The Age of Innocence, by Edith Wharton, contains many flat, static characters representing Old New York society. At the apex of that society is Mr. and Mrs. Henry van der Luyden. As the narrator describes, their appearances are rare, but yet these few appearances provide more than enough information for the reader to “know” the…
Thomas Hardy was one of the finest writers of the Victorian age. Among countless poems and novels there is one that seems to stand alone, “Tess of the D’Urbervilles.” This novel is one of Hardy’s most recognized works maybe because the problems of the Victorian era relate to many in this modern age. Problems such…
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck is a story that takes place in the early twentieth century in China. It is a novel about a man, Wang Lung, and some of the events he endures in his lifetime. This story has many references to Eastern religions and philosophies. One of the most prominent influences…
The Scarlet Letter is a book of much symbolism. One of the most complex and misunderstood symbols in the book is Pearl, the daughter of Hester Prynne. Pearl, throughout the story, develops into a dynamic symbol- one that is always changing. As the novel progresses, Pearl grows older, and it’s easy for the reader to…
Daniel J. Levinson wrote The Seasons of A Man’s Life. Mr. Levinson conducted his research for the book in the late 1960s. At that time he was a Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry of the Yale University School of Medicine, Director of Psychology in the Connecticut Mental Health Center, and Director of…
Robinson was a young man of 18 and had a dream to be a sailor. He asked his father for permission. His father thought that he should stay home and take over the family business or study law. Robinson asked his father again to let him have just one sail. His father disapproved once more.…
Major themes in the book. The Prince, written by Niccolo Machiavelli, is one of the first examinations of politics and science from a purely scientific and rational perspective. Machiavelli theorizes that the state is only created if the people cooperate and work to maintain it. The state is also one of man’s greatest endeavors, and…
Red Storm Rising is a book about the Soviet Union and Russia’s attempt to overtake the Atlantic so they can launch an offensive against the United States of America and maybe other NATO countries such as England and Germany. The story begins in 1980 at a very productive but old, Soviet oil refinery in Nizhnevartovsk.…
Red In Stephen Crane’s novel “The Red Badge of Courage”, we examine the episodes of war through the eyes of the main character, Henry Fleming. Because the book is rather vague about many details, we don’t know how old Henry is, what he looks like, or where he comes from. We do know that Henry…
Setting The setting changes all throughout the book as Raptor Red migrates from one place to another. In some settings she is in thick rich mossy forests looking for plump Iguanodons to eat, to other desert like lands where the sun is so hot she must sleep through the midday and hunt late afternoon when…
Professor Higgins is seen throughout Pygmalion as a very rude man. While one may expect a well-educated man, such as Higgins, to be a gentleman, he is far from it. Higgins believes that how you treated someone is not important, as long as you treat everyone equally. The great secret, Eliza, is not having bad…
Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, was a novel about one woman’s self-revelation. It began when she was a very young girl, first being pushed, then chosen, and finally choosing. Born a victim of circumstance, Janie was subject to her position in life. She was raised to uphold the standards of the…
Hamlet is the most popular of Shakespeare’s plays for theater audiences and readers. It has been acted live in countries throughout the world and has been translated into every language. Polonius is one of the major characters in Hamlet, his role in the play is of great interest to scholars. Parts of Hamlet present Polonius…
Our Town, by Thornton Wilder is a play that takes place in a small fictional town of Grover’s Corner, New Hampshire; beginning in 1901 and ending in 1913. The play takes the audience through the cycles of life, with the purpose of getting a universal message stating that life shouldn’t be taken for granted. Emily…
Ordinary People by Judith Guest is the story of a dysfunctional family who relates to one another through a series of extensive defense mechanisms, i.e. an unconscious process whereby reality is distorted to reduce or prevent anxiety. The book opens with seventeen-year-old Conrad, son of upper middle-class Beth and Calvin Jarrett, home after eight months…
Characterizations Oliver Twist – A loving, innocent orphan child; the son of Edwin Leeford and Agnes Fleming. He is generally quiet and shy rather than aggressive. Oliver’s affectionate nature, along with his weakness and innocence, earn him the pity and love of the good people he meets. Dicken’s choice of Oliver’s name is very revealing…
The play “Oedipus Rex” is a very full and lively one to say the least. Everything a reader could ask for is included in this play. There is excitement, suspense, happiness, sorrow, and much more. Truth is the main theme of the play. Oedipus cannot accept the truth as it comes to him or even…
Fate is an issue that is mentioned in almost every religion. The majority of people living since the beginning of time up until the present, have had a some sort of opinion on the subject. Oedipus Rex is a story that is held together by the fact that fate is more powerful than anyone’s free…
Setting The story takes place during the Revolutionary War from about 1775 to 1779 in Redding, Connecticut, with some parts taking place in New York and other small towns. Main Character Even though the book is named after Sam, the story is told by his younger brother Tim. We learn everything from Tim’s point of…
Author Willa Sibert Cather, Nebraska’s most noted author was born in Virginia. At the age of ten she moved with her family to Webster County, Nebraska. Many of Cather’s acquaintances and Red Cloud area scenes can be recognized in her writings. Cather wrote poetry, short stories, essays and novels, winning many awards. In 1920 she…