Abstract This paper analyzes sibling rivalry relationships from two perspectives of analysis ? structuralism and by emphasizing the importance of the concept of sacrifice, drawing on the relationships of Jacob and Esau, Cain and Abel and Leah and Rachael, taken from the "Book of Genesis".
From the paper:
"One of the predominant themes in the Book of Genesis is that of sibling rivalry: We see in the pairs of Jacob and Esau, Cain and Abel and Leah and Rachel a series of oppositions presented to us in the form of these sibling relationships. This paper analyzes those relationships from two different perspectives. The first of these is the Structuralist one, which allows us to see these sibling relationships within the broader context of sacred and folk writings in a number of cultures and the second is within the framework of sacrifice as the ancient Jews understood this concept."
Abstract This paper takes an in-depth look at the life of feminist Vera Brittain through analyzing her autobiography, "Testament of Youth". The author discusses Brittain's experiences during World War I, her relationships, and her frustrating struggle as a female attempting to enter a male-dominated university while also working as a nurse."
From the Paper:
"Vera Brittain's education, social background and war experiences greatly affected her attitudes about life and her relationships with the various people in her life. She had enough courage and conviction in her principles to believe that a woman's point-of-view was worthy of being recorded during this period. Many feminists have developed due to turning to education, careers or writing in order to free themselves from the limitations of their place, time and gender. In this way, Brittain's obscurity, youth and sex are reaffirmed by her construction of her life, so that others might view who and what she is."
Abstract This paper compares the religion of Buddhism to the practice of psychoanalysis and claims that these two practices are the only way in which to live a fulfilled life. It surveys the main principles of the religion and gives examples of how these can improve one's life.
From the paper:
"Buddhism has been described as a very pragmatic religion. It does not indulge in metaphysical speculation about first causes; there is no theology, no worship of a deity or deification of the Buddha. Buddhism takes a very straightforward look at our human condition; nothing is based on wishful thinking. Everything that the Buddha taught was based on his own observations of the way things were. Unlike Christianity, Judaism, Islam, or any other mono (or even poly) theistic religion, everything taught in Buddhism can be verified by our own observation of the way things are in reality. This principle not only embodies the connection between Buddhism to psychoanalysis, but clearly proves why these two practices are just about the only two that will allow us to fully live our lives. "
Abstract In this paper the author looks at the characters in this play by Tennessee Williams. The author notes that despite the main character actual absence absent from the play, he has a profound impact on all the other characters and all their actions and emotions are centered on him. The author concludes by suggesting that Williams wrote the play as an outlet for his own emotions.
From the paper:
?Tennessee Williams uses this play as an outlet for his own pain, and his characters take on a truthful hue that no doubt strikes a chord in the audience. The Glass Menagerie is a play that no doubt has few characters more prominent that Mr. Wingfield, though Mr. Wingfield never once steps on stage. It is Mr. Wingfield's absence from this family that causes their own glass house to break.?
Abstract A literary analysis of "All Quiet on the Western Front". The author discusses the writer's examination of the horrors of World War I through the eyes of the soldiers involved in the war, as well as the effects of war on society at large.
From the paper:
"All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque, is a book that explores the true horrors of World War I through the eyes of a German solider. The author uses the character of Paul to tell a realistic story of what the average WWI solider had to endure. This book raises the issue of how destructive war can be not only to a country, but also to a generation of a nation. One of the major themes in the story is that of the lost generation. An entire generation of men fighting for their country was lost in World War I."
Tags: all, analysis, english, erich, front, literary, maria, novel, quiet, remarque, western
This paper examines how Tolstoy attempts to persuade us to find meaning in life by presenting two distinct sets of supporting characters and by demonstrating why Ivan Ilych is afraid to die and what causes his suffering.
2,180 words (approx. 8.7 pages), 1 source, 2001, $ 67.95
Abstract The paper analyzes the title character of Leo Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych", making clear the author's intention that each of us must discover how to lead a meaningful life. Tolstoy attempts to persuade us to his point of view by presenting two distinct sets of supporting characters and by demonstrating why Ivan Ilych is afraid to die and what causes his suffering. In addition, Tolstoy warns of the social conditions that prevent most people from accomplishing in life what Ivan Ilych could only achieve in death.
