Literature

Is Brutus a Betrayer or a Patriot in Shakespeare’s Play?

It is impossible to agree on whether Brutus was a betrayer or a patriot since everyone’s opinions and minds are different. He did betray and murder his close friend Caesar in cold blood. Nevertheless, he was well aware that assassinating Caesar was the only way to keep Rome from enslaving...

“Heungboo and Nolboo”: Korean Folktale

Introduction Heungboo and Nolboo is an interesting Korean folktale written in the Joseon Dynasty. The storyline focuses on greed and the fruits of kindness through two brothers born and raised in a wealthy family. Even though the book’s author is unknown, the Korean story is a popular bedtime narration for...

Women in Greek and Roman Mythology

Introduction The paradigm of gender equality, especially as far as the role of patriarchy is concerned, has always been a subject for discussion from both literary and historical perspectives. The notion is particularly relevant for the investigation of socio-cultural patterns of Ancient Rome and Greece, the literary heritage of which...

A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson

Mary Rowlandson’s story is an autobiography describing her first-hand experience as a prisoner of the Native Americans in 1676 during King Philip’s War. The critical point she centered around in her story was an unconditional submission to the Christian faith as it was challenging to remain a true religious woman...

Freedom in Dante’s “Purgatory” and “Paradise”

For Dante, the Divine Comedy was the work of his whole life. During its creation, Dante pursued instructive goals; the Comedy contains a religious and ethical message. However, at the same time, this is a highly personal work, where Dante’s love for Beatrice becomes a saving blessing. Dante’s Comedy, therefore,...

Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” Act II Analysis

Nora requested the lamp to end the moment of intimacy that Dr. Rank spoiled with his confession. As a married woman, she did not want her affair with Dr. Rank to be public, and she was afraid that her secrets might be disclosed as well. After Mr. Rank’s declaration of...

“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe

The narrator, Montresor, states that complete revenge implies impunity and makes some suggestions to ensure that the avenger is above all suspicion. Montresor acted as a friend to Fortunato, with “neither by word nor deed” (28), making his enemy doubt his genuine friendship. Another implicit advice is to observe and...

Symbolism and Realism Acts Depicted in Angelic Characters’ Transcendence

The article by Harry J. Elam, Jr. examines symbolism and realistic acts depicted in his angelic characters’ transcendence. The author closely views Wilson’s way of taking realistic resolutions and uses a parallel approach to appropriately intersects the thoughts into the domestic American and modern discourse touching on the minority. The...

“Fences” by August Wilson: The Play Analysis

August Wilson’s most famous work, Fences, explores the life and relationships of the Maxson family. Perhaps the play has earned its popularity because it talks about basic things that are not the privilege of a particular class or race. One of the themes raised in the work is the achievement...

Racial Discrimination in Wilson’s Play “Fences”

Racial discrimination in the United States has been around for centuries. Dark-skinned people survived slavery and terror, and their situation began to improve substantially only a few decades ago. However, African-Americans still face violations of their rights, which eventually leads to protests and mass riots over and over again. The...

Carver’s “So Much Water So Close to Home” Story

The story “So Much Water So Close to Home” revolves around a woman, Claire, and her husband, Stuart. Claire finds out that her husband and his friends discovered a dead and naked female body when they were going to set up a camp for fishing miles away. However, they did...

Themes and Characters of Raymond Carver’s “Gazebo”

Plot and Point of View Gazebo by Raymond Carver tells a story of a married couple whose happiness is ruined after the husband’s affair with their maid. Duane, the spouse who has committed infidelity narrates the story of the conversation that he is having with his wife, Holly. As a...

Life & Death in “Joyas Voladoras” by Brian Doyle

Introduction In the essay Joyas Voladoras, Brian Doyle profoundly contemplates life, death, and various deep meanings through the images, symbols, and metaphors. The focus of the work is the hearts of diametrically opposite in size representatives of the animal world, namely, hummingbirds and whales. Using these animals, the essay explores...

Wealth in “Paul’s Case” Short Story by Willa Cather

In the state of capitalism, money and income level determine an individual’s lifestyle, accommodations, level of safety, and position in society. Although Paul’s Case by Willa Cather was written more than a century ago, the struggles the main character experiences throughout the story and his perception of wealth relate closely...

Barbara Park Life and Writing Career

Barbara Park is an American writer. Her specialization was children’s books, and each of them was created taking into account the psychology and knowledge of children. She carefully worked on the language in which she wrote the books to be understandable and interesting for children to read. The characters in...

What Constitutes the Essence of a Character’s Choice

Choices constitute one of the most important elements of fiction. They add drama and tension, thus forcing the reader to anticipate the resolution and consequences of the decisions made by the characters. Not only do choices drive the narrative, but they also determine the dynamics of the story. The quality...

“The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz” by Richler

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz is a novel by the Canadian writer Mordecai Richler. The story begins in the late 40s of the last century in Montreal (Richler 3). The characters are mostly representatives of the local Jewish community. The main one, Duddy Kravitz, is the youngest son of taxi...

Philip Roth’s Defender of the Faith Short Story

The American societal setting entails individuals who are always in control and possess some degree of power that enables the individual to possess some levels of superiority complex. Individuals who portray a superiority complex against other people in society tend to subject other individuals in lower ranks and classes to...

“Status Anxiety” by De Botton and “Outliers” by Gladwell

Status Anxiety is a non-fiction book written by a prominent author, Alain de Botton. This is a self-help book, and its topic revolves around the worrying human factor, also known as anxiety. The author illustrates different aspects of status, explains where it comes from, and focuses on the social factor...

Canadian Character in Earle Birney’s Poetry

Earle Birney is a poet whose life tells a lot about the Canadian character, which is by no means quiet and calm. The extraordinary character and changeable fate of the poet perfectly reflect the original culture and special mentality of Canada, which is hardened in trials, rebellious and free, generous...

Magic in Marquez’s “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World”

Magical realism is an essential component of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s works. The distinctive feature of this genre is incorporating fantastical elements into casual life situations (Wilson 79). The enormous influence on Marquez’s writing was made by his grandmother’s mystical stories and folk tales, building an excellent background for his future...