Books Essays

Death is a conclusion that all men must reach. It is a fate that he cannot escape and an enemy he cannot defeat. In Sophocles’ Antigone, the Chorus dedicates its first ode to man’s victories and its supreme vulnerability: death. The choral ode is divided into four sections: Strophe I, …

English authors often allude to Greek mythology and the Bible in their writing. Frequently readers come across a reference to Jesus Christ or a prophet-like character when analyzing popular classics. In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, the author depicts Simon as a Christ-like figure because he sees the truth …

Many American historians have described the 1920s as a “period which crystallized the vast social changes initiated in World War I. It was an era of carefree release” (Jenkins). One of the most significant legacies of this era was the loosening of restrictions on women. By this decade, “Victorianism and …

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” This quotation by Epictetus, a great Stoic of his time, describes Atticus Finch’s reasoning during the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Atticus, the single father of two children, Jean Louise Finch …

The main goal for an author is to grab the reader’s attention and keep them interested in what they are reading. This pushes the author to write with a theme that all readers can relate with. The usage of love is a perfect example. It allows readers of all ages …

In the novel, Misery, Stephen King embodies the state of possession by an evil being who happens to be the elaborated and horrifically psychotic woman, Annie Wilkes. In this story, Annie represents a mother figure, a goddess and a loyal reader of the romance novelist, Paul Sheldon. In reality, however, …

Throughout the play, the difference between Creon and Antigone is vividly shown. By the end of the play, Antigone, it is evident that a total of five characters have lost their lives. This is due to the characters’ failure to choose where their loyalty and obligation should stand, thus creating …

The path to becoming an adult is lined with a variety of childhood and adolescent experiences, some more painful than others. In T. Coraghessen Boyle’s short story, “Greasy Lake,” Boyle masterfully uses the setting and the protagonist’s experience to teach us an old but vital lesson: those who choose not …

Ever since he was born, Tocqueville had been exposed to politics and government. His father was the mayor of Verneuil, which was where much of Tocqueville’s childhood was spent. As he grew up he took courses in law, which eventually aided him in writing Democracy in America. While on official …

The policies of war communism and the New Economic Policy (NEP) had a great impact on both the peasantry and the proletariat. Both policies were a desperate attempt to preserve the revolution and this is greatly reflects the reasons why some groups were advantaged and why others were disadvantaged. War …