Abstract
This paper examines the realities of climbing the social ladder in mid-nineteenth century New York, as depicted by the playwright Anna Cora Mowatt in her play, "Fashion." The paper discusses many themes in the play, but it focuses mainly on the themes of American versus European ideas of class within society and social self-consciousness.

From the Paper
"This passage lays out for the audience how possible it may be for someone of the middle (or, God forbid, lower) class to fake their way into the upper class. Directed towards an elite crowd, and written in a time fraught with anxiety over just how blurry class lines were becoming, the purpose of laying bare the tricks of social climbers was not to increase apprehension. Rather, the point was to make a mockery of them. Mrs. Tiffany's character is absolutely farcical. When trying to fit into the upper class, she makes a fool out of herself - especially when attempting to work pretentious French into everyday conversations. Not only does she come off as crazy because the other characters cannot understand what she is saying, the audience recognizes her atrocious pronunciation."

Tags:class structure, America Europe, social self-consciousness

Abstract
The paper begins with a brief biography of Langston Hughes. A summary and analysis of two of his short stories follows, demonstrating his use of the theme of racial prejudice and black slavery in America as in most of his works. The imagery used in each story to illustrate his points is examined.

From the Paper
"Langston Hughes was a renowned African-American writer, poet, playwright and lecturer who used the themes of racial prejudice and white-and black- American conflict in his literary works. He was known for publishing book volumes of different kinds of poetry, and for his love of jazz music. Born in Missouri, James Langston Hughes was said to be born to an "abolitionist family," wherein he was a relative of the first Black American to be elected in public office, which is John Mercer Langston (Jackson 2002). Hughes' life was always full of adventure and travels, and these experiences helped him create different plots and settings for his literary works. Hughes was already writing poems during his high school years, and even published his works in the school organ, the Central High Monthly."

Tags:poet, playwright, black, abolitionist, submissive, economic, power, race, color

Abstract
This paper provides a review and analysis of the 1934 gritty novel "The Postman Always Rings Twice" by James Cain. The paper asserts that Cain's novel contains a sense of doom from the first, explaining that Frank is introduced in a way that suggests that his plans are always temporary and lead to a reversal, much as his ride in the truck begins with a devious act on his part for which he is punished when he is caught. The paper summarizes that Cain's universe is one in which his heroes and heroines try to beat the system and make some gain by taking from others, killing, or otherwise asserting their right to live over someone else's. The paper concludes by noting that Frank and Cora have little regard for anyone other than themselves, and their intentions go haywire precisely because they live in a form of cocoon and cannot see how the rest of the world will operate, intentionally and accidentally, to see that they do not succeed.

From the Paper
"Frank leaves, but he later returns when he accidentally runs into the Greek. Again and again, Cain develops the idea that there is a fate operating in life that brings people to their doom and that they cannot escape no matter what. If any of the plans engaged in by Frank had worked at the time, he and Cora might not have killed the Greek. Had Frank stopped with the Greek, he might not be on death row. Yet, his actions are entirely consistent with his character and so suggest that he really could not do otherwise. What could have been otherwise is that the accidents of fate, such as meeting the Greek, had not happened. Even this is not certain given that he was in town knowing that Cora usually drove to the market and wondering if he could meet her--from the first time he meets Cora, he is enmeshed in a continuing saga that finally has only one possible ending and that brings him to this end by means of one reversal after another."

Tags:Greek, Cora, Frank

Abstract
This paper describes each of the major characters in "The Last of the Mohicans": Cora Munro, Alice Munro, Hawkeye, Magua, Heywood, Chingachgook and General Montcalm. The author explains the minor characters -- General Web, Uncas, Colonel Munro and David Gamut -- and concludes that the reader learns about these characters through their actions, language and interaction with the major characters in the book. The paper concludes that the characters in this novel individually are more static than dynamic, but, as a group interacting with each other, they are more dynamic.

From the Paper
"Cora Munro is the oldest daughter of Colonel Munro. Cora is a very strong willed adventurous character; she more or less protects Alice by staying strong in tough and frightful situations. Cora is of an African decent. He father, Colonel Munro married a woman of African decent who is Cora's mother. Determining her ethnicity to be of a mixed race. By the middle of the novel, Cora and Uncas do have strong feelings for each other creating a romance that was not very accepted during the time this novel took place."

Tags:static, dynamic, interaction, group, ethnic

Abstract
The first chapter of "The Last of the Mohicans" introduces four of the main characters in the novel and one minor one, after establishing the time and setting. The paper shows how the introductions of Gamut, Magua, Heyward, Cora and Alice are all done without using any of these characters' names, but giving careful and thorough physical descriptions of each one.

