Abstract This paper takes a look at how Kate Chopin develops her theme that sexual desires are inborn and primitive in her story, "The Storm", by using the storm as a setting and a symbol which show these desires to be as passionate as a summer storm.
From the Paper "By using the storm as both a setting for the story and as a symbol for human sexuality, Chopin develops this theme by showing a parallel between the successive stages of a thunderstorm and the stages of passion in a human sexual encounter. "The Storm" emphasizes Chopin's premise that trying to control and regulate human sexuality is like trying to control a storm."
Abstract This paper outlines the father/son relationship seen between John and Gabriel in James Baldwin's semi-autobiographical novel, "Got Tell It On the Mountain".
From the Paper "James Arthur Baldwin was born to a single mother, Emma Jones, in Harlem. While Baldwin was still young, his mother married David Baldwin, a preacher, who adopted him. James and his adopted father had a difficult relationship, a fact Baldwin later incorporated into "Go Tell It on the Mountain"."
Abstract This paper explores the many different attitudes toward and perceptions of marriage that are demonstrated in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales". It shows many examples of relationships which break the 'sacred bond' of marriage, looking at "The Miller's Tale", "The Wife of Bath", "The Franklin's Tale".
From the Paper "Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" demonstrate many different attitudes toward and perceptions of marriage. Some of these ideas are very traditional, such as that discussed in the Franklin's Tale, and others are more liberal such as the marriages portrayed in the Miller's and the Wife of Bath's Tales. While several of these tales are rather comical, they do indeed give us a representation of the attitudes toward marriage at that time in history.
D.W. Robertson, Jr. calls marriage "the solution to the problem of love, the force which directs the will which is in turn the source of moral action" (Andrew, 88). Marriage in Chaucer's time meant a union between spirit and flesh and was thus part of the marriage between Christ and the Church (88). The Canterbury Tales show many abuses of this sacred bond, as will be discussed below."
Abstract This paper looks at the stories of "Beowulf" as a parallel to the values and attitudes within Medieval society, namely, the penultimate values of martial prowess, heroic action, courage, material goods, religious devotion, and most of all, loyalty.
From the Paper "Medieval society was a violent one, necessitated by the constant warring between kingdoms. The nobility, created originally to defend those unable to defend themselves from the raiding tribes following the downfall of the Roman empire, prided themselves on their combat prowess and valued this above all else. We can find a parallel to the attitudes of Beowulf in the heroic age of Greece and the Homeric epics of the Iliad and the Odyssey in their emphasis on combat as proof of a man's worth and the preoccupation with violence in violent times. The Medieval period is one such era, characterized by the warfare and the heroes of the era, such as Beowulf. Beowulf would be the archetype, ideal warrior, especially in the exceptionally warlike Danish regions. These heroic tales give us a great deal of insight into the aspirations and ideas of those nobles and warriors, who would be the most likely readers of such tales."
Abstract This paper takes a look at how Kate Chopin's story, "The Story of an Hour", portrays the harsh reality and lack of independence that women in the late 1800s faced.
From the Paper "In Kate Chopin?s, The Story of an Hour, Louise Mallard settled for the traditional life of a woman. Not even Louise herself could see how miserable her life was until the news of her husband's death offered her a chance to be carefree. Louise believed that the life she had chosen was the only way to live and the right way to live. She, like so many other women, was forced into a life of submission, the life of a woman. She was forced by society, family and friends, and by her own view of how her life was supposed to be lived. "
Abstract This essay analyzes two of Langston Hughes? poems entitled "I, Too, Sing America" and "Po" Boy Blues?. The two poems are compared and contrasted and are shown to have distinct messages and themes - one positive and the other negative. The paper discusses the use of poetic techniques in general, including titles, symbolism, and tone, and relates them to both poems.
