Category: Character

Notes from Underground written by Fyodor Dostoevsky and Grendel written by John Gardner are both novels which contain characters who suffer immensely as the novel progresses. Notes from Underground is a novel about a man, deprived of beneficial social interactions, who is trying to relate the world to European literature but is failing completely. The…

That the character Desdemona in Shakespeare’s play Othello holds on to her dignified manner until the very end, when she is murdered by her jealous husband, is indicative not only of her chaste mind, but also of her willful determination. Given that women of the time were largely seen as second-class citizens and mostly one…

Often instead of the gallant, chivalrous hero, it is the deceptive, wicked villain that leaves a lasting imprint on the audience. The subversive and incorrigibly horrendous actions of the villains in Shakespeare’s Othello and Titus Andronicus, especially when compared to the helpless protagonists, demonstrate how a character can leave a deep impression on the reader…

“The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil” -Cicero- There are villainous characters throughout the history of literature that capture our utmost fears of hatred, vengeance, and psychotic behavior. The complexity of the characters one comes to adore, though, arise when abruptly, the character manifests some sort of moral condition, or provides…

While certain of William Shakespeare’s plays have so ingrained themselves into popular culture as to be ubiquitous, others are rarely performed or read and are, in fact, largely ignored. Shakespeare’s Othello, one of the former, and Titus Andronicus, one of the latter, are vastly different plays in setting and style, but their subject matter is…

Is a presumed man of God really to be trusted? In the play Doubt by John Patrick Shanley, Father Flynn and Sister Aloysius become entangled in a conflict that casts doubt on Father Flynn’s innocence. Sister Aloysius suspects Father Flynn of dishonest behavior and accuses him of sexually abusing a young school boy named Donald.…

In Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout’s (the narrator’s) older brother, Jem, plays an ironically important role. He may seem similar to other boys in Maycomb given his brotherly characteristics, but there is more to his character. Jem is a luminary to his sister. He realizes the inhumane qualities of Maycomb, and ultimately stands…

Table of contents Life Lessons in “To Kill a Mockingbird” Calpurnia – Learning Empathy Through Service Boo Radley – Overcoming Fear Through Understanding Tom Robinson – Confronting Injustice and Prejudice Society’s Capacity for Evil and Good Conclusion Scout’s growth throughout the story “To Kill a Mockingbird” The Mystery of Boo Radley: A Lesson in Empathy…

“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is one of the greatest works of American literature of all time. It has been reprinted again and again, and is a staple in almost any writing or history class. There are a number of reasons why it can be argued that this novel is one of the…

In the coming of age novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee portrays many characters in various ways, but none more insidious than Mayella Violet Ewell. Mayella is the story’s boldest antagonist. She is a static character who undergoes no inner change throughout the story, although is one of the most influential characters. This character…