From the Paper
"Perhaps the reason the author presents stereotypes is the motif of the piece, the conflict between the needs of man and the natural environment. The group of characters presents a microcosm of mankind, with an emphasis on social status and position in the society.
Thus Heyward is deferred to by the others, despite his lack of ability to fully grasp or control the circumstances around him. The women are presented primarily as catalysts to the actions of men, and not in terms of their own actions and initiative."

Tags:Chingachgook, Indians, Hawk-eye

Abstract
This paper explains that James Fenimore Cooper's "The Last of the Mohicans" has two romantic plots: (1) Duncan Heyward's quest for Alice and (2) Cora's struggle between Uncas and Magua, which is foiled thus promoting purity of the white race. The author explains that white women who were forced into marriages with Indian men, were no longer considered white, but rather Indian, which clearly set boundaries between the two civilizations, thereby rejecting any sort of miscegenation. The paper relates that Cooper further demonstrates his detesting of miscegenation with his graphic description of the massacre at Fort William Henry.

From the Paper
"The hint of African blood that Cora has explains her affinity for Indians as well as her unacceptable sexuality (to white men, i.e. Heyward). Since Indians are of a darker color, they would be more likely to find a woman of darker color more attractive. The "impurity" in Cora's blood is supposed to represent what Cooper would have thought of as a moral impurity. This meaning that her conception was immoral; or that blacks should not have sexual relations with whites. Cooper, however, did not want readers to think that Cora was morally flawed in any way. If she were morally flawed, her loving, self-reliant, and overall protagonist
character would not be realistic."

Tags:massacre, sexuality, protagonist, romance, boundaries

Abstract
This paper analyzes the Langston Hughes' short stories "The Blues I'm Playing," "Cora Unashamed," "A Toast to Harlem" and the simple collection of short stories. The author's opinions are offered, as are those of three book critics on these bodies of work.

Abstract
This paper explains that each of the women characters in Gloria Naylor's novel "The Women of Brewster Place" was affected for her entire life by her sexual choices. The author points out that these sexual choices dominated their lives such as Mattie, who chose to sublimate her sexual desires with other values, or Cora Lee, who used sex to give meaning to her life. The paper states that, of all the characters in the book, the only one who seems to have a balanced view of the place of sex in the overall fabric of her life is Kiswana.

From the Paper
"From the time she is introduced into the action, Kiswana is a recurring presence in the story and, while we never actually meet her lover, Abshu, it is made clear that he is there. "That's Abshu's woman, and that bid dude don't mind kickin' ass," says a street thug. (Chapter 6, pg. 163) Kiswana's choice of a suitable, reliable man and a monogamous relationship leave her free to pursue the political activism that is an essential element of her character. Together, she and Abshu work in the movement for equal rights, with Kiswana spearheading an effort to force the absentee landlord of Brewster Street to improve his properties."

Tags:advocate, characters, sex, choices, meaning

Abstract
Discusses the emotional meanings created in the 1992 film by director Michael Mann. Visual means employed. Central relationship between Hawkeye and Cora. Analysis of shots and their visual and narrative impact. Discusses the progression of the plot by detailing varioius shots and how they reveal the tensions and emotional content of the film.

From the Paper
"Michael Mann's The Last of the Mohicans is a carefully designed film in which all the visual means at the director's disposal are skillfully employed to create the emotional meanings of the work. These meanings occur at several different levels and are structured so that by the end of the film the central relationship--the love between Hawkeye And Cora Munro--achieves an importance that goes beyond their personal lives. By the end the two stand for the future that the bravest and strongest individuals will be able to carve out of the land and, sadly, for the way these settlers will displace the Native Americans. The film emphasizes the size of the wilderness around the people who act out their story and the degrees of comfort that people feel in the wild, the tamed, and the partially subdued parts of the country. Despite the speed with which the film moves through the ..."

Abstract
This paper summarizes the storyline of William Faulkner's novel about a woman's dying wish. The paper discusses the relationships of the characters in the story, the decay of the family, and the symbolism of the burning barn.

From the Paper
"As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner explores the dynamics within a family who prepares to fulfill the dying request of the matriarch, Addie. Her request is to be buried in Jefferson, and her surviving family prepares to make the arduous journey from the rural town Yoknawpatapha. The hardships experienced on this journey serves to reveal the decay begun by Addie's act of adultery with a minister. The result of this act is inner familial decay through a lack of love on Addie's part. At her death the decay worsens, and is symbolized by the burning barn."

Tags:jewel, cora, son, treasure, darl, outsider, love, body, burden, destroy, sin, priest