Family Essays

In the essay “Motherhood: Who Needs It?” Betty Rollins does not use the most effective structure and style to argue against what she believes is the “motherhood myth” (203). Rollins opposes the idea that having children is something that all women should want, and need to do instinctively. She feels …

In John Updike’s “A&P”, the main character, Sammy, becomes the story’s narrator. Sammy is a typical nineteen-year-old man, working a boring, dead end job as a grocery store cashier in a lower middle class town. His only role models are Stokesie, a twenty-two year-old man doing the same job as …

There are some big differences between married and single life. Each has it’s own unique problems that must be overcome while having similarities. The Decision of married vs. single should not be taken lightly. There are a lot of factors you must consider when thinking about marriage. Friendship, free time, …

Aah, the fair! This once-a-year experience is something not to be missed! The fair can invoke many memories of days gone by, both good and bad. A day at the fair can be fun, educational, and very tiring! As children, we ran around taking in the sights and sounds of …

Othello, The Moor of Venice, by William Shakespeare, is one of Shakespeare’s most well known tragedies. In the play, the many types of jealousy are explored through love hate and deceit. There are three main female characters, in Shakespeare’s Othello. Each of these women, Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca, has a …

In Antigone, Ismene must decide between the will of the gods and the will of the state, life and death. On one hand, if she follows the benevolent will of the gods and buries her brother, Polyneices, she will be put to a humiliating death. On the other hand, she …

Think Cinderella stories and ABBA then throw in some humour and romance and you’ll end up with Muriel’s Wedding. Directed by PJ Hogan, this bright, yet sad, film focuses on Australian family life and the meaning of “success.” Muriel Heslop (Toni Collete) is jobless, has a low self-esteem and is …

Control has many different meanings for many different people. To most, however, this word brings to mind one person forcing another do his or her will, but other things have control over people as well. Sherwood Anderson shows two examples of control in Don and Ted. These two characters have …

In Maya Angelou’s autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the reader is introduced to a vast ensemble of complex characters. Each character has a tremendous impact on Maya Angelou’s life. One character who not only has great weight in Maya’s life, but is also one of the most …

I chose the reading, “The Way We Really Are”, by Stephanie Coontz. The author’s viewpoint focused on the changes in family values over the years that have led to more single mothers and fewer successful marriages. She refers to several quotes from resources about the American family tradition slowly dying. …