There are many successful governments in the modern world, but are they necessarily good? The supposed ‘goodness’ of modern governments are debatable, but the majority of people agree that the societies depicted in dystopian novels are extremely flawed and therefore “not good,” hence the name of the genre. These books often feature a strict central…
The article “What We Have to Lose” addresses several issues, but the main one is civilization. The author comes up with several arguments in support of and against civilization, its cause, and possible solutions. He argues the precious nature of civilization as well as its fragility. Civilization refers to a complex society or societies with…
In Shakespeare’s Elizabethan era play, Macbeth, the paradox of “fair is foul, and foul is fair” (Shakespeare, 1.1.12) is a recurring theme that eventually leads to the downfall of the protagonist, Macbeth. He, who is the thane of Glamis, is faced with a difficult choice; killing Duncan in order to become king or, let himself…
A Passage to India is a 1984 drama film directed by David Lean and based on the homonymous book written by Edward M. Forster. The story takes place in India in the early 20th century, that is, during British colonization. It is well known that Europeans have always seen colonization as a moral duty; however,…
In the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ Harper Lee explores the need for courage, both physical and moral, in order to change the racist attitudes and prejudices that exist in the society of the small, southern town of Maycomb in the 1930s. The trial of a black man, Tom Robinson, for assaulting a white woman…
The Romantic Movement was driven by an enthusiasm for experience and emotion, and the status that was attributed to this – a radical change from the lofty poetry it succeeded, and a violent reaction to the rationalism and Newtonian science that was compartmentalising and experimenting on the world. Both Keats and Wordsworth, despite writing almost…
The human condition can be defined as a state of mind shared by people worldwide; a respect for authority that cannot be understood is an aspect of science and religion and spiritual existence for the majority of the population. At the same time, a dependence on memory is an aspect of humanity that us ire…
William Carlos Williams was a very progressive American writer in the way that he did not adhere to set rules of poetry. Punctuation, capitalization, and rhyme were just some of the many ideas that he played with in his writing. “[He] thought it pretentious to begin every line with a capital letter,” (470). Williams courageously…
The fact that Waiting for Godot is classified as an absurdism play already tells us that nothing is truly straightforward in it. It is in the very nature of the play to make us, as the audience, begin questioning things and create our own opinions and interpretations. It is believed that the intention of this…
Tobias Wolff’s “The Rich Brother” and The Barracks Thief each present childish, flawed men pursuing independent paths to escape their crippling family life. The main characters’ relentless rivalries, and family transgressions have provoked them to underestimate their need for others. “The Rich Brothers’” Pete and Donald are complete opposites in every aspect of their lives;…
The civil uprisings and scientific progress of the 1960s ignited a transformation of the role of women in society. During the infancy of the birth control pill, a woman’s body came under her jurisdiction, a leap away from chance and a partner’s cooperation in the form of a condom. Womankind made another leap forward in…
In The Lord of the Flies, the boys trapped on the island descend from decency to savagery. These stages of falling into savagery are similar to the works of John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. The two stages are Locke, who believes that men are by nature free and equal against claims that God had made…
The narrator talks about her lover and how much she thinks of him. She’s worried her thoughts will obscure the reality of what he’s actually like. However, she reassures her thoughts do not compare to the reality of him. She wants him to have a strong presence and be with her. Ideas and Themes: Fulfillment…
The speaker reflects back to a particular moment in their life when they realized that the love had died between them and the person they were in a relationship with. They consider what this moment has meant to them since. Ideas and Themes: Death Memory/ Nature Structure: The first 3 stanzas are a specific memory,…
The narrator’s mother comes to his house to help him with measurements holding the tape while he walks away shows him moving away from her while she still holds on. The narrator is looking forward to being independent but is also slightly scared if he’ll succeed without his mom but there are hints she’ll always…
A man sits alone in a cold cottage on a stormy night. Porphyria, his lover arrives. He ignores her flirting because he’s angry with her. He decides she loves him and hence she belongs to him. He wants to preserve the moment so he strangles her with her own hair. He spends the rest of…
The narrator is addressing a woman who he’s trying to persuade in order to start a relationship. He gives examples to show everything in nature is connected to a partner. He believes it is God’s law and it should be obeyed. He asks the woman why she is rejecting God’s law by refusing to love…
A man is working in a garden when he writes a letter to his wife. The wife reflects on their different lifestyles. She wonders whether life is more fulfilling because he’s closer to nature. They feel a world apart but write letters to each other to feel connected Ideas and Themes: Nature Longing Distance Structure:…
The poem tells the story of a farmer who marries a maid and refers to their early experience of marriage. She appears to be badly affected by the experience of marriage and becomes withdrawn and uncommunicative. She attempts to run away and is found. The husband longs for her only for her to reject him. Ideas and Themes:…
The narrator imagines his parents as young and preparing a picnic in an idyllic scene. The narrator is on the opposite bank to his parents who encourage him to join them. This could be based on a real memory, a fantasy, or the narrator on the brink of death. Ideas and Themes: Family relationships Memory…