Abstract The paper examines the character, Gregor, in Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" and discusses the main theme - that of alienation - by showing what Gregor goes through when he turns into a bug. The author of the paper questions whether many of the feelings expressed by Gregor were actually autobiographical elements of Kafka's own life when he grew up alienated due to his beliefs.
From the Paper "By the final part of the story, part III, Gregor is nearly forgotten about. Grete does not notice if he eats or not, his room is hardly ever cleaned, no one even mentions him at all. Gregor begins growing bitter, angry and resentful, which must have been Kafka's own feelings for his father. Gregor's nagging injury (the apple in his back) causes his mobility to remain limited, and yet he still hopes to find some way in which to reach out to his family. When he finally dies, it is almost at the request of his family. The family is discussing how Gregor cannot be anywhere in the bug's body - if it were Gregor, he would have left and spared them the awful horror of dealing with an insect. Gregor agrees, and quietly retreats to his room to die. This line of thinking seems to comfort Gregor - he alienates himself from the insect he has become, in order to accept that his life is over, and that he must die."
Abstract This paper examines the use of symbolism used in Chapter One of Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man, "The Battle Royal," and its significance to African-Americans. The author traces the significant events in the life of the Invisible Man, beginning with the influence of his grandfather. The author uses different symbols to illustrate the different events in this man's life and how they are used to lay the groundwork in the first chapter of Ellison's book.
From the Paper "The presence of the dancer at the battle royal (19-21) represents temptations that seem inviting on the outside, but which are not really good at all. Deprivation has made the temptation impossible to resist, despite the consequences: ?Had the price of looking been blindness,? Invisible Man tells us, "I would have looked" (19). This is so, even though Invisible Man feels "guilt and fear" (19) and knows that he will never really be able to obtain such enticements. The dancer represents mockery and vain lures toward the unfulfillable."
Abstract The paper discusses the theme of the play and various critics? thoughts on the theme and meaning of the work. Luis Valdez writes about Chicano issues. He uses the play to point out the inhumanity of the people who hire Mexicans and how the administration ignores their problems. Critics have called it one of the most important Chicano plays ever to be written.
From the Paper ""Los Vendidos" (the Sellouts) takes place on Honest Sancho's Used Mexican Lot, a "used car lot" that supplies Mexicans to government workers who need token brown-skinned people to fill various roles. Miss JIM-enez is a secretary looking for a Mexican for Governor Regan's office. Someone who will not stand out too much, but will show the Governor has a "brown-skinned" person on his staff. Dark, but not too dark, and suave. "Beige, just the tone" (Valdez). He will be beige in his politics too, a "yes" man to the white politicians who keep him around so they look good."
Abstract This paper examines the claim by critics of the book "Heart of Darkness" that its author, Joseph Conrad, is a racist. The views of Achebe, Sarvan and Singh are outlined in this discussion of the book's story and characters, as it addresses the issue of racism.
From the Paper "In his book Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad uses all the trappings of a traditional adventure tale ? mystery, suspense, an exotic setting, and unexpected attack. Chinua Achebe concluded, "Conrad, on the other hand, is undoubtedly one of the great stylists of modern fiction and a good story-teller into the bargain" (Achebe 252). Despite Conrad's great story telling abilities, he has been viewed as a racist by some of his critics. Achebe, Sarvan, and Singh are just a few that view him as a racist, though the criticisms vary.
Frances B. Singh insinuates that although Heart of Darkness is clearly critical of colonization, it puts forward that the Africans were the innocuous victims of European greed and will-to-power, the imagery of darkness it uses as metaphysical dissertation links "evil" with the groups drawn on in anthropological images of "primitive" peoples. The narrative carries the insinuation that Kurtz's "evil" is indicated by his "going native", and that "evil, in short, is African". While the narrative makes it clear that the till-to-power implicit in the very idea of a "civilizing mission" is what leads Kurtz to set himself up as a god, the fact that he sets himself up as a tribal god reinstates the idea of racial superiority at a deeper level than the critique of colonialism."
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss and compare the play "Angels in America," by Tony Kushner. Specifically the paper discusses who are the angels, how do they affect the play and what do they symbolize? The different characters and their roles are detailed, as are the different events that shape their lives. The author also explores Kushner's use of magic and how it is threaded throughout the play.
