Abstract This paper discusses the main theme of Carlo Ginzburg's "The Cheese and the Worms". It explains that the book sets forth the story of a 16th century miller who has come to the realization of the existence of other cultures. It explores the existence and result of culture shock in the sixteenth century.
From the Paper ""In The Cheese and the Worms," Ginzburg sets forth the story of a miller who has come into the realization of the existence of other cultures. The micro history attempts to understand how a sixteenth century miller acquired ideas about the cosmos which the Catholic Church found heretical. In the process of coming to this understanding, Ginzburg seems to find that the exposure to new cultures produced a sort of culture shock as the miller was not accustomed to ..."
Tags: carlo ginzburg, culture, relativistic, shock, the cheese and the worms.
Abstract This paper discusses the way in which Guy de Maupassant treats materialism in his short story, "The Necklace." This paper offers a characterization of the major female character who places value only on material objects.
From the Paper "In his short story "The Necklace" Guy de Maupassant tells the story of a woman who borrows a diamond necklace for a party and loses it during the course of the night. As a result, she and her husband must live in poverty and spend the next ten years working to pay off the debts to replace the necklace. In his characterization of Mathilde, Loisel de Maupassant clearly argues against materialism as she is forced to pay for her petty superficial desires."
Tags: de maupassant, necklace, materialism, irony, material objects, shallow
From the Paper "In the short novel Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Santiago Nasar is brutally murdered by the Vicario twins as an act of revenge for their sister's loss of virginity, before her marriage to Bayardo San Rom?n. The entire story consists of recollections and evidence given by witnesses to the crime, people who knew Nasar, and those directly involved in his murder. The story is inconclusive, and the events that are described are so ambiguous that they indicate neither guilt nor innocence. Certain characters seem to be convinced of his guilt, while others are certain that he is the innocent victim of someone's search for a scapegoat. "
An analysis of James Baldwin's short story, "Sonny's Blues", as a study in the relationship between two brothers and how they come to terms with their radically different philosophies of life.
2,546 words (approx. 10.2 pages), 5 sources, 1999, $ 77.95
From the Paper "James Baldwin's short story, ?Sonny's Blues,? (1957) is a study in the relationship between two brothers and how they come to terms with their radically different philosophiesof life and the different "lifestyle"choices they have made. Both Sonny, the younger brother and the unnamed narrator of the story, the older brother, have markedly different ideas on what constitutes vocation, on the dangers of drugs, on the life of the African American in a predominantly white society, and on music and its meaning in life."
From the Paper "Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, written in 1879 and set in that year examines the eternal problem of the fragility of family relationships. A Doll's House has the brilliant capacity to transcend history and while small details are dated, the main points ? the strengths and weaknesses of the human character are timeless. In A Doll's House the main female character, Nora, leaves her husband and her children because she needs to forge her own self-identity and she can no longer participate in a traditional Victorian marriage. She is courageous to do so because she is turning her back on financial security and the domestic life that she has primarily enjoyed. She is not a coward running away from a situation-- she is a heroine running in the direction of finding herself so that she can be a good model for her children."
From the Paper "William Falkner's The Sound and the Fury portrays the twisted mental inter-workings of a horrible family tragedy. Three brothers from the same mentally abusive family narrate their stories in a stream of conscious manner depicting the madness of each individual. Each narrator has a warped view of life in the Compson house; involving an alcoholic father, an absent and weak mother, and a highly demanded, loving sister. Without solid parents, each brother's world is stabilized on the shoulders of their perfect sister, Caddy. Her failure to remain perfect in the eyes of each brother catapults catastrophe into the lives of the Compsons. "
From the Paper "The imaginary is that which exists only in thoughts and mental images and is not based on what is actually present. In Tennessee Williams' play The Glass
Menagerie, the characters live in their own worlds, surrounded by the imaginary and the fantasies which they force upon themselves in order to mask the imperfection of their reality."
By examining some key episodes within "The Odyssey", this paper shows how the characters, particularly Odysseus, undergo a change towards greater morality.
1,322 words (approx. 5.3 pages), 1 source, 2000, $ 44.95
From the Paper "Within Homer's Odyssey, many situations present a prevailing moral code within the ancient society. However, the heroes seem to be pushed to do good by ulterior, selfish motives. Yet, if one looks closely at the text one can see the beginnings of an ingrained moral code already in place within the society. This over-riding code affects Odysseus in his trials in trying to return home. Every decision made has a consequence, especially in relation to the gods. This is not conventional morality, in that it does not base itself on one's own inner conscience, but on an exterior moral code which all are pushed to believe in, or suffer the consequences of their actions through the wrath of the gods."
A paper arguing that Sophocles believes that human intelligence is merely an illusion and that men are incapable of rationally plotting their own destiny.
