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A Review of Fascism, 2007.
A review of the book "Fascism: Comparison and Definition" by Stanley Payne.
1,318 words (approx. 5.3 pages), 0 sources, MLA, AU$ 72.95
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Abstract
This paper looks at how Stanley Payne attempts to define fascism in his book "Fascism: Comparison and Definition". The paper explains that in order to address the challenge of fascism, we must understand what fascism is. The paper discusses how fascism went through a series of stages in Italy and Germany and how Hitler created what was arguably the purest fascist state, although it did not conform fully to the principles of fascism. The paper notes that Spain and Portugal represent two other case studies for Payne, but he finds in neither of them the true fascist regime. The writer points out that Payne covered a tremendous range of sources ,as the footnotes throughout the book show, but unfortunately Payne leaves a much more profound question unasked and unanswered: Do we need to re-examine the history and meaning of fascism to determine if it is becoming a prevalent force in parts of the world that Payne found no reason to discuss, and is the United States in danger of becoming fascist?
From the Paper
"Payne reviews the antecedents of modern fascism and finds these in the "corporatist" movement, a movement which sought to combined social orders under an authoritarian government working closely with business cartels, in reaction to chaotic individualism.(23-24 ) It was also a reaction to the splintered state of many democratic movements (25-26), and a neomonarchist movement (27-29), and a support movement for imperialist policies. (29-31) All of these forces converged at a time of terrible cultural crisis as the First World War tore Europe and European sensibilities to pieces. In the psychological void that followed, many people found comfort in the simplicity of authoritarian answer."
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"There Are No Children Here", 2008.
A review of "There Are No Children Here" by Alex Kotlowitz.
995 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 57.95
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Abstract
The paper looks at how Alex Kotlowitz, in "There Are No Children Here", explores the inner-city decay and want which dooms many American children. The paper describes the experiences of the two African-American boys in the story who are forced to grow up in Chicago's notorious Henry Horner housing projects. The paper looks at how Kotlowitz portrays the violence and the drug and gang culture of the area. The paper discusses the relevance of this book to community health nursing.
From the Paper
"Having offered a broad overview of the text and a "run-down" of its main themes, the next thing which must be addressed is the issue of bias - often synonymous with "balance" - as it manifests itself in the work. Although it can be overdone, one is left with the distinct impression that Kotlowitz is a liberal at heart; perhaps never is this more apparent then when he discusses a 1955 visit by Soviet officials to the then-fledgling Henry Horner projects. One of the guests, I.V. Kozvilia, Minister of City and Urban Construction in the Soviet Union, denounced the decision of city officials to erect buildings which featured apartment walls of cinder block and not of plaster. The curt response of the Chicago Daily News to the Soviet critique of its low-cost housing was that there was "little use for luxury" in such matters in capitalist America (Kotlowitz, 1987, p.22). One page earlier, Kotlowitz is quite aggressive in chastising a number of 1950s-era aldermen who opposed public housing in Chicago and who orchestrated a number of ploys designed to frustrate the initiative."
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Loss, Nostalgia and Remembrance, 2008.
This paper compares three novels; "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, "Wide Sargasso Sea" by Jean Rhys and "Breath, Eyes, Memory" by Edwidge Danticat.
2,087 words (approx. 8.3 pages), 6 sources, MLA, AU$ 106.95
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Abstract
The paper explains how "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, "Wide Sargasso Sea" by Jean Rhys and "Breath, Eyes, Memory" by Edwidge Danticat all present themes of loss, nostalgia and remembrance. The paper discusses how all three authors have offered powerful lessons about the function of loss, nostalgia and remembrance, not only in terms of how they influence individuals and families, but how they influence society as well.
From the Paper
"In One Hundred Years of Solitude's surreal but fascinating story of a small village in Columbia, Gabriel Garcia Marquez presents a powerful theme revolving around a family whose members, despite their material prosperity and superficial happiness, ultimately stand alone in life. Through magic realism, Marquez explores the postcolonial world
of 20th century Latin America and the Caribbean and demonstrates how forgetfulness, loss, human remorse, fear, pride, and submission lead to solitary lives and solitary deaths. He emphasizes that even though relationships can be flawed and painful, unless we live a life of emotional bonding with other people we will not have lived at all and will be remembered by no one. It is love more than anything else that must be remembered and cherished, for life has no meaning without love."
