Abstract The following paper examines how the character of Holden Caulfield still reminds us that cynicism and self-doubt are not characteristics that are proprietary to adults. The writer examines how teen-age Holden is cynical, defiant, and blind to what is actually going on around him, yet to the very end of the novel he continues to berate the "phoniness" of others, particularly adults. The irony of Holden's seeing the faults and foibles of others while not being able to recognize them in himself is Salinger's comment on the way society views the human condition . This paper discusses how society always views the human condition as "the other guy".
From the Paper "The novel begins with Holden proving this point: We"re introduced to Holden by his telling us that he doesn?t want to talk about his "lousy childhood" -- he doesn?t "feel like going into it" (Salinger 1). Holden is self-destructing but doesn?t realize it because he's so intent on blaming everyone else for his problems. These psychological battles within Holden's own head serve as the basis for critical argument. As we read and learn more about Holden's situation, we must accept that society does indeed fail us because the finger is always pointed toward someone other than ourselves, whether it's to help someone in need or accept that we ourselves need help. Holden's character has sometimes been criticized for possessing the same characteristics he abhors in other people, but that, as I see it, is the point ? he is a teenager and as such, rather self-centered. He doesn?t choose to see that the very qualities he finds fault with in other people.?
Abstract This paper is an analysis of Maxine Hong Kingston's memoir, "The Woman Warrior". It examines the themes of silence, invisibility, ghosts and using words as weapons found throughout the book. Examples from the text are provided to support the claims.
From the Paper "It may be said that each section of Maxine Hong Kingston's memoir, The Woman Warrior, may be considered a microcosm of the work as a whole. The section "No Name Woman" incorporates the recurring themes of silence, invisibility, ghosts and using words as weapons.
It is argued, that the story's central theme is the process of "finding a personal voice" (Ling). This is mainly about the Aunt, but also about the mother and the narrator. It is a combination of three female characters each trying to find a voice and fighting against silence, some by choice such as the narrator, some by force, such as the mother, that makes this a powerful theme."
Abstract The paper contrasts the two plays, and bases the comparison on a study of the two protagonists - Miller's "Loman" and Ibsen's "Nora".
From the Paper "Both Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman and Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House have at their core a character who is trapped by social expectations and economic realities. Miller's protagonist, Willy Loman, does his best to ignore the problems in his life ? and his attempt to deny the reality around him leads to terrible consequences. Ibsen's protagonist, Nora Helmer, on the other hand, by the end of the play will embrace her difficulties and will learn that by coming to terms with her life she does in fact have the power to change it."
Abstract This paper briefly explores the role of the narrator and shows how it is related to the presentation of the cultural conflict existent in society and its aim to raise an awareness of the role of the women in African American society, which has been largely ignored. This book explores the creative legacy of Southern black women.
From the Paper "In her short story "Everyday Use" Walker explores the theme of the quilt as one significant medium through which black women were allowed to express their creativity. "Everyday Use" is narrated by a woman who is "a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands." Through her narrator, Walker emphasizes the significance of the quilt by contrasting two sisters: the seemingly ignorant Maggie who has not gone to school, but knows how to quilt, and the educated, fashionable Wangero who assesses quilts primarily as works of art to enhance her own value. Their mother tells this story and ends her contrast of the two sisters' characters by snatching the quilts away from the selfish Wangero, who does not care about her family, and giving them to Maggie, who loves her people and makes quilts from their worn clothes."
Abstract This paper presents an argument for the necessity of animal testing of medical products, consumer products and research for cures and discoveries for illnesses and disorders. The claim is made that alternative means of testing are not as effective.
From the Paper "Throughout the years there have been many groups who have protested using animals for the purpose of testing products. These products include medical products, consumer products and research for cures and discoveries about illnesses and disorders. The groups who protest the use of animals say that it is cruel to use them for the tests when alternative methods could be found. While alternative methods have been developed for many types of testing the use of animals for testing must still be embraced. Alternative testing methods have not proven themselves to be as reliable as animal testing."
Abstract This paper analyzes Stephen King's novel, "The Green Mile", and its differences (and similarities) by comparing the treatment of the story through two different media: the book and film version. The book shows that in both media, Stephen King's novel possesses the theme of life, death, and healing, despite some differences in narrative order and treatment of the events in the story.
