Abstract
This essay offers an analysis of gender roles as revealed in Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse. Through both extensive textual analysis and reference to scholars, Woolf's perceptions about her own parents and the roles of males and females in general are discussed. The essay shows how the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay in particular embody societal attitudes of male worldliness and intellectual superiority as opposed to female emotionality and nurturing qualities. Also included is an analysis of how Woolf artistically formats her presentation on gender roles through her use of the stream of consciousness narrative technique.

From the Paper
"In the novel, To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf explores the nature of gender roles as various characters in stream of consciousness narrative style reveal the inner workings of the minds of the members of the Ramsay family and their guests at their summer home in the Hebrides Islands. Mrs. Ramsay, wife of a scholar and mother of eight children, is central to the book, becoming, for the author, the embodiment of the concerns and cares of a nurturing female who is incessantly taking care of others at great cost to herself. Her husband, Mr. Ramsey, a philosopher, is the detached, intellectual male, leader of imaginary mental troops, fighting the great battles of the world, while his wife attends to lowly social details. Both these characters are deeply rooted in Woolf's own parents, Julia and Leslie Stephen."

Tags:oedipal, realism, Ramsay, superiority, matchmaking, male, female

Abstract
The paper discusses how most individuals listen to music and focus on it from the perspective of how it makes them feel at a given time and place or point in their lives. The paper describes how memories of songs echo in the mind in a manner that brings up joyous memories or sad reflections and the music becomes a personal experience. The paper asserts, however, that all too often, music is not viewed by how it has shaped a culture or a specific society. Yet, the paper discusses how there are those that argue that to completely comprehend the African American culture of today, one must also understand the roots of blues and jazz and how these forms of music served to liberalize this population and promote a cathartic means of dealing with oppression. This paper investigates the concept that jazz and blues supported the evolution of African Americans into the mainstream American culture and that because of the liberalizing effects of jazz and the cathartic qualities of the blues music gave those of the Black culture a voice in society.

Tags:jazz, music, blues

Abstract
The paper discusses Lady Macbeth as a dominant, confident and strong-willed woman who manipulates her husband with no regret. The paper shows how her character drives the play, and points out that her demise at the end of the play is cathartic to the play and to the audience.

From the Paper
"Shakespeare reveals the importance of Lady Macbeth's character early in the play. We know what kind of person she is by her reaction to his letter. Her position in the play makes her character much stronger than his and it is their love that allows her to have such control over him. He does not suspect that she would convince him to do something wrong or evil. She is all too aware of his nature and admits that she fears that it might be "too full o' the milk of human kindness" (I.iv.18). She knows that her husband is ambitious but he does not have "The illness should attend it" (I.iv.21). Here we see that lady Macbeth is very aware of her husband's personality. She knows that he is prone to do the right thing and might just need a little push from him in order to attain the throne. In fact, we might wonder if Macbeth would ever have thought of murder on his own."

Tags:Macbeth, manipulation, ambition, dominance, murder

Abstract
This paper reviews Em Griffin's book "Getting Together: A Guide for Good Groups," which discusses setting up and leading groups from a Christian worldview. The writer categorizes three types of groups, and explains how Griffin draws on his many years of experience in small groups to give the reader insight as to the process by which a group becomes what Griffin considers to be good, or effective. The writer discusses some of the tools that Griffin advocates and explains why psychological techniques in the group process should be used in the church community, contrary to the beliefs of some. The writer concludes that Griffin has succeeded in writing a useful guide for creating what he believes is a good group and given the reader practical methods for meeting those goals.

Outline
Summary
Analysis
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The atmosphere that the writer created in the construction of this book can be described as honest self disclosure. Perhaps due to the extensive reliance on personal experience, Griffin seems to bare his soul on many occasions. His honesty concerning failure, vulnerability, personal growth, and self disclosure leave the reader trusting him in a way that he could not have accomplished with a theoretically oriented book. The reader can relate to his shortcomings, and successes, and picture himself at some point along Griffin's spectrum of personal growth. It is almost as if he creates a roadmap to being a better group leader."

Tags:carefronting, practicality, conflict, cathartic, faith, belonging, biblical, leadership