From the Paper "Poetry is the art of writing stories, poems, and thoughts into verse with language selected for its beauty and sound, but appealing terms are only the surface of these thought-provoking compositions. Ample poems are considered successful due to the messages they contain and through the way that they are conveyed to the audience. Poetry is very abstract, full of symbolism, and holds hidden emotions, which are not evident when viewed from a fundamental point of view. This can be observed in two of Langston Hughes? poems, entitled I, Too, Sing America, and Po? Boy Blues, which display that poems can be understood through their title, symbolism, and tone."
Abstract This paper examines the theme of paralysis in "Dubliners", a collection of short stories by James Joyce. It begins with a description of the religious, economic, cultural, and political oppression in Dublin. It then specifically expands on several of the stories in the collection: ?The Sisters,? ?Araby,? ?Eveline,? ?Two Gallants,? and ?The Dead.? Finally, the paper examines Joyce's writing style.
From the Paper "James Joyce constructed a collection of short stories intended to present the city of Dublin during the early twentieth century in a straightforward manner. The theme of paralysis permeates the work to show the city as well as the whole of Ireland as oppressed by religious, economic, cultural, and political circumstances. Every story in the collection, beginning with "The Sisters" and continuing to the final revelation in ?The Dead,? is infused with this theme. Joyce himself admitted to the "special odor of corruption which, I hope, floats over my stories" (Grey). He was aware that his tales would be raw, his pictures of Ireland unadorned by compassion. However much he identified with the characters he created, Joyce retained a candor that allowed him to keep "a style of scrupulous meanness" (Brandabur 8) throughout."
Tags: araby, childhood, adolescence, maturity, public, life, city, ireland
Abstract Ralph Ellison's use of "dark" and "light" motifs are explored in the construction of this tour-de force novel. The publisher argues that Ellison often inverts our traditional notions of dark and light, or black and white to help blur the line between right and wrong. The essay intends to examine the many different passages that deal with direct contrasts between the symbolic meanings of black and white (good vs. evil, or vice versa) and the passages indicating fundamental differences between literal and figurative blindness.
From the Paper "In this novel, there is a sense of good-men and bad-men, and the central journey of the novel is the narrator?s, as he tries to find both goodness, and self. In a sense, the Invisible Man is searching for the basic human goodness that he understands lies in all men. The novel portrays certain characters as these so-called good-men that must bear the ?white man's burden.? Such a burden is usually taken to mean the subordination of black men at the hands of the whites, but groups who appear on the surface to help the blacks often disguise its meaning."
"It must be noted that not all of man's darker side is repulsive to Ellison, because he often refers to certain good emotions that spring from this darker well of the human psyche. However, man does seem to have a darker side that is totally evil, a side that he tries to hide with rationalizing and conjecture."
Tags: black, catharsis, ellison, equal, literature, race, ralph, rights
Abstract In Shakespeare's ?Hamlet,? both Laertes and Hamlet take justice into their own hands. The paper explains how they demonstrate pure emotive behavior, restrained with confusion and unrestrained with determination as a means of "righting" a death of which they deem unjust in the Elizabethan world. Both men avenge death by applying their own punishment, even though it leads to the end of both of their lives. Anger and action are the focus of this essay.
From the Paper "As Laertes and Hamlet take justice into their own hands, they demonstrate rash behavior when infuriated in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Laertes and Hamlet are not in fear of the consequences of their actions, for they reason that such revenge is just. Anger in a deceitful world fuel the two young men to seek revenge. Such revenge serves as an individual right to personal justice. Laertes acts upon pure emotion and fury as he avenges the death of his father. Hamlet ponders his situation indecisively before taking action, yet ultimately acts out of anger and fury. Both sons eventually refuse state justice and apply punishment where they deem fair. Their fury eventually leads to the tragic end to both of their lives. "
Abstract An analysis of "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, showing how attitudes of male dominated society drove women mad. The central issue is power and control in the marriage relationship as the husband adds to his wife's growing madness.
From the Paper "The husband, John, in The Yellow Wallpaper contributes to his wife's descent into madness simply by being himself, and treating her as most men of those times treated their wives. This story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman was written in 1892 when the majority of men believed strongly that women were weak and inferior and needed care and guidance from their husbands. The central issue is power and control, especially in the marriage relationship. The Yellow Wallpaper is skillfully constructed by Gilman to show how the attitudes of male dominated society could drive women mad."
