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"The Death of Ivan Ilych", 2008.
A psychoanalytic review of Leo Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych".
1,247 words (approx. 5.0 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 42.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych", by integrating the theories of Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan in order to examine the development and indeed demise of the main character. It looks at how Ivan develops from a young person with very idealistic, if somewhat mundane ambitions, to a disillusioned and emaciated man on his death bed. The paper further discusses how Ilych's condition of ego-idealism and narcissism was to a great extent to blamed upon both his society and his childhood and how tragically, he appears to have left this legacy to his children as well.
From the Paper
"Many of Freud's theories have been popularized by today's cultures in terms such as repression, libido, superego, fetishism, and others. Felluga however warns that such terms should not be taken at the often shallow interpretations presented today, but that they should be investigated in terms of Freud's original meanings. Particularly applicable to Tolstoy's main character in The Death of Ivan Ilych are Freud's concepts of repression and superego. Lacan built upon Freud's work to create his theory of the subconscious, and also to create new terms such as the natural or essential reasons for psychic processes. Of use here are instincts and ideology."
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The Benefits and Dangers of Solitude, 2008.
This paper analyzes the experience of solitary confinement in May Sarton's "Journal of a Solitude" and "The Rewards of Living a Solitary Life" and in the 2000 film "Castaway," directed by Robert Zemeckis.
1,319 words (approx. 5.3 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 44.95
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Abstract
The paper explores how solitary confinement proves a challenge to the author and poet May Sarton, as well as the protagonist Chuck Noland of "Castaway," the 2000 film based upon the real-life experiences of a FedEx employee tragically stranded on a desert island. The paper examines the profoundly different responses of the two characters to solitude. The paper explains that Noland is a man trapped against his will on an island with only a volleyball, while Sarton has recourse to friends and simply chooses to live alone, in relatively comfortable circumstances.
From the Paper
"Both works suggest that human beings are fundamentally social animals to some degree, and need companionship as a way of remaining mentally stable, emotionally centered, and sane. However, because Sarton's solitude is occasionally broken with some visits from other people, it does not have the soul-destroying character that Noland's solitude has. Because Sarton's solitude is chosen, she can take delight in the spiritual rewards provided by a life apart from the hustle, bustle, and time constraints of the rest of the social world. And perhaps most importantly of all, even though Hanks learns a great deal during his time on the island, because Sarton embarked upon her solitary life with a purpose, to pursue a fruitful writing career and to avoid the distractions of too much society, she enjoys her time alone"
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Conflict in "Antigone", 2008.
An analysis of the main thematic conflict in the drama "Antigone" by Sophocles.
1,379 words (approx. 5.5 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 46.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the main thematic conflict in the tragic drama "Antigone". Specifically, the paper relates that the main thematic conflict in "Antigone" is Antigone's rebellion against authority and law. The paper then looks at how Creon represents the power of the state, while Antigone represents the individual. The paper explains how the conflict is resolved in a tragic way; Creon loses some of his pride while Antigone loses her life.
From the Paper
"Early in the play, it becomes clear that Antigone is not afraid of the power of Creon or the state. She believes the laws are unfair, and she is not afraid to stand up against them and challenge Creon and his power. She believes the gods are the only ones who can truly make the laws, and this sets up the conflict between Antigone and Creon that lasts through the entire play. She says, "Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way" (Sophocles 1304), and she truly believes this, which is why this tragic conflict continues. She loves her brother enough to sacrifice herself to make sure he is properly buried and she will not let the laws of a powerful king stand in her way."
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Censorship in "Beauty and the Beast", 2008.
A comparison of censorship in "Beauty and the Beast" in one of the original versions by Jeanne Marie Le Prince de Beaumont and a modern re-telling by Angela Carter, entitled "The Tiger's Bride."
1,118 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 38.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses censorship within the fairy tale, "Beauty and the Beast." It compares two versions of "Beauty and the Beast" - one of the original versions by Jeanne Marie Le Prince de Beaumont and a modern re-telling by Angela Carter, entitled "The Tiger's Bride." The paper examines the function of sexual desire and how censorship is employed to either dilute or completely erase representations thereof.
From the Paper
"It is also interesting to note the difference between the depictions of Beauty in the two stories. In de Beaumont's story, Beauty exudes all the quintessentially feminine "virtues" that would go unchallenged for several centuries. She is devoted to her father, submissive to the demands of the two men in her life - namely, her father and the Beast, and completely passive. In Carter's story, Beauty is anything but passive. Rather than "taming" the Beast by submitting to him, she allows herself to be transformed into a beast, and can thus become one with all the typically "masculine" qualities assigned to the creature.