From the Paper "Edgecombe's character was introduced in the film in the second scene, wherein the viewers see him as an old man already. This was radically different with the book's style, since King did not mention anything about Edgecombe's being in a nursing home until in the first chapter of the second part of the novel. In the movie, Darabont (the director) made his film as "clean-cut" as possible, using flashbacks to the minimum and chronicled the events in the movie in an orderly way. In fact, Darabont did not dwell so much about Edgecombe's life in the nursing home, and focused entirely on Edgecombe's full narration of the events that happened to him when he was chief prison guard of the E block in Cold Mountain."
Abstract This paper analyzes E.B. White's 1941 essay "Once More to the Lake". It describes how White's essay is an excellent expression of a moment of realization that every individual will experience. The paper provides a biographical background to the essay, as White's account of a trip to the lake he visited as a child and on this occasion White returns to the lake with his son. The paper states that the readers are allowed to sense the feelings for themselves, making the story universally relevant.
From the Paper "E.B. White's 1941 essay "Once More to the Lake" is White's account of a trip to the lake he visited as a child. On this occasion White returns to the lake with his son. The essay is a simple account of an important moment in his life, where he realizes that his son is growing and this means that he himself is dying. It is the point in his life where he realizes that time and change are constant and inescapable. The realization is heartfelt and yet expressed only mildly. The effectiveness of the essay lies in the fact that the point is not made directly, but left for the reader to sense."
Tags: life, lifecycle, death, child, change, maine, lake, son, father, pond, fish
Abstract This paper discusses two literary works by Kate Chopin - "The Storm" and "The Story of an Hour". The paper explains how Chopin has vented her sexuality through the main characters in these two books, Calixta and Louise. The paper shows how she made her personal views on sexuality public, while at that time no woman could do so; how she steered forward if not directly then indirectly with the help of Calixta and Louise.
From the Paper "Kate Chopin's "The Storm" and "The Story of an Hour" constitute honored literature as her view points depict thinking far ahead of time. As she constructs in depth the story she reveals to the world different aspects that culminated in the society then, and how the sexes reacted to it. Abstaining from unrealistic approach, she limited herself to the developing field of human emotions and the trial they may stand or result as a consequence of one. "
Abstract The paper examines the Cheryl Hopwood case where a young white woman applied to the University of Texas Law School and was denied admission. The paper shows that four years later Hopwood, along with four other plaintiffs, filed a lawsuit against the University of Texas Law School for reverse discrimination. This paper provides specific reasons that support race-based admissions for colleges and universities. The paper points to the educational benefits students receive when they attended a diverse college.
From the Paper "Another educational benefit to college students is that studies have shown that a diverse campus contributes to better academic outcomes. In 1999, Gurin conducted a study of the educational benefits of college students who attended a diverse college campuses. Gurin found that White students, as well as minority students, reported higher levels of "diverse ideas and information" (10). Gurin also found in his study that students from diverse college campuses were more likely to show growth in their "active thinking processes" (10). That is, college students from diverse campuses scored higher test scores in complex thinking and social thinking than those from a more homogenous college campus. These students also had "higher levels of intellectual engagement and motivation" (21). Lastly, these students were more likely to aspire to go to graduate school (23). As seen in Gurin's study, college students from diverse campuses gained educational benefits."
Abstract The writer briefly summarizes the main plot of this short story and proceeds to examine the various symbols as laid out by the author. The main symbol is the necklace itself and what it represents in the world of riches and vanity. The writer shows that in the end, all the work was in vain and the previous considerations of youth and beauty were replaced by bitterness for what could have been.
From the Paper "In his short story, "The Necklace", Guy Maupassant uses a variety of symbols to help bring out the main theme: that the preoccupation with appearance is vain and worthless. Certainly, the main theme within the short story is the necklace itself, which comes to symbolize Mathilde's vanity.
""The Necklace" is a short story where the main character, Mathilde Loise, is vain and greatly concerned with her appearance. One night, she borrows an exorbitantly expensive necklace from a rich friend of hers, and subsequently revels in showing off the necklace at a ball. She feels that the necklace better shows off her youthful beauty, and loves the attention that she receives in her fine dress and the expensive necklace."
Abstract The paper explores how racism and sexism are present in fairy tales and how even the Disney stories of our more enlightened era are filled with all sorts of stereotypical depictions of good characters and evil. The paper uses the Walt Disney movie, "Alladin", to show how the characters have become "Anglicized" to suit a more Caucasian audience.
