Disillusionment in Postmodern American Literature
The latter half of the twentieth century saw a raft of dramatic changes to American culture and society, bringing with them new forms living and thinking about the world. Beginning in the 1960s and continuing onward, the country saw a deep disillusionment with the suburban trappings of contemporary America, as Cold ar anxiety combined with rampant consumerism to instill a sense of moral vacuity, which was reflected in a variety of literature from the time. In particular, John Updike's Rabbit, Run, Richard Yates' Revolutionary Road, Raymond Carver's short story "Neighbors," and Don DeLilo's hite Noise all explore how the ramifications of this widespread disillusionment play out in the lives of their characters. The narratives demonstrate the paradoxical nightmare of postmodern America; just as the trappings of the so-called "American Dream" crop up in the form of the suburb, the overwhelming dread of the Cold ar fuels…...

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Works Cited

Adams, Rachel. "The Ends of America, the Ends of Postmodernism." Twentieth Century

Literature. 53.3 (2007): 248-272,230. Print.

Carver, Raymond. Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?. New York, NY: Vintage Books, 1992.

Print.

However, towards the end of the poem, readers were given a glimpse of hope from the Voice, whose awakening from the sleep -- that is, desire to die -- had been interrupted, and his reflections on his disillusionment were once again converted to hope and possibly, continuing perseverance to struggle in life.
In contrast to Frost's dominant theme of disillusionment in life, Bishop's "The Fish" is a poem that centers on one's perseverance to pursue a meaningful life despite its hardships and suffering. Life was depicted in general, and the symbol of the fish was utilized in order to provide more meaningful and effective demonstration of life struggle. Life struggle mirrored through the fish symbol gave power to Bishop's imagery of life as both dangerous and wonderful, in the same manner that the sea becomes an essential yet dangerous environment for a fish.

The first lines of the poem are vital…...

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Booth asserts that while Ole's acceptance of death "seems incomprehensible to Nick" (Booth) his "resolve, although leaving too many questions unanswered, is portrayed as admirable and mature" (Booth). In addition to this, Booth maintains that Ole's death and is "in keeping with themes that are recurrent in Hemingway's work" (Booth). If we can accept death in the way that Ole does, we accept the fact that death is simply a part of life and there is essentially nothing we can do about it.

Another character that deserves mention in the story is Nick. Brooks contends that there is more to the story than this, however, in that the story is also a story about Nick. Brooks adds that Nick fits into the story through the process of "discovery of evil and disorder" (Brooks). Hal Blythe agrees with the importance of Nick's inclusion in the story. He asserts, that Hemingway uses Nick…...

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Works Cited

Aldrige, John. "The Sun Also Rises: Sixty Years Later." Readings on Earnest Hemingway. San Diego: Greenhaven Press. 1997.

Beegel, Susan. "Ernest Hemingway." GALE Resource Database. Site Accessed March 22, 2009.  http://www.infotrac.galegroup.com 

Blythe, Hal. Hemingway's the Killers. The Explicator. 2003. GALE Resource Database. Site Accessed March 22, 2009.

Digging Deeper: Flowering Judas and Barn Burning ProposalIn the stories \\\"Flowering Judas\\\" by Katherine Anne Porter and \\\"Barn Burning\\\" by William Faulkner, the characters are portrayed with a distinctive negative style that strongly influences the narratives and themes. These negative traits can be seen as personal flaws but they are also important in understanding the characters lives, natures, identities, and decision-making, along with the conflicts within each story. In a sense, their negative styles define them and also define the world around them. Digging deeper into them can explain much about them and their conflict.\\\"Flowering Judas\\\" - Laura and BraggioniIn \\\"Flowering Judas,\\\" Laura is portrayed with an intriguing blend of commitment and profound detachment. While she is involved in the revolutionary activities in Mexico, her interaction with others is characterized by a lack of genuine emotional engagement. An example of this is her interaction with the young revolutionary, Eugenio. Even…...

Disillusionment and the Harlem enaissance and Post-Modernism
Distortion of the American Dream

The American dream has been as old as the American constitution. From the text, there is a highlight of the American dream and its distortion over years. It is presented as an old dream, which is as old as the Constitution of the United States of America. According to the text, those who framed the American dream were engaged the country in a state where everyone will gain the good as from working hard. Through working hard, people will be able to make it possible to attain different levels of their fulfillments. Nonetheless, today many things have changed with the changes in time (Hemingway, 2013). With the aspects of capitalism and materialism taking root in every society, the dream has been distorted. The possible supports for a statement that many of the people live within their required states of living…...

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References

Hemingway, E. (2013). Hills Like White Elephants: Short Story. Toronto: HarperCollins Canada.

