Significance of Emptiness in Richard Yates’ ‘Revolutionary Road’

The extract from ‘Revolutionary Road’ insights into the growing anxieties of modern life during the transition from postwar America to the 1950s, through the perception of Frank Wheeler. The feeling of emptiness is accentuated by Frank’s rejection of conformity; which entails the loss of human individuality through nuclear families, original thought and suburban lifestyles. Themes…

Essay: Benefits of Secularism

Secularism is the ideology that involves separating the influence of religion or spirituality from government, politics, state law or public matters. Secular thinking removes the imminent bias that appears within judicial and systemic affairs when they are dealt with religiously; in turn creating a more neutral environment for communities. Many people advocate for secularisation as…

The Alchemist: Symbolism and Character Analysis

The Alchemist (1988) by Paulo Coelho, is a revolutionary novel about a boy realising his own predetermined fate and his journey in order to achieve it. Coelho challenges the preconceived constructs of fate, spirituality and identity, through character development and symbolism, encouraging new ways of thinking amongst the audience. Coelho incorporates the idea of ‘Personal…

The Gulling of Benedick and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing

Shakespeare used many methods to create comedy throughout the gulling scenes. The two gulling scenes show first Benedick, then Beatrice, being tricked into thinking that the other is madly in love with them. Shakespeare succeeded in bringing different forms of amusement into the scenes, through irony and exaggeration – amongst other techniques. Together, these produce…