From the paper:
"Two hours before his death Ivan Ilych finally asks the right question. After three days of screaming through agonizing pain, he laments that his life ?was all not the right thing,? and passes into death wondering "what is the right thing"? (151). With this final realization and questioning, the title character of Leo Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych" makes clear the author's intention that each of us must find the right thing and discover how to lead a meaningful life. Tolstoy explains that even at this final moment, Ivan Ilych is capable of redeeming himself and making this discovery, that though his life had not been what it should have been, this could still be rectified (151). If Ivan Ilych can do it at the last minute, the rest of us still can."
Abstract This book review gives Azug's historical documentation on America's role during the holocaust. It examines the context precluding the holocaust in European anti-Semitism, and how America sometimes ignored the truth during the holocaust.
From the paper:
"This book allows us to examine what exactly Americans knew about the Holocaust while it was happening and what and when did the United States and Americans know about Hitler's horrific Final Solution? It asks Americans to ask themselves why was there no intervention by linking historical narrative to primary, contemporary sources. Abzug both chronicles the events in Nazi Germany and examines the resurgence of anti-Semitism across the world, linking the tightening of immigration policies in the United States to fears of contamination by lesser races ? a philosophy not that different from Hitler's own."
Abstract This paper examines how Bram Stoker portrays erotic elements and religious undertones in his novel "Dracula". The author provides a brief analysis of the novel and looks at the way the time in which it was written impacted its acceptance.
From the paper:
"Bram Stoker is known by the world primarily as the author of the powerfully unforgettable novel Dracula. The novel introduces us to the diabolical character?Count Dracula. Dracula was written during the late-Victorian age, when "sex was likely to seem bestial, polluting, depleting, deathly, satanic, a fever in the blood, the theme of dreams, the nature of madness, and the lurking menace in the shadow of every scene" (Stade VI). Obviously very much ahead of its time, the public nevertheless openly accepted Dracula."
Abstract This paper looks at the style of writing and the tale of infanticide in this work of Boyle's. The paper discusses the innocuous sounding title followed by an extremely gruesome tale regaled in the first person. It analyzes the boy's actions and his self-belief that he is committing this act out of love rather than fear or resentment.
From the paper:
"The story of "The Love of My Life" by T. Coraghessan Boyle, the author sets up a series of expectations by the reader that he subsequently and systematically subverts over the course of the narrative. Both the subject and plot of what transpires in flashback and the piecemeal, postmodern first-person narrative style enable the author to achieve this desired effect. This effect is also achieved as well by the grotesque and destabilizing language unconsciously used by the narrative 'I.' (117-133)
"When a reader learns that the title of a short story is ?The Love of My Life,? certain associations are immediately created in his or her mind. Such a title is not ambiguous, like a story with a one-word name."
This paper gives the arguments both for and against slavery in 1863, and shows how Fredrick Douglass' autobiography destroyed the pro-slavery argument.
Abstract This is a research essay that deals with Fredrick Douglass historically as the man who was finally able to convince the general public and President Lincoln of the evils of slavery. It is also a literary analysis of Fredrick Douglass? work, specifically "Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass: An American Slave". It begins with the pro-slavery argument, and shows how Fredrick Douglass shattered all aspects of this argument with both his stories about his life as a slave and the fact that he was as powerful an orator as any white man in his time.
From the Paper "The pro-slavery argument, which declared that the Negro is inferior to a white man and that his natural abilities suited him for slavery, managed to secure the status and wealth of those who benefited economically from the institution for the time it existed after the Revolution, despite the moral arguments against it. Abolitionists, people against slavery, from the North toiled with no avail for years to abolish the system that had corrupted the minds of so many American citizens. However, it was not until the coming of the first great African-American speaker and abolitionist, Fredrick Douglass, which the planter aristocracy lost their influence and slavery finally fell to pieces with the end of the Civil War."
Abstract This essay evaluates the authenticity of Euripides, Bacchae as a typical Greek tragedy. Bacchae's structural features are compared to Aristotle's definition of an archetypal tragedy. Also, Bacchae's story plot is analyzed and compared to other authentic Greek Tragedies such as Oedipus Rex and Antigone. Besides analyzing the structure, this essay also correlates the Greek cultural background with the context of Bacchae.