From the Paper "It probably surprises no one to see to recognize the racism, and sexism, that was everywhere in traditional fairy tales. After all, that was a very unenlightened time when people were uneducated and rarely had the opportunity to get to know, and come to understand, people of other races.
"But things are different now. We have had decades of education and desegregation. It is surprising, then, to see some of the blatantly stereotypical images that fill Disney's movie screens. After all, a long time has passed since the brothers Grimm penned their tales, when bad men were always swarthy, or black, and could be spotted the second they stepped onto the page. Nevertheless, after looking closely at a few of Disney's recent hit movies, one might conclude things have not changed that much at all."
Tags: Pocahontas, Arab, Mickey, Mousing, Middle-Eastern
Abstract This paper shows how each character in this novel uses the mechanism of escape in order to deal with the hardships in their personal life. The lives of Tom, Laura and Amanda each take a different path when they realize that they have the option of escaping from their present condition. Each form of escape of the different characters is discussed - physical escape (running away), occupational escape (playing with glass dolls) and mental escape (ignoring the problems of one's relationship).
From the Paper "In the play The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, the theme of escape helps drive the play forward. Amanda Wingfield, the mother, escapes the reality of her hard and narrow life by remembering better times, possibly without great accuracy. Laura, Amanda's daughter, escapes by playing with her collection of glass animals (the "menagerie"). Tom, Amanda's son, is the only one in the family who has a chance of truly escaping the life they have lead, but if he chooses this path, he will be leaving Amanda and Laura behind just as his father did many years before. Tom and Laura's father is an important character in the play, even though he never appears. Tom describes him as ?? a telephone man who fell in love with long distances.? (?The Glass Menagerie,? scene 1) The father's picture in his World War I uniform is placed prominently in the family's living room. In that uniform the sense of his being away is apparent. The father's absence sets the theme of escape for the play."
Tags: mental, occupational, physical, tom, laura, amanda, hardship, escape
Abstract This paper reviews the book, "To Sir, With Love," by E. R. Braithwaite. It examines the growth of the relationship between student and teacher through personal understanding of each other, which is the inspirational foundation of their education. The book promotes independent thinking and problem solving.
From the Paper "As most relationships do, the relationships between Rick Braithwaite, the teacher, known as "Sir," and his students, changes from the beginning of this book to the end. At first, Sir is a little afraid of the students. The other teachers have told him they are difficult, "Ah, another lamb to the slaughter?" (15). "Don't take any guff from them, Ricky, or they'll give you hell" (56). He lets the students command his classroom, by slamming down the lids of their desks, disrupting the lessons, and making comments about him."
Abstract This essay discusses the changes in the relationship between Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's tragic play, "Macbeth". It shows that as the events of the play progress, so too does their relationship progress from a loving one to an abnormal and unhappy relationship.
From the Paper "In the beginning of the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth seem to be deeply in love with one another, as proven by such things as his referring to her as his ? dearest partner of greatness? and his wanting to go ahead of everyone to get to his home quickly. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth seems to be the "lesser of two evils" as it may be, and Lady Macbeth seems to be domineering. After the murder of Duncan, Lady Macbeth tries to calm Macbeth down by telling him "These deeds must not be thought"so it will make us mad?, which is ironic because her own thought so of the murder eventually drive her to suicide. Lady Macbeth begins to manipulate Macbeth and challenges his feelings of guilt and pity for King Duncan and replaces them with malicious and spiteful feelings "look like th'innocent flower, but be the serpent under't". Lady Macbeth now instructs Macbeth on how he should act, encouraging him to be deceitful to Duncan. Macbeth becomes so absorbed in his mixed feelings about the murder that he withdraws from the loving relationship that he had with Lady Macbeth in the beginning of the play."
Abstract Stem cell research is considered to be the one of the most promising hopes for the cure of many previously incurable diseases. This paper looks at the advances made in this field while examining the arguments against the continuation of stem cell research. Arguments include pro-life activists, political agendas and human rights groups. The process of how stem cells are removed and used is detailed and the paper shows why this is considered controversial.
From the Paper "As long as women are willing to provide stem cells, scientists may be able to create a new life for thousands. Stem cell research has quickly made its way into the media headlines and is among one of the most controversial subjects in America today. The debate on whether or not to use stem cells for research is a scientific one, but it has also become a political question, as well."