"One important difference between the two stories, however, is that de Beaumont's was written for an audience of children, while Carter's clearly was not. This is also why sexual desire is largely absent from de Beaumont's text. It has not been censored necessarily in order to protect children, but for the simple reason that this form of desire is too complex for children to understand. It thus reduces the relationships among adults to caricature-like renderings, to a polite code that can nevertheless be unscrambled by more mature readers."
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The American War for Independence, 2008.
An analysis of David Hackett Fischer's "Washington's Crossing", which offers insight into the American victory in the War for Independence.
938 words (approx. 3.8 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 33.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses how historian David Hackett Fischer, in his book "Washington's Crossing", perceives the American victory in the War for Independence as a true moral victory for the Americans. The paper explains his belief that since the Americans were free men who were willingly fighting for their values and ideals, they triumphed over the larger Hessian mercenary and British army who only half-believed in the British cause. The paper contrasts the moral force and discipline in the American army and their ethical care of prisoners of war to the conduct of the British army. The writer asserts that it is sad as an American to read this book in light of recent scandals about the American army's mistreatment of prisoners of war.
From the Paper
"Fischer uses as a kind of case study the famous crossing of the Delaware River by Washington, which proved such a decisive victory for the Americans in war. By all odds, the Americans should not have won because of their inferior numbers. The fact that they took the garrisoned Hessians by surprise on Christmas Day is part of the reason for their success. (Fischer notes that these professional soldiers, despite popular American mythology, were not drunk--surprised, yes, but not drunk). He attributes the survival of the Patriot army to their zeal and belief in freedom, and the way that the values of the Enlightenment and the common man were upheld by the Americans in the war. "
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"A Raisin in the Sun", 2008.
This paper analyzes the protagonist in the play "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry.
1,012 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
The paper describes the Younger family who, although they each have different goals, dreams and ambitions, ultimately work together as one character to achieve the dream of home ownership. The paper shows how the author uses the entire family as a type of larger-than-life protagonist, indicating it takes more than one family member to fight the white "system" and attain the dreams of the entire family.
From the Paper
"At the beginning of this emotional play, all the Younger family characters are introduced in the first act. At first glance, it would not seem as if the playwright had the idea of altering the traditional protagonist role to include the entire family. Each member of the family seems to have a different agenda at the start of the action. Walter wants to buy a liquor store, Mama wants to buy a house, Ruth is afraid to bring another child into the world, and Beneatha wants to go to medical school. In the 1950s, when they play is set, all of these are lofty goals, especially for a struggling black family living on the South Side of Chicago."
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"The Faerie Queene", 2008.
An analysis of Edmund Spenser's representations of nature in the poem "The Faerie Queene".
1,585 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 0 sources, $ 51.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene" is one of the greatest allegorical poems ever written in English and how the religious symbolism connected with the poem is practically the key of the entire allegory. In particular, the paper examines how the way in which Spenser represents nature in his poem is very significant precisely because the text is an allegory in which the real, natural setting is symbolic. Furthermore, the paper attempts to show that Spenser represents nature in two adverse ways which illuminate his vision of the world. The paper concludes that Spenser represents nature as a sympathetic force which is part of God's divine creation and which is moreover able to reflect the spiritual qualities of a certain being.
From the Paper
"Nature is therefore itself a part of the great allegory. In fact, Spenser's allegorical poem is a synthesis of his vision of the world, comprising the forces that drive the world and human behavior at the same time. The poem relates mainly the adventures of Redcorsse, the errant knight of Holinesse, and Una, his female companion and the symbol of truth. The Faerie Queene is no less than Queen Elizabeth of England, whom Spenser regarded as a holy person because she was the defendant of Protestantism against the corrupted Catholicism. The allegory opposes these two religions, making it clear that Protestantism is the right religious view. In the first Book of the poem, nature is depicted in its entirely luxurious wilderness. There is a great array of mythological characters and beasts which are met, in turns, by the wandering knight. The divide between the natural and the unnatural forces obviously corresponds to that between good and evil. Although natural law is condemned by Puritanism, Spenser did not reject it. "
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Janie in "Their Eyes Were Watching God", 2008.
A character analysis of Janie in "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston.
1,063 words (approx. 4.3 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 37.95
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Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the book "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston. Specifically it contains a character analysis of the main character, Janie. It looks at how Janie grows to be a woman in this story, and eventually finds her own brand of peace, as well. At the beginning of the story, she is unsure of herself, and begins to rely on men to prove her own self-worth. By the end of the book, she is strong, independent, and alone, but she has found her peace and her place in the world.
From the Paper
"Janie, the main character in this novel, is a mulatto woman who has lived most of her life the way other people thought she should instead of the way she has always wanted to live. Her mother abandons her when she is young, and her grandmother (Nanny), raises her. The story takes its title from the passage, "They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God" (God 151). Throughout the novel, she attaches herself to men who are not right for her, trying to establish her self-worth through others. However, each man teachers her something about herself, so that finally, she learns something important from each of them in turn, and then can create a viable and happy life for herself. Her first husband is Logan Killicks, an older man that Nanny chooses for her. "
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Cardiovascular Disease and Low Fitness, 2008.
