Don McLean

In 1971 Don McLean wrote “American Pie” to remember America as an idyllic country in the 1950’s. McLean wanted to give listeners a snapshot of what the 50’s and 60’s was like while touching on a few of the more memorable events of the era, from his perspective, it was a time of fantastic music and great musicians that McLean wanted to pay homage to. “American Pie” had a deep personal meaning to McLean, it was going to be the last album that his producers were authorizing him to record and he wanted to pay his respects to the classic rock age that gave him his initial inspiration to become a musician as well as to memorialize the wholesome values of the 50’s. During the cynicism of the 1970’s over the Vietnam war, McLean wanted to use his music…

II. On February 3, 1959 in Mason City, Iowa at 12:55 AM, a small V-tailed Beachhead 35 Bonanza left runway 17 for Fargo, North Dakota. III. On that tragic day; musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson lost their lives. IV. I’m sure many of you can recognize the song American Pie, written by singer-song writer, Don McLean; but how many of you know what it’s actually about? I’m going to enlighten you to the story behind the son, the tragic crash, the aftermath and the effect it…

Don McLean was born on October 2nd, 1945 in Rochester New York. As a young boy, McLean gained a love for all types of music and would spend long hours listening to his father’s radio. Having asthma as a child, McLean missed a lot of school but his love for music did not diminish. As a teenager his sister paid for opera lessons for him and along with spending a lot of time in a swimming pool his asthma improved. Around the same time, McLean bought his first guitar. By 1961, McLean’s focus was on…

“The Bell Jar” by Victoria Lucas (Pseudonym of Sylvia Plath) was first time published on 14 January 1963 in the U.S of America after her death in a same year. This book was written as novel by Sylvia Lucas, but in comparison with her life before this book, we can clearly say that it is autobiographical book, where the author tries to wright her personal story but under different name, Plath choose Esther Greenwood as her protégé in the book. Both of them had experience with magazines and…

Figurative Language Comparison Sylvia Plath’s writes with frequent comparisons, always keeping the reader inclined to keep reading to further understand her metaphors. Plath uses a clear example of simile when Esther is dragging herself down about her looks. Esther is comparing her appearance and talents to other people as if she is “a racehorse in a world without racetracks or a champion college footballer suddenly confronted by wall street and a business suit” as all of her accomplishments…

This excerpt from Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar describes the main character’s feelings that madness separates her from the outside world. Referring to those feelings as the “bell jar,” Plath explores the themes of reality, sexuality, and femininity. Plath also creates a tone of hopelessness and gloom as the main character battles with suicidal depression. Esther Greenwood is full of academic promise and ambition. She should be thrilled with her progress towards her career, but she feels…

American author, Ralph Ellison, once wrote, “When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.” In The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, the main character Esther is left at loose ends when the novel ends as to whether or not she will be released from a mental institution. As the reader follows Esther’s descent and ascension from her mental illness, it is wholly unclear as to what will become of her at the end; however, it is heavily implied that Esther is released from the mental hospital because of the…

A young woman searching for her very own identity in a society where basic values are less likely to be tampered with. In "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath, she faces horrific mental, physical, and emotional breakdowns throughout her life to figure out her purpose. Esther Greenwood's dreams and aspirations are smothered by her demanding environment and impinging madness. Esther is probable to fall into a crisis or two and lose her courage to live life. In "The Bell Jar", Esther seeks out crisis…

In the book “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath the theme is family before anything. Family is the most meaningful concept on earth. Your family cares, loves, and protects. Without your family you would be nowhere. Having your family will help get past your troubles, support, and help succeed in the future. First, in the beginning of the book, Esther did not have a connection with her family. “My own mother wasn’t much help” (39). Esther’s mother was callous on her. Her mother had to take care of 2…

The Bell Jar, written by Sylvia Plath, is an outstanding piece of work that focuses on the story of a young woman developing into adult. However, it does not follow the usual procedures of adolescent development into adulthood. Rather than undergoing the progressive education about the world affairs and making a transitioning into adulthood, Esther takes a step back and regresses into madness. All the beginnings of this lady are usually disastrous and disorienting including her first time in New…