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The Synthesis of Moll Flanders and Roxana, 2008.
Explores the characters of Moll Flanders and Roxana from Daniel Defoe's "Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress" and "The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders", as well as the characters in J.M. Coetzee's "Foe".
1,139 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 3 sources, MLA, AU$ 64.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses Daniel Defoe's novels "Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress" and "The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders", which depict the heroines as trapped in a patriarchal society. The paper then looks at J.M. Coetzee's "Foe", which provides a synthesis of Defoe's heroine icons through the character of Susan Barton. The paper demonstrates how Roxana and Moll display attributes of male strength through determination and will, while Coetzee's Susan Barton and accompanying characters attempt to reflect the Defoe feminism in a more flexible light.
From the Paper
"Defoe's Roxana and Moll Flanders are stark representations of the 19th century struggle for women who sought a place in society for themselves. In the midst of British Imperialism, the role of the woman remained static, while opportunities to become successful in business, education and politics expanded. This background is essential in the setup of both Roxana and Moll, as the characters battle from shoddy upbringings to the pinnacle of wealth and social acceptance. Moll's rise through the social and class ranks of society begins as an orphan. Through marriage after marriage, Moll takes on a variety of roles, from housewife, con-artist, to thief to convict. It is important to note the tone of the narration, as Moll seems nonchalant in explanation of her history: "...and let any one judge what must be the anguish of my mind, when I came to reflect that this was certainly no more or less than my own mother, and I had now had two children, and was big with another by my own brother, and lay with him still every night." (Defoe 20). The ending is happy however, and the main point is not lost as a result. Although Moll eventually finds happiness in America, it is the trials and tribulations that defines her as a male equal."
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Literary Themes: Invisibility and Keeping the Dead Living, 2007.
This paper examines the literary themes of invisibility and keeping the dead living as observed from William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" to the modern literature of Robert Browning, William Faulkner, Gwendolyn Brooks and Ralph Ellison.
1,960 words (approx. 7.8 pages), 5 sources, MLA, AU$ 101.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that, in "Hamlet", Shakespeare uses literal invisibility only once; however, there are several instances in which he uses a motif of figurative invisibility, when characters are present but unseen. The author points out that Gwendolyn Brooks' brief poem 'We Real Cool' reflects a modern understanding of invisibility as people about whom no one cares rather than in the classic motif of a character whom some can see while others cannot. The paper relates that, in Shakespeare's "Hamlet", Robert Browning's poem "My Last Duchess" and William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" the living characters try to deal with the dead. The author points out that Prince Hamlet is driven by the ghost of his father, Browning's Duke Alphonso has reduced his late wife to a curtained off, collectible art object and Faulkner's Miss Emily has clung for thirty years to the hidden body of the lover she felt she could not keep were he alive.
Table of Contents:
The Theme of Invisibility
Shakespeare's "Hamlet"
Gwendolyn Brooks' Poem 'We Real Cool'
Ralph Ellison' "Invisible Man"
The Theme of Keeping the Dead Living
Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess"
William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily"
From the Paper
"The "Invisible Man" is a black youth in the segregated deep South. His invisibility stems from the fact that the whites around him are determined to maintain a racial caste. To do this, they have made those who were slaves "invisible." When the ten youths are summoned to the hotel ballroom and shoved blindfolded into the boxing ring, the white crowd does not see then as human beings. They are the countless racial slurs that are yelled out at them. They are the animalistic violence that drives the crowd to a frenzy."
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Oedipus the King and Antigone, 2008.
An analysis of the underlying themes and character development in Sophocles' "Oedipus the King," "Antigone" and "Oedipus Colonus."
1,464 words (approx. 5.9 pages), 3 sources, MLA, AU$ 78.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes the deeper inferences that Sophocles portrays through the vivid character history of the main characters in his "Three Theban Plays." It describes the characters and the development of the character Oedipus as the model for the tragic hero in "Oedipus the King," "Antigone" and "Oedipus Colonus." The paper concludes that the life of suffering is the underlying theme in the story of Oedipus and Antigone.