From the Paper "Later, in the second play, one of the characters equates angels to "powerful bureaucrats, they have no imagination, they can do anything but they can't invent, create, they're sort of fabulous and dull all at once" (Kushner). Thus, the angels can stand for anything and everything that is happening to America. Consistently, the characters say how hard it is to live in America. They are referring to how difficult it is to fit into society when you are different ? a Mormon, gay, black, or sick. Angels in America are the ones who know how hard it is to live here, and do it day after day."
Abstract The paper discusses how in Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels", the religious war between the Lilliputians and the Blefuscuins is symbolic to the war between France and England, and more generally between the Protestants and the Catholics. The paper examines how the King of Brobdingnagia indirectly shows the reader how corrupt English and moreover European society and government were. It shows too how the relative sizes of the people that Gulliver visits is symbolic to the nature of each represented society.
From the Paper "In his satire, Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift exposes the vices of a candid society and a backwards government through the eyes of a similarly candid member of that same society. Traveling in a fictional world, Gulliver is exposed to many things, from a land of tiny people, to a land of an over-sized populace, and from floating islands, to a kingdom ruled by an elite society of horses. The world Swift creates is his own world, in a compilation of symbolic peoples, wars, lives, laws and the nature of the individuals in this creation."
Tags: absurdity, catholicism, christian, corrupt, holy, protestantism, symbolism, war
Abstract This paper introduces Osvaldo Dragun, often described as Argentina's premiere playwright. It then analyzes his play "The Man who Turned into a Dog" about a man who applies for the job of a watchdog and literally turns into one. The paper shows how the absurdity in the play's storyline is actually a message to show the ridiculous importance society puts on a person's job.
From the Paper "This also leads us to think about the meaning of employment and how we can be defined by our jobs. People everyday become what their job is, taking on a role as a teacher, a policeman, a soldier or any other occupation. In doing this they become something in this role. This occurrence in society is not really noticed because it is common and expected and because it is only a minor change in a person. In the play however, Dragun takes this occurrence to its extremes. The result is that we notice that this happens. We notice that to become a watchdog the man has actually given himself up as a human and become a dog. While this can be laughed off as absurd, we can think about it a little further and see that this is exactly what happens to all people, just in a less noticeable way. In this way then, Dragun makes us think about modern society and the place of employment in it. The simple play then has a much greater meaning than we realized."
Abstract This paper analyzes the book "Absolut : Biography of a Bottle" by Carl Hamilton and discusses the story of how Absolut Vodka emerged as an unknown product and with a unique marketing strategy managed to conquer the United States market.
From the Paper "The first step in the story is the proposal Gunnar Broman, head of Sweden's top advertising agency, made to New York executives in 1978. At this time the belief was that all good vodka came from Russia. In reality, vodka had been being produced in Sweden for centuries, but the cultural belief in America was that vodka came from Russia."
A discussion of the theory that a person can only will something which he perceives to be or do him good, but that idea of what is good can be entirely subjective and altogether incorrect or even evil.
Abstract This paper relates the ideas of sensitive appetite and practical intellect. It expands on the role they play in the deliberations of man to reach a decision based of his perception of good and evil.
From the Paper "Essentially or by nature, what man wills is good, since he can only will something to which he is inclined, and ?every inclination is to something good.? (Aquinas 2002) But every inclination takes a form, whether natural or apprehended. The form that exists in the nature of things appeals to the natural appetite, while that apprehended or perceived form appeals to the sensitive, or the rational or intellective appetite. In layman's terms, a person can only will something, which he perceives to be or do him good, but that idea of what is good can be entirely subjective and altogether incorrect or even evil."
Abstract This paper analyzes the novel "Donald Duk" by Frank Chin and discusses the lead character's trials and tribulations of growing up as a Chinese American. It illustrates Donald's inner struggles and eventual understanding of what his place is in society.
From the Paper "His father and his uncle, taking into their hands the matter of setting the young boys priorities and ideas straight, do their best to show him that his reactions in themselves are proof to the unfailing dominance that the white had over him. Finally, with the assistance of his own common sense, they succeed in explaining to him and bringing forth an appreciation of the values that are inherent to his actual Chinese lifestyle and cultural norms."
Abstract The paper analyzes Sophocles? play "Antigone", which tells the narrative of the demise of Oedipus? daughter/sister in the context of the larger tragedy of the rulers of the ancient Greek city of Thebes. The paper discusses how, in the context of the play, Antigone does not only function as a singular individual, experiencing a single dilemma of character, she also functions as a young woman playing several roles. It shows that her first role is that of a bereaved sister, then her role is that of a daughter and sister of a uniquely tragic oedipal house. Finally her role is one of an ordinary woman dying before her time because of the fundamental, fated, and unsolvable conflict between the obligations of blood and obligations of a citizen.