Wicks, R. (2003). Modern French Philosophy: From Existentialism to Postmodernism. Oxford: One world Publications.

Coatesville" John Jay Chapman "The Letter Birmingham Jail" Martin Luther
Deeply Disillusioned

The United States of America has meant a wide variety of things to several different people, particularly to those who have had to call its shores home. The initial promise of this land -- as one of redemption, as a place where the lofty ideas engraved within such documents as the Bill of Rights and the Constitution have never been fully realized by a widening number of people who have never been treated with the degree of parity and ideals within them -- wasted little time in going sour. Virtually any Native American can tell you: there can never be justice on stolen land. In spite of this fact, men such as Martin Luther King, Jr. have written their own documents (such as "Letter From A Birmingham Jail," a discourse about the need for public non-violent protest) attempting to…...

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Works Cited

Chapman, John Jay. "Coatesville." Wake Forest University. 28. Oct. 2011.  http://www.wfu.edu/%7Ezulick/index.html 

King Jr., Martin Luther. "Letter From A Birmingham Jail." University or Pennsylvania Africana Studies. 28 Oct. 2011.  http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

bad it's to say that something is morally ambiguous. Moreover, something which is perceived as morally ambiguous has reasonable grounds and one could say, justifiable means for existing. Let's take, for instance, an individual who although tends to do good deeds usually, is forced by certain circumstances to behave badly: that is morally ambiguous. One such example, however general, is the presence of the courtesans in Higuchi Ichiyo's "Takekurabe" or "Child's Play," as translated in English. Although prostitutes are morally blamed, in Higuchi's story they are somewhat responsible for "how these great establishments prosper" since "the rickshaws pull up night and day. "(Higuchi 1807) Thus, the courtesans deserve certain credit for the economic survival of the Yoshiwara district, making their presence necessary and, as Higuchi acknowledges, "most of the people here, in fact, have some connection with the quarter. The menfolk do odd jobs at the less dignified houses."…...

" In more general terms, Conrad uses Marlow to give his tale, neither the full close of the plot of earlier fiction, nor James' more limited completeness in the formal structure, but a radical and continuing exposure to the incompleteness of experience and the impossibility of fully understanding it." (Watt, 1978)
The strength of subjectivity as far as perception was concerned is another modern theme. It is safe to state that Conrad managed to prove the profound importance of the subjective dimension in a very complex manner. The stream of consciousness and first person technique which he applied had as a result a process through which the reader completely identified with the inner life of the character.

Naturally all certainty and objectivity is lost in the process and not only does the reader not know where he is going, but he embraces the upcoming transformations as exciting surprises. From this point-of-view we…...

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Bibliography:

Conrad, J. Heart of Darkness. Norton Critical Edition. Norton and Company Press. 2006

Levenson, M. "The value of facts in the Heart of Darkness." Nineteenth century fiction, vol 40. no. 3. Dec, 1985. pp. 261-280. University of California Press.

Watt, I. "Marlow, Henry James, and "Heart of Darkness." Nineteenth century fiction, vol. 33, no.2, sep. 1978, pp.159-174. University of California Press

Watt, I. "Impressionism and symbolism in Heart of Darkness." Conrad in the nineteenth century. Berkeley. University of California Press. 1979

He questions whether he should try to clear the court of corruption or just give up and end his life now. It is this emotional doubt that drives Hamlet to act deranged at times, but he overcomes it, and almost manages to answer the difficult questions posed in his life. In Act V, when calm returns, Hamlet repents his behavior (V, ii, 75-78) (Lidz, 164).
In Lidz's book Freud is quoted as saying "that if anyone holds and expresses to others an opinion of himself such as this [Hamlet's "Use every man after his desert, and who shall escape whipping?"], he is ill, whether he is speaking the truth whether he is being more or less unfair to himself." Though Hamlet has proved his intellectual stability, he is quite obviously emotionally "ill."

This emotional illness and uncertainty is why Hamlet procrastinates in the killing of Claudius. On his way to see…...

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Works Cited

Babcock, Weston. A Tragedy of Errors. Purdue Research Foundation 1961.

Charlton, Lewis. The Genesis of Hamlet. Kenniket Press, Port Washington, NY 1907.

Elliot, T.S. "Hamlet and His Problems." Sacred Woods. 1920.

Leavenworth, Russel E. Interpreting Hamlet: Materials for analysis Chandler Publishing CO, San Francisco 1960.