From the Paper
"It is also important to note that 'innocence' is not rewarded with an escape from any type of suffering. As in the case with Jocasta and Ismene, who play passive roles, both experience an element of suffering. While many view Jocasta as more a tragic character than Ismene, it is important to note that Ismene is governed by fear of man, rather than will of the gods; serving as the perfect foil to her older sister Antigone.
"Ultimately, the life of suffering is the underlying theme in the story of Oedipus and Antigone. In both plays, the hero's suffer extreme consequences for the choices laid upon them, regardless of their favor to the gods. In this sense, suffering is not only a consequence of choice, but also an inherent part of life. Sophocles portrays this theme perfectly through his tragic hero's and characters, laying the groundwork for many tragedians in the future."
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"The Hedgehog and the Fox", 2008.
An examination of Isaiah Berlin's "The Hedgehog and the Fox: An Essay on Tolstoy's View of History."
706 words (approx. 2.8 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 41.95
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Abstract
The paper looks at Isaiah Berlin's "The Hedgehog and the Fox: An Essay on Tolstoy's View of History", which analyzes how history is oversimplified in the literary work of Tolstoy. The paper explains how the fox represents a multi-tiered point of literary perspective that is objective in nature, while the hedgehog defines the over-simplified and subjective nature of history for history in literature. The paper shows how Berlin denounces Russian author Leo Tolstoy's oversimplified view of history as pertinent to his theory on historiographical views of the 20th century.
From the Paper
"The symbol of the hedgehog in Berlin's essay is an example of history is defined through a series of oversimplified perspectives that analyze different conditions of a particular civilization. For instance, Berlin asserts that Russian authors like Dostoevsky are 'hedgehogs' that distort and maim the idea of history through generalizations about specific quarters of society that cannot account for their holistic views:"
"Dostoevsky, who is nothing if not a hedgehog; and thereby transforms, indeed distorts, Pushkin into a dedicated prophet, a bearer of a single, universal message, which was indeed the centre of Dostoevsky's own universe, but exceedingly remote from the many varied provinces of Pushkin's genius (Berlin 4).""
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Hamlet and Truth, 2008.
This paper discusses the aspect of truth in the play "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare.
1,330 words (approx. 5.3 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 72.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses that in 'Hamlet', the central character has to face a number of truths in the play. The writer notes that Hamlet has been seen as hesitant to do so in many cases, hesitating while he decides if the truth he is facing is really the truth or not. The writer maintains that these truths contribute to the overall themes of the play and also illuminate the character of Hamlet.
The writer concludes that Hamlet shows that he has learned the importance and sanctity of the confessional and now lets that knowledge guide his action. Throughout the play, Hamlet listens, observes, and learns what is true and what is not, what is right and what is wrong, what he must do and what he must not do.
From the Paper
"The first truth that he must face is that his mother and uncle murdered his father. He is told this by the Ghost, and the way he hesitates before taking the action he is told to take makes it seem that he doubts the Ghost. The Ghost has to be seen as a reliable informant, though some have doubted what the Ghost says and believe that Hamlet has doubts about this as well. The Ghost brings the charges against Claudius in the beginning of the play, introducing the character of Claudius so as to make clear his guilt. The Ghost appears first in the play, passing through as an ominous portent of things to come and as indication of what happened in the past, though this is not yet explained."
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"Sin: Radical Evil in Soul and Society", 2008.
A review of the book "Sin: Radical Evil in Soul and Society" by Ted Peters.
816 words (approx. 3.3 pages), 0 sources, MLA, AU$ 47.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how in his book, "Sin: Radical Evil in Soul and Society", Ted Peters tackles the subject of sin and evil in human lives and the lives of society. It looks at how, according to Peters, sin is a progression that leads to radical evil, or evil pursued in the name of evil.
From the Paper
"In order for humans to believe that concupiscence may succeed, they invent lies, and seek self-justification, which Peters defines as "identifying ourselves with the good." This self-justification can result in prejudice and profound racism and culture wars. This self-justification is essential for hypocrisy, as Peters shows in Jesus' discussions with the Jews. However, as self-justification results in bigotry and hypocrisy, justification by faith brings freedom. In it "God creates new life out of death just as he first brought the creation into existence out of nothing." God's justification is the only way we can find freedom."
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The Outsider as Political Philosopher, 2008.
An analysis of the character of Billy in C.J. Koch's "The Year of Living Dangerously".