From the Paper "Bacchae, written by Euripides in 5th century, is a Greek tragedy illustrating intricate relationship between human offense and divine revenge. Both shocking and compassion provoking, the play has remained popular for countless years. Having read many Greek plays over the years, I was fascinated by the similarities between Bacchae and other tragedies such as Oedipus, Antigone, and Electra. Striking structural uniformity of these plays made me investigate characteristics of a typical Greek tragedy, and I discovered that Bacchae displays various aspects of classical tragedy. I concluded that Bacchae is an archetypal Greek tragedy because it exhibits a typical story plot, a tragic hero with pitiful downfall, and a moral theme."
Abstract Gives a critical analysis of "the war on drugs". Through examination of the history and present motivations of drug laws, this paper argues that the reasons behind drug criminalization are invalid. The paper also shows that the current law enforcement approaches are ineffective in dealing with the drug problem.
From the Paper "The illicit drug problem is seen as a paramount concern within all western communities and is clearly the source of some of society's most major public health issues. The so-called "War on Drugs" is given unprecedented resources in the area of law enforcement and often headlines our major media outlets. The reasons for our community seeking to criminalize drug use will be explored in the following essay by tracing drugs laws to the original sources of public concern and exploring how community concern has evolved since. It will be shown that the original notions that are the basis of drug criminalization have been flawed from their inception. Furthermore it will be illustrated how current and past drug laws have been completely ineffective in achieving the aims that society has sought to achieve through drug criminalization."
Abstract This paper deals with the legal, medical and ethical implications of the sale of human organs from live people and the selling of cadaveric organs. The paper explores the opinions of those both for and against legalizing organ selling, as well as describing the current situation, and concludes that organ selling should be legalized.
From the Paper "Recently the topic of organ selling has become a popular topic for debate among bioethicists. As thousands of human beings continue to suffer, many people are beginning to explore the option of human organ sales; however, while there are those who argue for such an option, they must first consider those who stand by the government and completely abhor the idea. The arguments against the sale of organs are driven by the following concerns: it could exploit poor people who are willing to donate their organs solely for payment, it might favor the wealthy, and it could motivate families to withdraw treatment. Many ethicists also believe organ selling demeans the human body. They feel that if you allow organ selling to take place, the Nation's faith in human pride will be shattered. Those opposed to organ selling raise the issue that although a Market Economy is relatively beneficial, unless it is monitored correctly, our human rights, such as social justice, bodily integrity and political freedoms will be stripped away. The greatest fear among those who strongly oppose the sale of organs is that people may murder each other in order to obtain money for their victim's death."
Abstract This paper examines Hawthorne's own life and Puritanical beliefs exhibited in his novel ?Young Goodman Brown.? It provides detailed biographical information on the author's life and analyzes the faith and nature of his religious perspective. The paper is loaded with quotes from the novel in support of analytical literary assessments.
From the Paper "Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem Massachusetts on July 4, 1804. Hawthorne had two sisters, Elizabeth and Louisa. He grew up with great access to the classics of English literature, as he injured his foot at age nine and couldn"t play outside for two years. In 1808, his father passed away, and in 1816, his family moved to Raymond, Maine, in a house on Lake Sebago. This provided Hawthorne with much solitude, which he cherished, for three years (Martin 5). In 1819, his mother sent him back to Salem to go to school. It was at this time that he began to write poetry. He also became a bookkeeper for his Uncle William. Hawthorne entered Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Mass., in 1821, and was the first of his family to attend college. He didn"t know what he wanted to be, however."
Abstract This paper examines some of the contributions of Edgar Allan Poe's only novel, "Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket". It examines in particular the ways in which Poe approaches the foreign and the different, in this work as well as adjacent works. It analyzes the introduction of the strong and sometimes hidden elements of horror in Poe's works.
From the Paper "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket (1838) is the only novel written by Edgar Allan Poe, and yet despite this singularity it is in fundamental ways connected to the rest of his body of work as well as to other important works of 19th century American fiction. This paper examines some of the contributions of this novel, examining in particular the ways in which Poe approaches the foreign and the different ? a concept that was in many ways (some explicit, some deeply encoded) a proxy for race in both the work in question and that of other works adjacent in time and theme to Poe's novel, especially that of Herman Melville's Moby Dick (1851)."