Pearl Poet's Sir Gawain
The Arthurian Legends are one of the most mysterious of Middle English literature. For many years historians have tried to match King Arthur to one of the Early Kings of Britain, however, all attempts have met without success. It is now generally accepted that King Arthur and the other Knights of the Round table represent a composite of the behaviors and attitudes of people of that time period. The same can be said of the character of Sir Gawain in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight." As social attitudes changed, so do the ideal characteristics that exemplify virtue and purity. The character Sir Gawain appears in many versions of the Arthurian Legends. The characteristics and attitudes of Sir Gawain seem to shoe a shift over time. The most widely accepted version of the character of Sir Gawain is the version that is attributed to the poet known…...

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Works Cited

Abrams, M.H. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. New York W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1993.

Andrew, Malcolm, and Ronald Waldron, eds. The Poems of the Pearl Manuscript. 2d ed.

London: Arnold, 1982; Gordon, E.V., ed. Pearl. Oxford: Clarendon, 1953.

Bishop, Ian. Pearl in Its Setting- A Critical Study of the Structure and Meaning of the Middle English Poem. Oxford: Blackwell, 1968

Tim O' rien, Wilfred Owen & "Saving Private Ryan"
The theme of disillusionment in war as reflected in the works of Tim O'rien, Wilfred Owen, and the film "Saving Private Ryan"

More than being a mirror of everyday life, literature has also been a venue for expressing messages that are political in nature. This was evident in literary works that address humanity's experiences in different world wars soon after the 20th century had emerged. With the declaration of the first, then eventually the second, world wars, human, particularly American, society had also been involved in the Cold War. This long history of wars fought by the Americans may have shown the patriotism and courage of its people, but praise and glorification of the war was given in the midst of numerous criticisms from the civil society. Criticisms against war efforts were expressed by the civil society because they were the ones who…...

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Bibliography

O'Brien, T. (1990). The Things They Carried. NY: Broadway Books.

Owen, W. E-text of "Dulce et decorum est." Available at:  http://www.englishverse.com/poems/dulce_et_decorum_est .

"Saving Private Ryan." Directed by Steven Spielberg.

Joseph Heller
The novels "Catch-22" and "Something Happened" demonstrates the inevitable presence of black humor, irrationality and immorality that prevails in times of war or conflict in human society, as humans pursue power and superiority -- that is, survival (of the fittest).

Outlining of the three major themes discussed in the paper, namely: black humor, irrationality, and immorality in Catch-22, mainly centering on the characters in the novel. Comparison of "Catch-22" against another Heller novel, "Something Happened."

Illustrations of lack Humor in "Catch-22" vis-a-vis "Something Happened"

Demonstrations of irrationality in "Catch-22" vis-a-vis "Something Happened"

Presence of immorality in "Catch-22" vis-a-vis "Something Happened"

Synthesis

Heller's consistent portrayal of humanity as ultimately irrational and immoral portrays humans' innate need to survive regardless of the means by which they achieve it (survival).

Conclusion: Reiteration of the thesis statement

lack Humor, Irrationality and Immorality of Human Society as Portrayed in Joseph Heller's novels (Catch-22 and Something Happened)

Mid-20th century had been a pivotal point…...

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Bibliography

Cochran, D. (2000). America Noir: Underground Writers and Filmmakers of the Postwar Era. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.

Coker, C. (2003). Humane Warfare. NY: Taylor & Francis.

Doody, M. (1996). The True Story of the Novel. NJ: Rutgers UP.

Garrett, D. (2001). "Portrait of the Artist, As an Old Man." World Literature Today, Vol. 75, Issue 1.

Essay Topic Examples 1. The Illusion of the American Dream in 'The Great Gatsby':
     Explore the portrayal of the American Dream in F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby' and how the relentless pursuit of wealth and status leads to downfall and disillusionment, focusing on characters like Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan.

2. Symbolism and Imagery in 'The Great Gatsby':
     Analyze the use of symbols such as the green light, the eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg, and the Valley of Ashes. Discuss what these symbols represent in the novel and how they contribute to themes like decay, hope, and the moral emptiness of society.

3. Gender Roles and Relationships in 'The Great Gatsby':
     Examine the dynamics of gender and relationships within 'The Great Gatsby.' Contrast the different roles and expectations for men and women, as well as how characters like Daisy Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson, and Jordan Baker navigate their societal positions.

4.…...

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Primary Sources

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 1925.

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Letters of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Ed. Andrew Turnbull. Scribner, 1963.

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. Trimalchio: An Early Version of \'The Great Gatsby\'. Edited by James L. W. West III, Cambridge University Press, 2000.

Fitzgerald, F. Scott. F. Scott Fitzgerald\'s Ledger: A Facsimile. Edited by Matthew J. Bruccoli, University of South Carolina Press, 1972.

