Newest Literature Essays

“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.” Ansel Adams proposes that every...

Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita[1] (1960) and Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grande Bellezza[2] (2013) both present the hedonistic lifestyles of failed writers turned journalists whose dreams have been derailed by the temptations and debauchery of modern...

Sexuality is viewed through a social lense and is judged based on behaviours, aesthetics and assumptions. In this sense, sexuality is performative, meaning that gendered actions and mannerisms reflect an internal identity only because they are...

The British Empire entered the age of modernity at the turn of the 20th century on the heels of the industrious Victorian Era (1837-1901), which had been a time of rapid technological advancement. By the end of the 19th century there was...

Color is everywhere; it can stimulate our senses, and it is an element of non-verbal communication. In the 1999 movie Fight Club, the use of the primary color palette plays a role beyond aesthetic purposes, present in the elements of mise-en-scene...

“Most of us are called on to perform tasks far beyond what we believe we can do. Our capabilities seldom match our aspirations, and we are often woefully unprepared. To this extent, we are all Assistant Pig-Keepers at heart.” (Alexander, 1964,...

Medea and Iphigenia, specifically in Euripides’s plays Medea and Iphigenia at Aulis, are two faces of the same issue in Greek mythology. There are cultural expectations of womanhood that involve being gentle, restrained, and obedient. But...

The phenomenon of celebrity culture is not a unique feature of our contemporary moment, the British poet Lord Byron (1788-1824), was one of the most influential figures of romanticism, of strong personality, defied the moral and religious...

The Biblical figure of Eve has been a source of much scrutiny, contention, and conflicting portrayals in literature. Two works, Salve Deus Rex Judæorum, written by Emilia Lanier in 1611, and Paradise Lost, by John Milton in 1667, both depict her...

The historical and cultural association of women as natural caregivers in society goes a long way back in history. Over the centuries, men have often been associated with the outer world (later called the "public sphere") and the provision of the...

South Korean writer Han Kang’s booker prize-winning book The Vegetarian tells the story of a typical housewife in Korea, Yeong Hye who suddenly decides to go vegan in her diet and the consequences that follow. The story told from three...

One of the oldest questions about the universe is whether or not it has a purpose. Many people, especially those who are religious, believe that the earth has a special relationship to the rest of the universe and to its creator; for example, the...

Gillian Clarke is well known for incorporating her own experiences into her poems. One such poem is “Lunchtime Lecture”, a poem that is based upon Clarke’s experiences at an archaeological museum. Clarke, through her critical choice of language...

Butterworth creates an intense, climactic end to Jerusalem, using Johnny as the mouthpiece to vocalise his societal commentary. At face value, Jerusalem is a play centred on the comic story of Johnny Byron and his struggle to maintain ‘Rooster’s...

“And you, a trained man of science, believe it to be supernatural?”

The mystery in The Hound of the Baskervilles puts both the readers and characters (except the detective and the culprits) in an ambiguous position as the boundaries between...

‘Much Ado About Nothing’ is a captivating Shakespearean play which leaves the audience naturally puzzled over its genre. We keep pondering throughout the scenes whether its plot is a comedy or a tragedy. While the unfolding events underscore...

The novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee explored the racist south during the Jim Crow era through the lense of a girl, Scout Finch. Through the novel, we learn of the experiences of the people living through this time, and how racism was...

Introduction

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, by Mark Haddon, has long been praised for its representation of the autistic community. Since its publication in May of 2003, Haddon has received several compliments by notable...

Athol Fugard’s plays often depict the ferment of ideas and the tenor of township lifestyle in the late twentieth century. Like he had experienced first-hand during his time in South Africa, he portrays an explosive mix of Sophia town culture,...

The city was the popular expression of writers such as Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) and João do Rio (1881-1921). Despite having lived in different periods and places, they thematized the city, exploring its social spaces, and promoting a...