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"Billy Budd", 2008.
An analysis of Billy Budd's death in Herman Melville's story "Billy Budd".
1,222 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 53.95
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Abstract
The paper attempts to determine who was responsible for Billy Budd's death in Melville's short story of the same name. The paper shows how the characters of Captain Vere and Claggart, the rigidity of the naval system of justice, and Billy himself, all contributed to Billy's downfall.
From the Paper
"Herman Melville's 1891 seafaring novella Billy Budd is a Christian allegory, transposed into the relatively contemporary setting of a British naval vessel. The Christian Bible details the death of Christ as a series of betrayals and injustices. The popular leader and teacher Christ is betrayed by one of his own followers, Judas, and is handed over by the leadership of his own nation to the Roman judge Pontius Pilate. Pilate washes his hands of his responsibility for a man whom he believes is innocent, because Christ will not verbally defend himself, and because the Roman authorities have charged him with preserving order amongst the populace. Pilate acquiesces, going against his better moral instincts."
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"The Seminoles of Florida" by James W. Covington, 2008.
A review of the book "The Seminoles of Florida " by James W. Covington.
1,115 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 50.95
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Abstract
This paper summarizes James W. Covington's "The Seminoles of Florida", a book providing insights to the Seminoles, or the Native American people who are indigenous to Florida. The author provides a short history of the Seminoles and recounts the culture and way of life of the Seminoles in the late 18th century to early 19th century. The paper also discusses how the Seminoles have tried to retain their Native American ways. The author praises Covington for his description of how the Florida Seminoles have developed a workable economy and maintained their identities and recommends this book for anyone who would like a well-rounded background on this Native American tribal unit.
From the Paper
"Many historians believe that the Seminoles are unique, because they protected numerous runaway slaves. This integration of the African-Americans slaves into the Native-American culture is of considerable interest. Whereas, these slaves were literally considered non-humans to many Americans, they were accepted by these Native Americans, which had a very different culture. As Covington noted, the Seminoles' idea of slavery was very different than that of the whites. Although it was accurate that the Seminoles had their own slaves before blacks arrived in Florida in large numbers, these were most often war captives who usually fulfilled the labor demands of those warriors who had died in battles."
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"Transformation of Virginia", 2008.
A review of the book "Transformation of Virginia" by the Australian author Rhys Isaac.
1,074 words (approx. 4.3 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 48.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses the historical and informative book, "The Transformation of Virginia" by Rhys Isaac. The paper notes that the author goes much deeper into the cultures and community life of Virginia than other books of American history. The paper comments that Isaac delves into the everyday events and duties of ordinary people, including slaves, that brings the history of this period in the building of America to life in a very educational and entertaining way. The paper concludes that the book, rich with illustrations and references, takes a closer look at some of the issues and pastimes, by slaves and white citizens, that make colonial history far more interesting than most other books.
From the Paper
"As an example of how effectively he uses his sources, and where he gets them, on page 32 the author is pointing out that slaves didn't work in the fields and labor at other tasks seven days a week. They had Sunday off, as a rule, and they made the most of it. Whereas many history books make it seem like slaves were out there under the whip almost ever day of their lives, working fingers to the bone and being beaten if they refused any order. Sundays they commonly spend in fishing making Potatoes [digging up their small lots of ground allow'd by their Master], building and patching their Quarters or rather cabins" (taken from A Plantation tutor of the Old Dominion, Williamsburg VA, 1957). And also on page 32, the author takes a passage from a book that was published in 1784 by Englishman J.F.D. Smyth, A Tour in the United States of America."
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"The Wages of Whiteness", 2008.
A review of the work "The Wages of Whiteness : Race and the Making of the American Working Class" by David R. Roediger.
971 words (approx. 3.9 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 44.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses the book "The Wages of Whiteness: Race and the Making of the American Working Class" by David R. Roediger which analyzes the history of racism in the United States, beginning with colonial racism and working its way up to the present. The paper notes that the author attempts to place race in a larger perspective than just class and focuses on the larger issues of race, class, and racism in society, and how society manages them. The paper comments that the author explores the conceptual categories of race, racism, the working class, and society in the United States.
From the Paper
"He says in the first chapter of the book that he began to recognize racism early and did not understand it, and has worked to eradicate it from an early age. This context certainly shapes his text, because he attempts to show why racism exists, but also how to conquer it. In the Afterward, he notes there are several "mistakes" in his original text, including the assumption that only white males made up the initial working class of America. However, this reader feels he did make his points strongly and backed them up with outstanding research, and he simply may be a little too hard on himself in retrospect of his work."
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"Native Son", 2008.
A review of Richard Wright's novel, "Native Son".
1,121 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 1 source, APA, AU$ 50.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses and summarizes the novel "Native Son" by Richard Wright and looks at how it was a true reflection of the time frame it was set in. The paper contends that, although possibly offensive to some readers, the story is highly relevant and worth studying as a great work of American literature.
