What is more truthful: an autobiography or a biography? Biographies often offer facts backed up by multiples sources and evidence. Additionally, they are more inclined to provide unbiased information as there it is not controlled by a single source who’s ideas are meant to be taken unquestioned. Biographies allow the reader an objective approach to looking at someone’s life, an approach that has already been filtered through the author's mind. The author parses out reality from myth and when they include questionable stories they explain why it is questionable. This gives the reader a fuller picture of the examined subject and helps them see what information should is actually supported by evidence versus what may have been misconceptions.…
Both Oscar Zetas Autobiography of the Brown Buffalo and Ana Castillo’s Novel So Far From God are examples of the use of magic realism and mythology in Chicano/a literature. However, both pieces of Chicano/a literature display their own unique interpretation of self-identity. Beginning with the plot of the Autobiography of a Brown Buffalo, Oscar is a lawyer at the East Oakland Legal Aid society. He drives to his office in downtown San Francisco only to discover that his secretary, who usually…
He hoped this manual of his life could be examined and emulated by future Americans. Franklin explained this purpose of his writings in the introduction of his autobiography with a message to his son. He declared the reasons for writing his story originally were both a means of recording family history but also were a means of offering advice to his son and his posterity (Franklin pg 9). As his biography progressed Franklin’s style changed to reveal a tutorial approach that offered advice to a…
What are the chances that a young 17 year-old boy who ran away from home, would have accomplished great success and became one of the greatest writers of his time? That’s exactly what Benjamin did in his The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. He teaches us some of his own methods of being successful and becoming rich. Not only does he show us that money and success is important, he also taught us that there is more to life like helping people and his country. Not only did he became wealthy, he…
It is not uncommon for people to forget that many renowned influential figures originated from humble beginnings and suffered through great ordeals to become the well-known symbols of change that are written across history books. In The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Alex Haley reminds the world of this fact through his beautifully detailed account of the life and hardships of the great human rights activist Malcolm X. The structure, style, and content of the novel advance the author’s purpose of…
The autobiography of Malcom X has been one of the popular autobiography that has been written about prominent people who made an influence in their nations .The theme of his autobiography can also be seen in the New Jim Crow book by Michelle Sanders. The similarities of these themes have also led to the statement of purpose of this essay, which is to perform a book review on the autobiography of Malcom X and The New Jim Crow book. The methodology of the essay will start by summarizing the…
Banarsidas was not a good merchant, and for the majority of his life, he was not a good man. His first two wives were not permitted to move in with him for a long time, probably because of his reputation of misbehavior and couldn’t financially provide for himself. In his youth, Banarsidas was more interested in learning and love than having a career, disobeying his father. As a youth, he implied that he contracted a venereal disease and worshiped Hindu gods. Banarsidas was not a role model for…
until the 18th century, hence why historians should be careful when analysing such sources (Kendall) . Early biographies from these periods tend to focus on the lives of kings, saints and other notable people. They were derived to inspire people and perhaps lead a more religious, holy life. This is since mostly, the people who were writing these works were monks, hermits and priests using their knowledge and understanding of these people to help raise awareness of their lives. Many were paid by…
Happened by Jenny Lawson. I think a memoir can be desireable as it is a direct reflection of someone's experience which can be more relatable and raw rather than someone simply listening off facts and details. I think from reading a memoir one can learn more valuable lessons instead of facts as the author once again is telling their perspective and emotion on experiences. What is lacking from memoirs however is other viewpoints and information all together as the authors experience would be…
There are some people in the world that just cannot stand reading. These people find reading a bore or think of it as a useless activity. There is a possibility that these people never received proper exposure to enticing reading material, or they were never encouraged by the right people. I was fortunate enough to have three people in my life that really invigorated my hankering for finding more books to read. From a young age, my father had encouraged me to read and explore my love for…