The Scarlet Letter, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and published in 1850, was just what America was needing in his time. He composed a both beautiful and tragic story while still creating a deep symbolic novel that few could forget. He captivated his readers with his allegorical novel, depending on symbolism and characters heavily, in the style of true dark romanticism. The novel deals with many issues that were prominent at the time, such as the importance of society versus nature, human temptation versus society’s influence, and many others. In Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter, he focuses on the conflicting views of society and nature in the Puritan society and uses contrast, symbolism, and imagery to convey his beliefs.
Octavia E. Butler’s work Kindred is a profound novel that illustrates the destructive power of obessive love. Butler also does a remarkable job protraying the graphic nature of racial prejudice in the 1800s as opposed to how it’s viewed in modern times via time travels – which gives the reader the oppurtunity to compare and contrast the two distinct eras. Dana’s (the narrator and protagonist of Kindred) choice to continue saving Rufus’ life, regardless of his absurd behavior, causes her time travels to prolong – given that Rufus was the focus and cause of them – and Rufus eventually beomes obsessed with Dana. As Dana chooses to save Rufus’ life, she not only prolongs her time travels to the antebellum Maryland of the early 1800s but also saves her life and preserves the familail bond of the slaves. “Was that why I was here?
P C 12/10/12 Assignment 4: No Ordinary Time I chose to read No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin which not only introduced the reader to where Franklin and Eleanor came from and how they met each other, but who they are as people and the huge impact that still shows today that they had on our country. By the end of the book I felt as if I had personally met and spoke with both of them. The main theme of the book was not to educate the reader of the ferocious and sad battles that took place in Europe, but to show them the strides and changes that were taking place in America in order for our country to be able to go to war and be successful. In 1940 when FDR started realizing that we would have to get involved in the war one way or another, he took many carefully well-planned steps that were needed to make sure we were prepared and weren’t susceptible to attack.
In the novel Therese portrays and symbolizes what American spirit is all about and what it has become despite of her creole descent. The character shows a unique sense of women’s independence, a sense of entrepreneurship, a sense of motivation to succeed, and the freedom to express her love and emotions. In the following paragraphs, Therese’s American spirit will be explained through literary elements that are present throughout the novel like the setting, protagonist, and motivation. The American way of life in the south during the late nineteenth century cannot be explained any better than the setting that surrounds Therese Lafirme’s life. The setting takes place in the post-reconstruction America during the late nineteenth century in northwestern Louisiana, which is characterized as the old south.
Walt Whitman Shaping the American Character History Lauren Kilroy Walt Whitman, one of the oldest known poets of democracy, who has writing that has influenced the national character, during the 1840s in places like New York. Walt Whitman is important to the american character because his works inspired patriotism in the United States. "Whitman...spoke to the intrest of the day and from a particular class perspective"(Folsmon 3). During the time of his writings he wrote things that were very taboo subjects like black people. In his writing he did not concern the colored people as dirty or anything bad he empowers them and makes them seem like they are equals to the white men that own them.
Anna Lacy AP Language and Composition; p6 Mrs. McFeely 22 March 2013 The Neon Sign A truly American Audience seeks literature that sparks the human- and specifically American- principles upon which the country was initially built. Ayn Rand is significant to an American Audience for this reason. She brings together the values of egoism, Capitalism, individualism, romantic realism and logic- the components of her philosophy, Objectivism, in her philosophically and metaphysically educational literary works. She enlightens, or reminds, the public about the means to achieve true and genuine happiness by reaching the best possible version of themselves. Rand is to be considered an American hero, thus extremely influential to any audience member she reaches, based on the practical American values she revives in her work.
AP English IV 1st 13 November, 2014 A Life Vicariously through Fiction Much like the characters in his novels, Ken Kesey thrived and wrote to reveal a higher meaning to his encounters to compel his ideology. Raised and inspired by a strong-willed “American frontier” way of life, and changed by, “Social evil, with institutional constraints that hinder individuality” (Cultural Revolution), Kesey never stopped embedding his beliefs into works that helped spark a revolution. In the creation of novels such as, Sometimes a Great Notion, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and Sailor Song, Kesey unfolds the significance of individualism against a structured society, the need for rebellion, and the value of being an outlier in conformity. Ken Kesey
The thesis of this essay is that “On the Pulse of Morning” aims to inspire people to put their differences and disputes behind them and push forward to greater things, because we are truly all the same race- humanity. “Bill Clinton's inauguration came at a time when there were concerns about Somalia, the Gulf War, and violence around the globe. Communism had recently collapsed in Eastern Europe. I believe Maya Angelou was using her poem to acknowledge the past and to comment that what we do right now, in the present, can give us a hopeful future” (Brown). In this profound piece of literature, she personifies three objects that would otherwise be considered commonplace.
Alyssa Malinowski 11/16/12 P.3/4 The Great Gatsby Essay The book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a timeless and valuable piece of American literature. There are many reasons that this book is valuable such as the way they express the American dream. Another reason is the way they show and explain symbolism. Character development over time is also huge part of the story, and last was the way they showed the different classes and tied them to gather at the same time. The American dream is to work hard and achieve your dreams, or to get rich and live comfortably.
What are your feelings about Fitzgeralds description of Gatsby as ‘great’? Support your answers with details from the novel. The portrayal of Gatsby as ‘great’ in the novel is done through the way the American Dream is presented. He embodies it, the ambition he has and the focus and dedication he kept to in hope of achieving his life long dreams and goals. You sympathise with Gatsby as he spends his life chasing a woman who ultimately, when it comes down to it, chooses class and stability over love.