Outline:
Introduction
Thesis
From the Paper
"The protagonist and most-discussed character in Native Son is of course Bigger Thomas. Readers know more about Bigger than about any other character, and yet Bigger has a hard time expressing his emotional experience fully and comprehensively. Much of the narrative and dialogue in the book centers around Bigger's struggle to articulate his inner feelings, and his attempts to come to terms with what he has done and what will happen to him. On page 225 the narrator explains: "There was something he knew and something he felt; something the world gave him and something he himself had... and never in all his life, with this black skin of his, had the two worlds, thought and feeling, will and mind, aspiration and satisfaction, been together, never had he felt a sense of wholeness." He had trouble answering the simplest of questions sometimes."
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Supernatural Tales of Death and Jealousy, 2008.
A comparison of Edgar Allan Poe's "Masque of the Red Death" and Robert Olen Butler's "Jealous Husband Returns in the Form of a Parrot".
939 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 2 sources, MLA, AU$ 43.95
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Abstract
The paper analyzes how Edgar Allan Poe's "Masque of the Red Death" and Robert Olen Butler's "Jealous Husband Returns in the Form of a Parrot" use supernatural plots to highlight the intense emotions humans often feel about death and the loss of a loved one to someone else. The paper compares the supernatural quality and the style of narration in both works.
From the Paper
"Poe's tale is written in the style of American Romanticism, and uses highly ornate language and a European setting to create an atmosphere of death, misery and decay. Poe's tale begins strangely, and becomes even stranger as the narrative wears on. The final appearance by death as a masked figure at a costume ball makes the allegorical theme of the story horrifyingly real--not even the wealthy can escape sickness and the inevitability of death. Butler's tale begins in a way that seems utterly surreal to the modern reader, even more so than Poe's narrative. However, the colloquial voice of the parrot gives it a greater sense of immediacy and realism than is present in Poe, and also a greater sense of pathos, despite its allegorical content. Eventually, the reader comes to sympathize with the figure of the parrot, who cannot communicate with his wife, no matter how hard he tries to speak her language."
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"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl", 2008.
A review of Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl".
962 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 44.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses Harriet Jacobs' "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" and asserts that it remains one of the most captivating and compelling autobiographical slave narratives. The paper looks at the major themes explored, including the different types of slavery, the Fugitive Slave Law, religion and spiritual salvation and the fight for freedom. The paper opines that Harriet Jacobs' book is interesting, historically relevant and easy to read.
From the Paper
"Harriet Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is an autobiographical narrative recounting the author's journey to freedom and the impact she made on the abolitionist movement. She has no formal credentials for writing the narrative and in fact was assisted in compiling it by the abolitionist activist Lydia Maria Child. However, her personal experiences are all Jacobs needs to bring her story to the world: a heart-wrenching series of anecdotes that illustrate the horrors of slavery. Her credibility lies mainly in there having been accurate records of her life, and the entire book is comprised of her stories and personal reflection on them."
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Edgar Allan Poe, 2008.
A review of the background of Edgar Allan Poe, the American short-story writer who is well known for his tales of the macabre.
1,366 words (approx. 5.5 pages), 8 sources, MLA, AU$ 59.95
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Abstract
The paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the writer Edgar Allan Poe. The paper specifically discusses how his writings are dark and filled with death. From a very early age, Edgar Allan Poe seems to have been obsessed with the topic of death, and many (or most) of his works are dark, brooding pieces filled with mystery, dark deeds, and the death of at least one character, or the lingering theme of death. The paper questions why Poe was so consumed with death and dying.
From the Paper
" He writes, "He also offered his famous pronouncement that 'the death of a beautiful woman is the purest of all poetical themes'". Thus, Poe recognized this theme recurred in his works, and found it both satisfying and pure, elements of his fiction that might not seem satisfying and pure to others. After losing his parents and living in a foster home, Poe met Mrs. Jane Stith Stanard, who he became very fond of, and many people believe he loved. He wrote the poem "To Helen" to her, but her life ended tragically, as well. An early Poe biographer writes, "Mrs. Stanard soon went mad and died. "
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Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", 2008.
A review of American poetess, Maya Angelou's autobiography "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings".
2,034 words (approx. 8.1 pages), 8 sources, MLA, AU$ 83.95
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Abstract
The paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the novel "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou. The paper discusses the themes of racism and segregation in the book, strong themes that are woven throughout this moving autobiography. The paper notes that in this book, author Maya Angelou recounts the story of her early life, including the racism and segregation she experienced throughout her formative years. The paper highlights that with wit, candor, and remarkable talent, Angelou shows that racism is a product of ignorance and prejudice, and that she has found the strength to rise above this crippling condition.