Fitzgerald, Zelda. Save Me the Waltz. Southern Illinois University Press, 1981.

" Both of these statements are quite arguably true, yet both also smack of the immature self-assuredness that belies the innocence of the speaker, and it is this aspect of the girl -- her very pretensions to adulthood that, in effect, render her a more honest adult than most real adults -- that the narrator of the story seems to find the most interesting and appealing. As the girl is only beginning to glimpse the lack of innocence that accompanies growing up, and appears to be enjoying it, the narrator is able to travel the reverse course and rediscover an innocence thought lost.
This rediscovery happens in a far more direct way at the end of the story, when the narration has switched primarily to a third person, until Sergeant X -- who is obviously embittered, somewhat shattered, and generally disconnected from his life -- receives a letter form Esme. The…...

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Works Cited

Eger, Christopher. "The Military Service of J.D. Salinger." Accessed April 2010.  http://ww2history.suite101.com/article.cfm/the-military-service-of-jd-salinger 

Salinger, J.D. "A Perfect Day for Bananafish." In Nine Stories. New York: Little, Brown, & Co., 1991.

Salinger, J.D. "For Esme -- With Love and Squalor." In Nine Stories. New York: Little, Brown, & Co., 1991.

Salinger, J.D. Franny and Zooey. New York: Back Bay Books, 2001.

Human Suffering in the Midst of Progress in the orks of EE Cummings & Mark Rothko
At the turn of the 20th century, American culture has flourished significantly, especially with the emergence of important fields of discipline that evoke individualism and free expression in works of art created by American artists. This phenomenon is especially evident after orld ar II, where the conflict among the world's nations had affected the psyche of American society and nation, one of the major players in the recently concluded war. After II, different lifestyles have emerged in the American society: consumerism, urbanism, and hedonism. These lifestyles gave birth to individualism and freedom of expression among people, especially now that the mass media made it possible for the society to exchange and extend messages and information to people located in different areas. However, despite these developments in American life, people have initially become disillusioned and…...

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Works Cited

Rothko, M. "Gethsemane" (painting). National Gallery of Art. Available at  http://www.nga.gov .

A cummings, e. e. "pity this monster, manunkind." Available at http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/8454/554.htm.

1. Analyze Ethan Frome as a tragic hero, considering his flaws and the events that ultimately lead to his downfall.
2. Discuss the theme of isolation in Ethan Frome, exploring how characters such as Ethan, Zeena, and Mattie experience loneliness and alienation.
3. Compare and contrast the contrasting settings of Starkfield and the Frome household to illustrate the stifling atmosphere that permeates the novel.
4. Explore the role of fate and destiny in Ethan Frome, considering how the characters' choices and actions are ultimately determined by external forces.
5. Examine the theme of duty and responsibility in the novel, focusing on how Ethan's sense....

I. Introduction

A. Thesis Statement: Paganism, an ancient and multifaceted spiritual practice, has seen a significant resurgence in modern times.
B. Background on Paganism:
Definition and origins
Overview of various traditions and beliefs

II. Factors Contributing to the Resurgence of Paganism

A. Disillusionment with Traditional Religions:
Loss of faith in organized institutions
Search for meaning and connection beyond dogma
B. Interest in Spirituality and Alternative Lifestyles:
Rising popularity of meditation, mindfulness, and holistic practices
Growing acceptance of non-mainstream spiritual paths
C. Environmental Concerns and Connection to Nature:
Growing awareness of environmental degradation
Desire to reconnect with the natural world and its....

Structural Analysis of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men": Interplay of Time, Isolation, and the American Dream

Thesis Statement:

John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" is a meticulously structured novel that employs a dynamic interplay of time, isolation, and the American Dream to explore the complexities of human existence and the fragility of hope. Through the novel's unique structural framework, Steinbeck illuminates the profound impact of these elements on the characters' relationships, choices, and ultimate fates.

Part I: Temporal Flux and the Illusion of Control

Non-Linear Narrative: The novel's unconventional structure juxtaposes past and present, fragmenting the narrative into disjointed memories and flashbacks.....

Research-Based Essay on The Lottery

Introduction

"The Lottery," Shirley Jackson's chilling short story, has captivated readers since its publication in 1948. This essay will delve into the story's historical and sociological context, examining how it reflects the fears and anxieties of post-World War II America. Through a research-based analysis, we will explore the various interpretations of the story and its enduring significance in contemporary literature.

Ritual and Tradition

"The Lottery" centers around a yearly ritual in an unnamed village, where the community participates in a seemingly harmless lottery drawing. However, as the story progresses, the horrific nature of the ritual is revealed: the winner....