the novels do not fit into this multi-cultural scheme.
From the Paper "The crisis at the center of Abraham Cahan's story is presented as a conflict between Jake's ethnic past, his racial otherness in America and his ambition to be, in his words, "a Yankee". Early on in the story, Yekl, in his ambition to be an American, changes his name to Jake, because the name Yekl is associated with a Russian past he is not able to "reconcile with the actualities of his American present". Essentially, one cannot be a Russian Jew and an American, to be an American one needs to repudiate their ethnic past. This crisis gets even further developed when Jake's wife arrives from Russia.
To Jake, his wife is an embodiment of the ethnic identity he wishes to efface. When he first sees her off the boat ?his heart had sunk at the sight of his wife's uncouth and un-American appearance.? For her part, she looks at Jake in his American garb and sees barely a semblance of the man she married. For Cahan, the process of assimilation and Americanization is a process that destroys one's ethnic identity, and the foil of Jake and Gitl illustrates a sort of before and after picture meant to demonstrate that."