Abstract An analysis of the character of Bosola in Webster's "The Duchess of Malfi" contending that the character, like the play, is shrouded in uncertain mists of evil, ugliness, and depravity. The author looks at the experiences of the character and how the character changes throughout the play.
From the Paper "The Duchess of Malfi takes place in what Northrup Frye called a "sick and melancholy society" (Rabkin 119). Rupert Brook described Webster's characters as "writhing grubs in an immense night" (Rabkin 112). Evil, ugliness, and depravity rule. Beauty and goodness are doomed. In the beginning the character Bosola appears to fit right in, to be an unprincipled man with no conscience. Whether this is his real self, or whether he is an actor playing a part in order to survive in a polluted and perverted world, or whether he changes during the course of the action are some of the questions Webster enshrouds in the mist of this play. Finding clarity is the responsibility of each individual reader or viewer, as it was, in the end, up to Bosola to find his own way through the mist."
Abstract A comparison of two stories, "Ragged Dick" and "Struggling Upward" by Horatio Alger Jr. The author looks at the writer's concepts of hard work, education and intelligence as a way to rise in the world as the main themes in both stories. Included is a personal account of the stories.
From the Paper "In these two stories, Alger Jr. describes the lives of two boys, two poor Americans who worked hard and ambitiously to rise above their circumstances. Although the two stories are different, some of the morals and examples Alger uses are similar. Both stories have rich gentlemen who were poor while young, and those rich characters were kind and wanted to help poor young boys to find a better life."
Abstract This is an interpretive essay written on Alice Walker's short story, "Everyday Use". The author focuses on the fictional elements of the book and examines the writer's use of characterization and symbolism.
From the Paper "Alice Walker characterizes each character in "Everyday Use" in a way that helps develop the theme and symbolism of the story. One theme is the old ways vs. the new ways and another theme is offspring breaking from the mold of their parents, wanting to live a different/better life. The narrator, who is the mother, and the younger daughter, Maggie, are living together the old way, which is the way they always have. They live with prejudice without forcing change. The oldest daughter, Dee, is in the process of breaking free from old, impoverished ways and prejudice. The mother and Maggie are examples of down-home living, while Dee is an example of breaking from one's roots and denouncing prejudice. As each person is characterized, the reader is able to see what the different characters represent, which, in turn, enables the reader to understand the theme of the story."
Abstract A comparison between two poets: Robert Frost and Carlos Williams. The author compares and contrasts their writing styles, poetic philosophies and unique ways of expressing their ideas through poetry.
From the Paper "Robert Frost and William Carlos Williams are two poets who, at least on the surface, appear to invite little comparison, having not much in common except that they both died in 1963. However, while their writing styles and general poetic philosophies are considerably divergent, they are not mutually exclusive. There are arguably also some fascinating connections to be made between Frost and Williams. Both men were seeking new and unique ways to write poetry and wanted to free the genre from its fairly exclusive traditional use of iambic pentameter. Both adopted an inimitably American tone, making frequent use of rural scenery and devices. Both share a thematic thread dealing with loneliness and lost dreams which runs throughout their poetry. Both were not only acquainted with the dark, but were ultimately on intimate terms with it."
Abstract This paper analyzes the many different ways that the narrator of "The Yellow Wall-Paper" experiences imprisonment in her life. Both obvious and hidden forms are discussed, such as the restrictions placed on the narrator by her husband and physician as well as the remote area in which the country mansion is found.
From the Paper "It is understandable that the narrator feels uneasy in the room: the room and many of its features twist the common comforts of a home. For example, a window typically presents a view of possibilities. For the narrator, it represents a view of a world of which she cannot be part. The barred windows show that she is barred from the outside world both physically and mentally."
Tags: imprisonment, paranoia, restrictions, rights, schizophrenia, women