From the Paper
"Angelou encounters an entirely different world when she and her brother move to St. Louis to live with her mother and her family. Here, she encounters black people like her mother and grandmother, who actually have some power in the community, and who live an entirely different life than the rural life in Arkansas. They have jobs, make relatively decent money, and do not live in abject poverty. However, they are also violent, engage in illegal activities, and ultimately her mother's boyfriend molests and then rapes Angelou, then threatens her with killing her beloved brother if she every tells an adult. This leads to a long period of time where she refuses to speak to anyone. She writes of this time, "There was an army of adults, whose motives and movements I just couldn't understand and who made no effort to understand mine".
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Alice Walker's "Everyday Use", 2008.
A review of the book "Everyday Use" by the African American author Alice Walker, famous for her novel "The Color Purple".
1,418 words (approx. 5.7 pages), 7 sources, MLA, AU$ 61.95
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Abstract
The paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the short story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker. Specifically, the paper discusses the character of Dee in the story, and what she needs to learn to become a better person. In this short story, Dee, the sophisticated sister, is whiter than she is black, even though she changes her name to the African Wangero. The paper notes that even with her African name, her clothing, her speech, and her Muslim inclinations, these are not her real racial heritage.
From the Paper
"Walker depicts Dee as self-centered and arrogant. She is the one who gets the nice clothes to wear, while Maggie simply does not care about clothing and style. Walker writes, "At sixteen she had a style of her own: and knew what style was". In addition, Dee obtains the education and the tools she needs to break away from her rural roots. Dee is ashamed of her family and where she comes from, and acts as if it is a miracle for her to bother to visit at all. When she does visit, it is simply to show off and to take things, like the quilts and the butter churn; she can use to impress the people back in the city. Dee has become a snob and has thrown away the roots of her family and her rich culture. She cannot see it, but she acts whiter than she does black. If anyone pointed her behavior out, she would certainly disagree, since she is so adamant she is totally in touch with her black heritage. Walker points this out when she writes about Dee's sudden interest in the quilts, "I didn't want to bring up how I had offered Dee a quilt when she went away to college. Then she had told they were old-fashioned, out of style". Because of this, she seems fake and insincere, and certainly does not value the love of her family and the vibrancy of her family's traditions and heritage."
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"The Joy Luck Club", 2008.
An analysis of the conflicts between generations and cultures in "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan.
1,666 words (approx. 6.7 pages), 5 sources, APA, AU$ 70.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how, in the context of the Woos, Jongs, Hsus, and St. Clairs in Amy Tan's book, "The Joy Luck Club", the tension between mothers and daughters is greater than just a change in generations. It discusses how the mothers are all first generation immigrants from Mainland China and how the values their daughters learn and adopt from the contemporary American society are very different and challenging. The paper further explores what kind of healing is needed to provide these families with some common ground and understanding between generations and what could be done to bring about a better relationship between mothers and daughters. In addition, the paper also proposes a concept to heal the alienation between the rift between the daughters and their mothers in the book.
From the Paper
"The Joy Luck Club daughters are so impressed with this presentation, they immediately plan to put on a play just for their own families and for their immediate community of Chinese-Americans and close Caucasian friends. They know how much their mothers and their ancestors respected Confucius and the Buddha. The play they wrote embraced the teachings of Confucius in the play, and it was designed to show their mothers they have the same respect for Chinese cultural history as they do for American cultural history. The play will remind listeners that much of what Confucius taught to the Chinese community represented a dramatic departure from the ideas and practices of his day, just like many of the cultural rituals in America are a departure to Chinese immigrants. "
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"I Never Promised You a Rose Garden", 2008.
A review of "I Never Promsed You a Rose Garden" by Joanne Greenberg.
825 words (approx. 3.3 pages), 0 sources, AU$ 38.95
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Abstract
Joanne Greenberg's narrative "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" details the internal and external struggles that surround schizophrenia through the main character in the story, Deborah Blau, a teenager who experiences a psychotic break. The author of the paper states that Greenberg explores the multifaceted etiology of the disease, showing not necessarily that schizophrenia is caused by childhood trauma but that childhood trauma can exacerbate a pre-existing condition or innate tendency. Furthermore, the paper's writer contends that Greenberg shows that schizophrenia does not occur in a vacuum but rather it develops as part of the matrix of a person's life and affects family members intensely.
From the Paper
"Blau flees to Yr often throughout the course of the narrative. Her therapist, Dr. Fried, tries to bring Deborah back to reality. Dr. Fried is a gentle, kind, understanding therapist who eventually breaks through to the troubled teen. However, Deborah does not break with Yr easily. She clings to her alternative world because it seems a far safer and more comfortable place than the harsh reality she knows. Deborah also forms much of her adolescent identity while on the psych ward and comes to accept the fact that she is abnormal, even "crazy." Deborah learns from her fellow inmates on the ward and reacts to their vicissitudes as if they were her own. Basically she internalizes and analyzes everything in a warped way. The author presents the psychosis of schizophrenia not from a clinical perspective but from a subjective one."
