ARTICLES ARCHIVE
Christianity as a Form of Empowerment in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre
Written by Noam Barsheshat for Prof. Marie-Thérèse Blanc In Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Jane, the protagonist and first-person narrator of the novel, is under the influence of two conflicting forces throughout her time at various institutions: a form of proto-feminism and a fairly conventional view of Christianity. However, Brontë manages to reconcile feminism and Christianity by presenting a more spiritual form of Christianity as a way of empowering Jane. Through her conflicts with various men―specifically, Mr. Brocklehurst, Mr. Rochester and…
The Power of Language in Animals
Written by Frédérique Dignard for Prof. Gina Granter A dichotomy is defined as “a division into two especially mutually exclusive or contradictory groups or entities” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). In other words, a dichotomy separates individuals of different degrees into two groups of different kinds. In many cases, the first step to make such a dichotomy is to use the language in renaming one of the groups. Thereby the distinction is clearer, and the remaining steps to make the dichotomy complete, which…
The Few That Outweigh the Many: An Analysis of Female Characters in The Lord of the Rings
Written by Gabrielle Rashkovan for Prof. Rebecca Million In The Lord of the Rings trilogy there are several strong male characters that are portrayed as great leaders and heroes. Although the series is lacking a range of female characters, Tolkien chooses to make every female role count. Each one has great power and presence, which cannot go unaccounted for. This is demonstrated by the Lady Galadriel in Lothlorien, the evil spider Shelob in her lair, and Eowyn the Lady of…
The Incorrigible Soul: Analyzing Pity’s Role in The Two Towers
Written by Alex Nikolopoulos for Prof. Rebecca Million After readers gregariously journeyed through the last few pages of J.R.R. Tolkien’s first novel, Tolkien justly rewards their enthusiasm by crafting a sequel, The Two Towers, and, indeed, it does the first great justice. In essence, it is in this novel that Tolkien truly showcases his writing prowess and powerful command of the English language by quickly setting the novel into motion and, in the process, cannons readers into two vastly different…
Diagnosis of the Dearth of Doctors
Written by Denise Felsztyna for Prof. Jeffrey Gandell Since trying herbal teas, applying creams and lotions, and alternating between hot and cold showers were not efficient techniques, I figured that visiting Dr. Kalin was the next move to deal with my sore throat. Contrary to implication, walk-in clinics require an appointment. The process is like survival of the fittest, in which your opponent is an answering machine. The battle was tight during my thirty-minute phone call with the automated system, but…
The Prevalence of Nature in Angela Carter’s “The Company of Wolves”
Written by Anne-Marie Langlois for Prof. Marie-Thérèse Blanc In Angela Carter’s “The Company of Wolves,” the author rewrites the traditional tale of the “Little Red Riding Hood” by reflecting her concerns on the often oppressive religious morals of classic fairy tales. Through the character of the wolf, Carter promotes the embrace of the fundamental conditions of human nature. The wolf’s role in the girl’s character development, his duplicitous behaviour, and Carter’s portrayal of nature’s prevalence over religion suggest the end…
Tragic Hero? THAT is the Question
An essay by Sara Capanna For Prof. Feenstra’s course entitled Drama Tragedy is a genre of theater that has existed for thousands of years. Like the name suggests, happiness is not a prominent feature in these productions. The protagonists of these plays are known as tragic heroes. But what constitutes a tragic hero? In the words of Joseph Kelly, a tragic hero is defined as follows: Someone who begins in a state of prosperity, comes into contact with a force…