From the Paper "When her crime is discovered, Antigone adopts a new role, that of a woman whom is not only a sister of a dead brother, but also the descendant of a house uniquely battered at torn at by fate who has a unique destiny to fulfill. She assumes this destiny in contrast to her sister Ismene. When asked if she feels any hatred for the killer of her own brother, Antigone says, ?Brother yes, by the same mother, the same father.? In other words, both brothers slew his brother; both have committed the tragic crime of fratricide. In the face of such evil, who can judge one brother above another? That is the essence of the tragedy of Thebes, of the confusion of familial roles."
Abstract This paper discusses the ideals of symbolism and analogies in comparison to Modern day America that are found in Nathanial Hawthorne's novel, ?The Birthmark.? The author examines some of these different themes including feminism, discrimination, physical and spiritual imperfection, decay and duplicity. The author feels that this is a very well-written commentary on society at the time.
From the Paper "From this perspective we may argue that the birthmark is used as a symbol of the inability of men to accept women on equal terms for themselves. Instead they need an idealistic visions of what they believe a woman should be, complete with all of the relevant social and societal trappings. A woman here is not a person, but an object or worship, and as such she is no longer a real person, but a non person that is the creation of the man's mind. This is a feminist perspective, but a valid notion on the way that men of the time sought to perceive women and reduce them to objects rather then accept them as equals."
Abstract This paper presents an analysis of the novel by Mario Puzo, "The Godfather" on which the 1972 film of the same name was based. Parallels are drawn between Mafia life and aspects of family life and politics in the non-Mafia world through an examination of character, setting and themes in the novel.
From the Paper "Today, with the popularity of "The Sopranos" on HBO and the widespread regard given to the film version of ?The Godfather,? it is important to go back and review the actual text the film "The Godfather" was based on. The 1969 book The Godfather, by Mario Puzo, illustrates persuasively to the reader that the Mafia is not simply about crime, murder, and corruption. Rather the Mafia is an organization that has parallels with other aspects of family and political life. By understanding these parallels and the complexities of the characters described in the novel, the reader gradually comes to an uncomfortable awareness about the tensions and the difficulties in his or her own, non-Mafia family and political world."
Tags: Corleone, power, money, Mafioso, drugs, gambling, corruption, gang
Abstract This paper begins by defining abortion and outlining the methods of abortion. It then presents a discussion of the fetus, followed by the pro-choice argument. The writer's argument that abortion equals murder is then offered.
From the Paper "Over 1.3 million children were killed in America in 1997 alone and no one did anything about it. Over one million were killed last year and over one million will be killed this year. Between 1973 and 1997 more than 35 million killings of innocent children were performed, legally. Abortion has become very simple these days; it is almost as easy a putting on a pair of boots. The killing of innocent children is so prevalent that our culture has become desensitized, and we have accepted it as way of life. Abortion should not be a way of life, as it has become the sanctioned genocide of our own people. Pro-choice advocates cite the right for a woman to choose if she wants to have a baby. However, that choice ceased upon the union of the sperm and egg, a baby was formed, and that baby has the right to live. There are many methods available to avoid pregnancy and abortion is not one of those methods, it does not fall under the category of contraceptives. The act of abortion is an act of violence committed on the most defenseless of our society. A poll conducted by The Alan Guttmacher Institute found that the majority of women who had abortions feared that a child would interfere with responsibilities such as school, work or other responsibilities. Some said that they couldn?t afford a child. This reveals that not only are abortions criminal but most of result because the mother is too selfish to promote the life she created."
Abstract The paper analyzes the different contrasts found in the play. The paper focuses on the way the men in the play view a murder scene compared to how the women view the same scene. An analysis of the different behavior of the men and women is given. The paper shows how the real motive to the murder is discovered through the women's sensitivities. The play is compared to the old Greek myth of the "Three Fates".
From the Paper "The one-act play ?Trifles,? written by Susan Glaspell in 1916, is a play of contrasts. The early and later life of one woman, Minnie Foster Wright, husband of the dead man John Wright, are compared. The lives of the women visiting the crime scene with the sheriff and attorney are contrasted with the life of the woman jailed for her husband's murder. Even Minnie's quilting pieces are contrasted, with some stitched more competently than the last one. The most obvious comparison, though, looks at how the men view the scene versus what the women see."