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"Everyday Use", 2008.
An analysis of the human element in "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker.
790 words (approx. 3.2 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 37.95
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Abstract
The paper demonstrates how "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker emphasizes the importance of being genuine and how success is not the most important thing in life. The paper contrasts the characters of Maggie and Dee and shows how these two sisters encourage us to look at the characteristics that make a person likable and admirable.
From the Paper
""Everyday Use" by Alice Walker is a story that emphasizes the importance of being genuine. While many individuals focus on success, it is not the most important thing in life. We learn this lesson through Dee and Maggie - two sisters that are very different from one another. While Dee seems to be the "smart" daughter that made the "smart" move, we see that Maggie is the daughter that is true to her family and her heritage. While Maggie may seem simple, she has more integrity than Dee could ever dream of possessing."
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"American Notes", 2008.
A review of "American Notes" by Charles Dickens.
1,161 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 4 sources, MLA, AU$ 52.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how, by the time Charles Dickens decided to travel to the newly established United States, he was an established author and therefore when he published American Notes after his trip in 1842, Americans were angered not only because of his critical portrayal of their country but because someone so recognized worldwide was writing such negative comments about them. It also contends that despite its drawbacks, it is useful to read "American Notes a century and a-half later to see how the America of today compares to the America in 1840. Unfortunately, in some respects, the same problems that Dickens saw as undemocratic or "UnAmerican" still exist today, such as racism, blind patriotism, and overblown egos in government and business.
From the Paper
"Overall, of great concern to Dickens is the way this new country was established and what it would become. He had come to America expecting perfection, and sees a country still attempting to work out its identity. He is afraid for its future and what it would become. Selfishness, crassness, and hoggishness, he suggests, are America's real institutions, what governs business, politics, and all of human relationships. He is angry about the Americans' bad manners because they are inconsistent with the democratic principle, which should guarantee equal rights for all. On the other hand, he criticizes those individuals who have blind patriotism for their country and give no thought to any other views. "
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The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, 2008.
An analysis of the impact of the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 on America.
1,358 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 1 source, APA, AU$ 59.95
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Abstract
This paper uses John Barry's book "Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How it Changed America" to examine the political impact of the flood. It looks at how Herbert Hoover used the flood as an example of his stewardship by helping the black victims of the flood. It also looks at how that after heavy lobbying in Washington and many Congressional hearings, flood control legislation was signed into law by President Calvin Coolidge, who initially opposed using federal money for the rebuilding of Mississippi River areas devastated by the floods.
From the Paper
"Yet another impact the flood had on America was the decline of New Orleans, which according to Barry was severe. The city "decayed" after the flood, even though prior to the flood New Orleans had "...vastly more economic activity than any city in the South" (411). The city "shrank" and while banks prospered in Memphis, Dallas, and Atlanta, banks in New Orleans - even up to today - were never able to rebound from the flood. Even today - resulting from both the flood of 1927 and from the 2006 effects of Hurricane Katrina - New Orleans struggles. Barry waffles a little on page 411, saying that New Orleans has become a place for "tourists, and picture postcards" but has no economic vitality. "Perhaps all of this had nothing to do with the 1927 flood," he writes. "Or perhaps it did." How can he possibly question the facts presented in his own narrative? "
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"The Glass Menagerie", 2008.
An analysis of Tennessee Williams' representation of Southern women in the 1940s in his play "The Glass Menagerie".
1,587 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 12 sources, MLA, AU$ 66.95
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Abstract
Tennessee Williams' play "The Glass Menagerie" exposes the conflicts between the old Southern values and the brute force of the new, Northern values. Some of those conflicts in society - with reference to women's place in America in the 1940s - are reviewed in this paper, in order to present a psychosocial background into the characters Amanda Wingfield and her troubled daughter, Laura Wingfield. It also looks at how Williams painted literary portraits of his female characters with the brushstrokes from his own family experiences (his sister was schizophrenic) and from the society that he observed all around him and about which he held strong opinions.
From the Paper
"In the interest of offering further perspective on why Williams portrayed female characters in The Glass Menagerie the way he did, it is worth noting that when Williams was just five years of age, he suffered from a paralytic disease, causing him to be paralyzed. At seven, he was diagnosed with diphtheria. His mother, Edwina Dakin Williams, approached his difficulties during this period in his life by encouraging him to dream up stories and read. But Edwina is also reported to have been a pushy, sometimes smothering woman by a biographer writing for ThinkQuest (http://library.thinkquest.org). Indeed, his mother did not approve of him "...playing with other boys" and his father made him quit the University of Missouri to work in the shoe business. "
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