Abstract
"The Virginian", a recent television adaptation of a classical western novel, written in the final decade of the 19th century by Owen Wister, combines many symbolic representations of themes found in late 19th century culture. The paper shows how Molly Stark, who comes from Vermont to Wyoming to teach school, represents many of the ideas found in the suffrage and temperance movement that are thought of as typical of the progressive era. There she meets a ranch-hand played by Bill Pullman, who is only known as the Virginian. Like the Virginian, she is a rugged individual with a well-defined set of beliefs who acts as a Paladin against the backdrop of the American frontier. The paper compares the television adaption to films which were made, based on the novel.

From the Paper
"Women first came to the west as prostitutes, but when the territory granted women the right to vote in 1869, it began to attract fiercely independent "spinsters" such as Molly Stark. In Wyoming, we see the fruition of the goals that first coalesced in New England at the Seneca Falls convention. Although men were to continue to outnumber women, the state went on to pass many laws aimed at introducing gender equality. Such laws gave women control over their earnings and personal property, required that both male and female heirs be treated equally when someone died without a will, and specified that home loan or farm mortgages were not binding on a wife unless she had co-signed the contract with her husband."

Tags:Gary, Cooper, Balaam, cowboys, Temperance, Union, Dr., Quinn

Abstract
This paper explains in what ways Shakespeare was quite critical of the practice of Christianity and its hypocrisies. Ephesus, the town where "The Comedy of Errors" is set, contains a great deal of religious history. It is one of the places where St. Paul preached Christianity, as told in Acts of the Apostles in the Biblical New Testament. Ephesus was the source of much witchcraft and sorcery, and subsequently much Christian reform. It shows how through scene setting, Shakespeare had many things to say about Christianity in his play. We see the way in which the characters deal with the Christian hypocrisy of their time. The church focuses power in a patriarchal way; the men abuse this power while the women and servants (Adriana, Dromio) are expected to abide by biblical ideals. The paper addresses all these themes, including detailed adverse effects of the Christian society on the female and lower-class characters. Included are an overabundance of textual quotes, as well as some direct biblical references.

From the Paper
"In moving the location of Plautus' play, The Brothers Menaechmus, from Epidamium (in Ancient Greece) to the Turkish city of Ephesus, Shakespeare placed the action in a newer and more dramatic religious environment for The Comedy of Errors. The missionary St. Paul, whose travel and imprisonment in Ephesus are recorded in the Christian Bible's "Acts of the Apostles," associated the city with witchcraft and evil sorcery, but also sought to refine it. There are several places in Ephesus whose names hark back to the mythology of Ancient Greece, such as the "Centaur" (Antipholus of Syracuse's inn) and the "Phoenix"
(Antipholus of Ephesus' home). Yet this sets up a religious conflict within the city of Ephesus, for most of the characters indicate themselves to be Christian. Antipholus of Syracuse directly states, "I am a Christian" (23), while characters like Luciana and Adriana suggest it in their moral counsel, or even simple exclamations (LUCIANA: "God for Thy mercy!" (123)). At the beginning of Act IV, the Second Merchant reminds Angelo the goldsmith, "You know since Pentecost the sum is due" (87), demonstrating that the Christian calendar is instituted so that it guides even business dealings. However, Shakespeare does not praise Christianity in this play; at times, the manipulation of Christianity is equally as bad (if not worse) than the paganism that St. Paul had originally set out to dispel. It serves as an oppressor to selected characters throughout the play."

Tags:abbess, adriana, antipholus, apostles, balaam, bible, dromio, egeon, ephesians, ephesus, luciana, mistreatment, paul, synod, witchcraft