1,200 words (approx. 4.8 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 67.95
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Abstract
In C.J. Koch's, "The Year of Living Dangerously", Billy Kwan is an achondroplastic dwarf who seems to be at war with himself and ill-fitted for membership in any one group or ideology. This paper explores Billy's tormented existence and argues that his crisis of identity and his crisis of political philosophy are deeply entwined.
From the Paper
"To start with, it must be noted that Billy Kwan resembles, at least in his physiognomy, the Indonesian locals who view all of the pale-faced foreigners in Jakarta with such disdain (Koch, 22). Beyond that, Billy seems to be uncomfortably straddling two worlds - his father was Chinese, his mother Australian - and this leads to a crisis of sorts at the center of his being. As Wally notes at one point when discussing his diminutive sometimes drinking partner, "He's not sure whether he is (Chinese) or not" (Koch, 4). This is a remarkably telling passage inasmuch as 1965 - the year wherein the story is held - is right around the time when the People's Revolution is inflaming China and turning that nation's ancient society upside down; not to be passed over lightly, it is also a time wherein Mao has turned the structure of the state towards Marxism. "
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Los Angeles: Paradise on Earth?, 2008.
This paper looks at literary works that dispel the image of Los Angeles as a veritable paradise.
1,273 words (approx. 5.1 pages), 7 sources, MLA, AU$ 70.95
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Abstract
The paper describes the popular image of Los Angeles and Southern California as a warm weather paradise where people are more casual, laid-back and largely willing to get along. The paper reveals that the reality is somewhat different, for the region has areas of poverty, annual forest fires and periodic earthquakes as well as times of drought and seasons of flood. The paper looks at seven literary passages and one song that challenge the image of paradise, where the writers of these works seeing a population steeped in boredom, fearful of earthquakes and living with high rates of crime.
From the Paper
"After referring to California as the land of sunshine and oranges, Nathanael West writes, "Once there, they discover that sunshine isn't enough. They get tired of organs, even of avocado pears and passion fruit. Nothing happens. They don't know what to do with their time. (West 192)" This passage also conveys the idea that the population of Southern California consists largely of immigrants from other parts of the country people who aspired to be in California and then are bored by what they find. The growth in the region has always fed this image, though naive-born Californians are everywhere just the same. The passage also suggests that people are often dissatisfied when they get what they think they want."
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Jesse Stuart's "Love", 2008.
This paper is a review of Jesse Stuart's short story, "Love", about how pragmatic love is expressed.
920 words (approx. 3.7 pages), 0 sources, AU$ 52.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that in Jesse Stuart's short story, "Love" the conflict between the father and the son, which is expressed through their differing perspectives on the world, relates to the overall theme of pragmatic love. The author points out that Jesse Stuart's story describes an encounter in which a man has his dog kill a snake. The paper states that, beneath the surface, the story is a deeper one of unreasoning destruction brought about by an allegedly higher creature and the compassion shown by an animal often associated with evil. The author concludes that, by the end of the story, father appears to have learned something about love and about making unreasoning judgments.
Table of Contents:
Nature's Adversary
Nature's Advocate
Relationships
Conclusion
From the Paper
"The following day, the father and the son find the bull black snake coiled near his dead mate. The snake has found her in the stillness of the night, which is not unlike the stillness of death. "Still devoted to his mate, the bull snake "lifted his head and followed [them] as [they] walked around the dead snake." The snake has shown more compassion to his mate than the father has shown to the female snake; unlike the human, who allegedly has the benefit of human reason and emotion, the snake does not instinctively and indiscriminately attack."
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Racism in Hughes' Poetry, 2008.
This paper compares and contrasts the theme of race in three poems by Langston Hughes; "Mother to Son", "Harlem, A Dream Deferred" and "The Negro Speaks of Rivers".
987 words (approx. 3.9 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 57.95
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Abstract
The poetic analysis examines the theme of racism within the poems; "Mother to Son", "Harlem, A Dream Deferred" and "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" by Langston Hughes. The paper compares and contrasts the varying levels of racism found within these poems. The paper demonstrates how Hughes suggests a wide variety of racial perspectives that define the African-American experience. The paper focuses on Hughes' metaphor of the African soul in relation to river symbolism.
