August Spies

Throughout history there remains universal themes explored in life and fiction that are not dependent on time or place. In Franz Kafka's novella The Metamorphosis it follows Gregor Samsa, a travelling businessman who transforms into a bug. As a bug, Gregor lives an unfortunate life full of loneliness, which is barely different than his life as a human. In Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron we follow the rise and fall of Harrison himself in a society where everyone is completely equal. Harrison,…

In the short story, “Ball”, by Sam Koperwas, the author teaches us that parents putting their dreams and aspirations on their kids is dreadful thing for the kid and the parent. In the part, where the son gives up on trying to make a basket, the father pulls him by his ear and slams the ball hard into his stomach. Then, the father rambles on about eating an apple everyday and saying prayers can help you accomplish tasks. The father continues with this statement, “Argue and I’ll slap your eyes…

In Franz Kafka’s short story, The Metamorphosis, the reader peers into the life of the Samsa family, seeing the metamorphosis of not only the hard-working son, but also of his three other family members. Over the course of the 100 years of production of The Metamorphosis, there has been many discussions on what Kafka was trying to convey in his morbid and saddening short story. Many discussions include the idea of humanity, and if Gregor still kept his humanity after transforming into a ‘vermin’…

The Animalization in The Metamorphosis Including Feelings of Isolation and Powerlessness in Comparison to “The Panther” The Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka, tells the story about a man’s transformation into a bug. Through his journey in his new life as a bug, he experiences many emotions such as isolation and powerlessness. His family is frightened and disgusted with him and he must learn how to adapt to his new life. “The Panther”, by Rainer Rilke, also displays feelings of isolation and…

The theme of metamorphosis is prevalent in Franz Kafka’s novella, The Metamorphosis. Although Mr. Samsa, the protagonist's father, remains human exteriorly, throughout the novella as a result of Gregor’s, the protagonist, transformation, his personality metamorphosizes into that of an animal. Comparably, Greta, Gregor’s sister, shifts from a her caring persona to an insensitive and selfish sister. In contrast, Gregor who literally transform in exterior, manages to maintain his natural tendency…

Troy Maxson: A Villain and Hero The playwright Fences was written by August Wilson who is known as one of America’s most celebrated dramatists (1427). Fences is based on the life of Troy Maxson, an African American who hoped to play baseball in the Negro Leagues, but is now a garbage collector. In the playwright, Troy could be classified as both a hero and a villain through his words and family. Troy Maxson could be portrayed as an average African American who wants his child, Cory, to…

your family have any traditions or heirlooms that have a great significance? Maybe a great-great grandmother’s ring or an instrument that has been in the family for years. These parts of your history help shape who you are and who your family is. In August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson, Berniece Charles denies and avoids her family’s history by not playing the piano and rejecting the existence of the Ghosts of the Yellow Dog. This reveals how embracing the past can be beneficial to present and…

The Inescapable Void and Ex Oblivione No splendid paradise, no eternal torment, no divine deity; only oblivion and an inescapable void. This is H.P. Lovecraft’s Ex Oblivione prose poem’s main message, but horror enthusiasts are left wondering why he chose to convey this message in particular. Some might say that this was meant to be a work of pure fiction; a poem that does not parallel Lovecraft’s life in any way. Others might say that this poem is a commentary on Lovecraft’s beliefs on…

August Wilson in his play The Piano Lesson writes an enthralling drama surrounded in conflict, family history, and questioning the importance of the past versus future legacy. At the center of the conflict is Boy Willie and his sister Berniece as they clash over what to do with a family piano that used to belong to a slave owner of their ancestors. Berniece wishes to keep the piano and hang on to the history of their family’s ancestors. Boy Willie, on the other hand, wishes to sell the piano and…

Throughout the years, African Americans have always wanted to live the American Dream. Fences by August Wilson is a play about a man, Troy Maxson, who never gets his chance to play in the major league simply because he is African American. Throughout the story, Troy uses baseball as an analogy for his life. Troy is very reluctant to let his son, Cory, play football in college while his wife, Rose, just wants what is best for her only child. In this story, the character’s can be classified by the…