1,953 words (approx. 7.8 pages), 15 sources, 1999, $ 62.95
From the Paper "The Greek ode to man at the beginning of Antigone states that man is the most wonderful of many marvels in this world, but it is not such a confident statement as it first appears. The adjective used to describe man, deinos, means not only "wonderful," but also "terrible" and "fearful" (Woodard, 71). The greatest ambiguity, however, lies in man himself. Man claims control and domination of the world, yet he cannot control himself. The task of guiding men is left up to the gods, whose complete knowledge allows for just actions. In Oedipus Rex and Antigone, Sophocles displays the Greek conception that the fates determined by the gods are inevitable. He also teaches, through the tragic stories of Oedipus and Creon, that men who try to assume responsibility for their own fates will not only still be subject to the fates determined by the gods, but will destroy themselves in their attempt. Men do not possess the knowledge of the gods. Human intelligence is merely an illusion. Thus, men are incapable of rationally plotting their own destiny. If they try, as Oedipus and Creon did, they will blindly follow a path of ignorance, which leads only to destruction."
From the Paper "The short story "The Lottery," by Shirley Jackson, takes a deeper look at human nature by displaying at least three typical attitudes of man while living and interacting in a society. These attitudes include man's unwillingness to accept the consequences of societal actions, man's tendency to turn against his neighbor if he or she is dubbed an outcast, and man's acceptance of a tradition that may be immoral simply because he has always done so. "
Abstract This essay explores the existentialist theme in Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" and how it is used in the play.
From the Paper "In Samuel Beckett's play, Waiting for Godot, Existentialism is the prevailing source of inspiration.
Beckett uses his characters to show that waiting is truly anguish and one must actively pursue the
meaning in their life. This essay explores both existentialism as well as its use in this play."
How the struggle between good vs. evil is carried on throughout the poem with the interaction of Satan and his fallen angels with God and his son in Heaven.
2,085 words (approx. 8.3 pages), 3 sources, 1999, $ 65.95
From the Paper "John Milton divided the characters in his epic poem "Paradise Lost" into two sides one side under God representing good, and the other side under Satan representing evil and sin. Milton first introduced the reader to the character Satan, the representative of all evil, and his allegiance of fallen angels that aided in his revolt against God (Milton 35). Only later did Milton introduce the reader to all powerful God, leader and creator of all mankind (John). This introduction of Satan first led the reader to believe acts of sin were good, just like Eve felt in the Garden of Eden when she was enticed by Satan to eat the fruit off of the Tree of Knowledge (Milton 255). The later introduction of The Almighty had the readers change their feelings towards sin, as the ways of God were introduced to them and these ways were shown to be the way to feel and believe. This levy of good vs. evil carried on throughout the poem with the interaction of Satan and his fallen angels with God and his son in Heaven."
From the Paper "After committing murder, Raskolnikov is torn between his subconscious guilt and the idea of suffering society's wrath, and his conscious desire to remain unchanged, and continue life as always. His two supporting characters, Sonia and Svidrigailov, represent the opposing sides of external and internal suffering respectively, and struggle throughout the novel to sway his decision."
From the Paper "The author contrasts the American sense of freedom and spontaneity with the more traditional nature of the European. Winterbourne and his associates are sophisticated, knowledgeable and very concerned with conventions of continental tradition and ritual, occasionally at the expense of those more "ignorant" (James, 80). Conversely, Daisy views Winterbourne as "stiff" (James, 99) and sees the actions of the Europeans as often "unkind"(James, 98). One may go as far as to compare the "innocent but honorable and moral Americans against decadent, worldly Europeans" (Edel, 27). However, this theme is not as simple as it may first appear. James makes it evident that these are rather general characteristics and that "both cultures exhibit "good" and "bad" qualities" (Edel, 48). The author is not concerned that one society may be superior to the other. Characters like Randolph Miller and Mrs. Costello are much more extreme in their cultural standpoint and represent the worst aspects of their respective societies while others try to embrace the best of both worlds. James is more intrigued with the differences in society and by the results each culture has on the human character as well as the difficulties it may pose for the individual."
From the Paper "'Harrison Bergeron' by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is a story literally exaggerated to its limit by showing, in the near future, what it means to be equal in every way by having people not being able to show any form of intelligence or creativity whatsoever. When Harrison Bergeron breaks the chains of government oppression, he dies for his failed cause. He dies because he chooses not to conform to the rest of his oppressive society. His parents, George and Hazel, who are nothing more than two bodies under the government's mind control, can do nothing to save their son or seek justice for his death. The story is not only a reflection of the author's concern with controlling the masses through television, but is also an attack on the idea of enforced equality."