From the Paper
"The poem "Harlem, A Dream Deferred" first implies the symbolic use of a raisin to define the struggle and conflicts associated with racism in American society. The raisin is essential a single black man or a group of African Americans that are being affected by the sun (an allusion to the hotness of white racist hegemony), which could invariably "dry up" under the pressure. This overall scope of the poem refers to the dream of racial equality and freedom that is threatening the racial autonomy of urban neighborhoods, like Harlem. The existence of Harlem as a bastion of hope for African Americans to congregate within New York City is represented in the way that white society will either allow them their freedom or destroy it."
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Jesse Stuart's "Love"., 2008.
An analysis of suggested emotion and common nature in Jesse Stuart's "Love".
879 words (approx. 3.5 pages), 1 source, MLA, AU$ 51.95
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Abstract
This paper examines how, in the story "Love" by Jesse Stuart, the author uses the images of birth and death to emphasize the themes of suggested emotion and the common nature in animals and people. The paper discusses how the author first uses emotion in the title and then continues to suggest emotion through images and action to humanize the animals in the story. The paper also looks at how the narrator mentions many comparisons between animals and people, suggesting a common nature. Through both of these themes, the ideas of life / birth and death are included since everything is connected and nature is cyclical.
From the Paper
"Emotion is clearly related to the themes of life and death in the story. When the narrator thinks first of a human female and then the snake fighting to save her babies, there is both guilt and sorrow in the tone of the passage; the words "agony" and then the narrators admittance, "it was silly of me to think such thoughts" show that he does not know what he should feel (291). The reader also sees the father's hate for the snake, when he calls it his enemy and then encourages the dog to kill it. Yet, when he sees the male snake seemingly grieving for his mate, even the father cannot hate it. The human emotion of grief that is projected onto the male snake makes it impossible for even the father to kill it. In sparing it, he is showing that he has gained some respect for nature, life, and death."
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Language, Thought and Perception, 2008.
An analysis of the influence of language upon thought and perception, and the influence of thought and perception upon language.
1,968 words (approx. 7.9 pages), 6 sources, MLA, AU$ 101.95
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Abstract
How much does our language influence what we can think and perceive? Indeed, does our language control what we can think and perceive? Conversely, do our thoughts and perceptions influence or even control our language? This paper explores these questions, and shows that - while it is difficult to say which comes first, as the process is clearly somewhat circular - it does seem that culture influences language more than language influences culture.
From the Paper
"Theories such as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which combine linguistic relativity and linguistic determinism, are useful in that they remind us of the relationships between culture and language. For example, in Canada the many aboriginal languages have died - and in terms of this hypothesis, this is one of the important reasons why aboriginal cultures are under threat. On the other hand, in South Africa, despite decades of colonial rule and then apartheid, the indigenous languages, such as Zulu and Xhosa, remained very strong. This was reflected in the fact that the indigenous cultures remained very strong - so it is certainly possible that the survival of the languages enabled the survival of the cultures. "
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Violence and Power in Society, 2006.
An analysis of power and violence in Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" and Carolyn Nordstrom's "A Different Kind of War Story".
2,525 words (approx. 10.1 pages), 2 sources, MLA, AU$ 123.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the structures of narrative through which violence is represented in the books "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad and "A Different Kind of War Story" by Carolyn Nordstrom. The writer explains that for Nordstrom's subjects as well as Conrad, the explicit descriptions of violence are secondary, while the larger implications of the violence for the social fabric and the identities of those subjected to it are what is fundamentally important. The writer looks at how Nordstrom argues that the relationship between the "self and the world" is key in understanding both the effects of violence upon its civilian victims as well as the processes through which these civilian victims may reconstitute this relationship and their sense of social order. The writer concludes that the relationship between "the self and the world" is particularly important in Nordstrom's understanding of the impact of violence upon the civilian victims of violence in that, in most of the non-western cultural contexts she has studied, the victims of violence do not register its impact in the same way as it would register in the west.
From the Paper
"Although the narrative told by Marlow in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is a fiction, much of Conrad's work was based upon his intimate knowledge of the impact of imperialism upon the parts of the world, such as the Belgian Congo, that had been forcibly colonized by European powers. In representing the violence that was an integral element of this European conquest and domination, perhaps the predominant image is one of ambiguity and indeterminacy."
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