A review of the limitations of "Prevalence and Cardiovascular Disease Correlates of Low Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adolescents and Adults," written by Mercedes R. Carnethon, Martha Gulati and Philip Greenland.
872 words (approx. 3.5 pages), 1 source, APA, $ 31.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses and reviews the article, "Prevalence and Cardiovascular Disease Correlates of Low Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Adolescents and Adults," written by Mercedes R. Carnethon, Martha Gulati and Philip Greenland. It discusses the purpose of the study, the results and conclusions and the limitations of the study's methods.
From the Paper
"The age selection was quite broad, so the study could control for other fitness factors relating to age impinging upon the results. But there is an obvious weakness in using such a large sampling. The population size is so diluted and generalized in its composition that the conclusions drawn from the study may be too vague to be of prescriptive use. To conduct the study, the authors submitted the test subjects to submaximal treadmill testing so they reached at least 75% to 90% of their age-predicted maximum heart rate. Maximal oxygen consumption, or VO2 max, was estimated by measuring their heart rate response to their effort. Low levels of fitness were defined by using percentile cut-off points of estimated VO2 max from existing external referent populations. In other words, the VO2 max definitions of fitness were derived purely from preexisting literature and studies. Similarly, the other physical and laboratory CVD risk factors measured according to standard methods were derived from preexisting literature."
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"The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Scarlet Letter", 2008.
This paper examines the symbolism in "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe and "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
1,329 words (approx. 5.3 pages), 8 sources, MLA, $ 44.95
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Abstract
The paper examines the literary techniques used in "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe and "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The paper describes the deterioration of the human mind in Hawthorne's character, Dimmesdale, and in Poe's narrator and shows how they share the same lack of knowledge that they are victims of their own mental deterioration.
From the Paper
"Authors often use metaphors and symbols as techniques to make statements about characters. Character often lives parallel lives in novels and short stories and it is with great pleasure that we learn from them. Writers employ several different techniques to engage readers. Two stories that illustrate powerful symbolism are "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe and The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Each of these stories bring us into characters by allowing us see them change in a radical way. In "The Fall of the House of Usher," Poe uses the house as a metaphor for the narrator and Roderick's condition. The readers' attention is initially drawn to Roderick, whom we suspect might be mentally unstable. Through careful techniques Poe manages to illustrate how the fall of the house represents the fall of both the narrator and Roderick. In the same way, The Scarlet Letter demonstrates how one person can fall through another type of symbol and that is hidden but, nevertheless, powerful. Both stories demonstrate how the human mind can break down over time, given the right circumstances. "
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Marcus Rediker's "Villains of All Nations", 2008.
Evaluates historian Marcus Rediker's book about pirates, "Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age" and the phenomenon these pirates represent.
1,045 words (approx. 4.2 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 36.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that, unlike most historians, Marcus Rediker in his book "Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age" takes a positive view of piracy and what they represented for the period in which they lived. The author points out that Rediker believes that the issue of piracy should not be observed from the damages they caused but rather from social, economic and human aspects, which justify their actions. Rediker offers several arguments; however, they are easily countered by suggesting that the actual motivation of these pirates was strictly connected to the accumulation of wealth and power. The paper states that Rediker's book is a shallow and inaccurate account of history of pirates.
From the Paper
"By discussing the history of the first pirates at sea, the author points out the difficulties they are considered to have suffered especially during the Spanish war when they were sent in battles without their expressed will. In this sense, he considers that the eventual freedom they came to have after the end of the armed conflicts was an equitable reward of the situation. Through this perspective, the author tries to justify their actions from a moral point of view."
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"Young Goodman Brown", 2008.
An analysis of the beliefs of the character, Goodman Brown, in Nathaniel Hawthorne's story, "Young Goodman Brown."
1,228 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 41.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses the character, Goodman Brown in "Young Goodman Brown," by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The paper focuses on Goodman Brown's character and personality and his beliefs. It discusses how Brown's beliefs change and the effect that has on him. The paper also describes the plot of the story and Brown's relationship with the other characters.
From the Paper
"Soon, however, Goodman Brown learns the worst. It is not only "a wretched old woman" who is sinning, but his wife, Faith, as well. He hears the arrival of other community members and follows them. As he continues down his path something, "fluttered lightly down through the air and caught on the branch of a tree. The young man seized it, and beheld a pink ribbon." The pink ribbon falling downward from the heavenly sky towards towards hell represents Brown's loss of faith and understanding that evil exists. Brown cries, "My Faith is gone!" (Literature Network, para 27). This sentence has a double meaning. Faith is also gone from the house and is entering the forest, as well. Even Faith cannot be trusted. "There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is this world given.""
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