Novel

The issue of technology and the limits that is should be kept within is one of the most important and often controversial topics for discussion in contemporary society. On the one hand, some argue that technological progress should be pushed as far as possible as it is sure to benefit...

The setting of the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest has a metaphorical meaning: it symbolizes a surveillance state and the destiny of people who do not fit the system - prostitutes, criminals, invalids, etc. - all the marginalized and discriminated groups that, from the author’s point of view,...

The use of symbolism in the novel Fahrenheit 451 are many. The title of the novel itself alludes that it will contain fire, heat, temperature rising, etc. We find that the novel it aptly named. The book centers around main character, Guy Montag, who is a fireman that sets out...

The novel Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee reflects on a lot of important social and moral questions. The author depicts the most valuable issues and concerns through an interesting and contrast setting. Setting plays a role as a meaningful background for the characters’ actions, choices, thoughts, and behavior. The novel illustrates...

'Ragtime' is a novel that concerns itself with life in America from the start of the 20th century to the outbreak of World War I. As such, the novel necessarily deals with themes of social identity, class struggle and personal decision, as well as the hopelessness of certain characters in...

A famous Spanish novel written by Miguel de Cervantes in the 17th century is considered one of the most influential works in Spanish literature and literature canon as a whole. A Story of the Stones written by Barry Hughart in the second half of the 20th century presents an alternative...

The novel, The Blacklister by Steven Piziks, is an addition to the series that has the same title. Based on the series, the novel follows Liz Keen and Reddington as the main characters. The relationship between the two is based on Reddington being a previous criminal with information about other...

In Lee Smith’s Fair and Tender Ladies, the character of Revel Rowe is particularly intriguing to consider in terms of his psychological makeup and how he functions within the novel. The uncle of the novel’s central protagonist, Ivy Rowe, Revel Rowe is imprudent but very loving and helpful. Although he...

It is no wonder that the bees are the most important symbolic element in the novel, when the title features bees as well. The bees serve as Lily’s guides. They inspire her to struggle for what she believes is right. It is them who urge her to leave her home...

Jim Lynch’s 2006 novel, The Highest Tide, is a young adult book with an insightful twist on growing up. Told from the perspective of 13 year old Miles O’Malley, it serves as a means of following the young protagonist through a series of events much like those that one would...

In the novel, A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole, the author uses both low and high comedy. The effect of using both in this novel is that it makes it accessible to an audience who may not understand all of the literary allusions. It also serves to make...

The character of Harry Houdini, based upon the famous magician and escape artist of the early 20th century, is introduced early in the novel when his car breaks down near Mother and Father’s home, and he has lemonade in their parlor while it is being repaired. Although Houdini is extremely...

Playwright Theater in its depiction of the In the Time of the Butterflies depicts the occurrences in Julia Alavarez’s popular novel with a similar name. In the play, as first shown by Video 1, the characters provide a fictionalized account of the courage shown by Mirabal sisters. The audience in...

In many works of literature, the setting, or “place” provides an important aesthetic. In many of the works assigned and discussed in this module, place has been crucial in the various stories and works. However, it appears to offer a great importance in the novel Fair and Tender Ladies by...

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, is a classic Gothic romance, focusing on Jane, the young governess, and Rochester, her employer and eventual husband. While the character of Rochester’s first wife is important in the novel, she’s not a main character. Jean Rhys changed that in Wide Sargasso Sea, a novel...

The Scarlet Letter is a story that brings to light many social and religious issues. Although the time period for this film was set deep into America’s past, there are instances today whereby a person may be alienated by society for holding on to their convictions. The problem with religion...

“It had begun with Christmas and the gift of dolls. The big, the special, the loving gift was always a big, blue-eyed Baby Doll. From the clucking sounds of adults I knew that the doll represented what they thought was my fondest wish. I was bemused with the thing itself...

The main character in Mount Misery, Dr. Roy Basch, encounters many different characters during his journey as an intern. Through the voices of these characters, he provides a look at the fallacy of the psychiatric field and the theories behind it. The following examines three of the characters that stood...

In Woman on the Edge of Time, Marge Piercy presents two future societies. One is a dystopia, where an elite class of citizens lives on space platforms and possesses the power to induce the psychology of the mass population. They also alter the women, enhancing their sexual features, and valuing...

Mishima, the author of the book The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea, writes about a current conflict between the western and eastern values. The antagonism occurs in Fusako's home and the contrasting settings of the sea. The author negatively portrays Fusako as a character, who succumbs to...