John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath explains how Oklahoma’s economic situation affected the Joads in the 1940s. Tom Joad returns to his home after being released from prison. He finds his family house abandoned. Tom, Jim Casey and Muley, his neighbor, learn that banks have forced out almost all of the local farmers. Tom’s parents are …

The Death and the King’s Horseman drama is based off a true story that occurred in Nigeria under British colonial control, when the authorities prevented the Horseman of the Yoruba King from committing a ritual suicide. Soyinka questions the Horseman about his own suicide fervour, which throws the community off balance. By analysing Soyinka’s play, …

Imagine a world similar to 1984, in which the government controls almost everything. It may sound too harsh but this is already reality. Dystopian is a fictional place with bad things happening, but it’s too close to reality for us to call this dystopian. George Orwell’s novel 1984 is a hyperbolic version of our world. …

People have dreamed about standing at the top of the earth to see everyone below, to feel powerful and accomplished. Climbers push themselves to the limits to achieve a moment of pure ecstasy. Jon Krakauer had a dream of this moment, but it was also the moment he almost died. Jon Krakauer reveals what happened …

In all of the Shakespeare criticism, the debate has centered around the problem plays. Kiernan Ryan says critics should either focus on the fact that these plays have ‘political implications inherently’ or use a deconstructive or psychoanalytical approach. Jonathon McLuskie, Kathleen McLuskie, and others have suggested that these plays were not in any way problematic. …

Inequality has been a constant throughout history for women. In some places, notably the West, women made huge strides towards equality and gaining respect. Even though the west has made these changes, women still face sexism in many places. Khaled Hosseini examines in A Thousand Splendid Suns the treatment women receive, specifically Laila Mariam. Hosseini …

Our world has undergone a radical transformation in recent years. To survive today, you need to believe in yourself. To me, believing in myself means to know yourself and your strengths, to fight for your passions, and to be vocal whenever appropriate. As I read Alexie’s Indian Education and Carvers’ What We Say When We …

Drama is a distinct fictitious form that is meant to be performed in front of an audience. Drama comes from the Greek word for “dramatic” which means to perform or act. Drama is the art of bringing a story to life. It is told through dialogue, action, and is complemented by the setting which is …

Historians and critics have different opinions about Homer’s authenticity. The authenticity of The Iliad is often in dispute. Academic circles also sometimes question Shakespeare’s authorship. EV Rieu’s introduction reveals that Ilium was indeed present in modern-day Turkey. Although the Greeks may have actually occupied it, Rieu points out that Homer was not concerned about the …

Jonathan Swift, writer and satirist said that “satire…is a form of glass” wherein all eyes see the faces of everyone else (Swift). Swift mentions that such beholders use humor to express social and political problems. Swift’s satire A Modest Proposal is a combination of rhetoric, overt exaggeration, insincerity and humour to draw attention to the …