Everything Is Illuminated

“Thus from beneath the black veil, there rolled a cloud into the sunshine, an ambiguity of sin or sorrow, which enveloped the poor minister, so that love or sympathy could never reach him.” (Hawthorne). In the Minister’s Black Veil, Nathaniel Hawthorne evokes the idea there is a dark side of humanity and that humans have secrets and sins hidden away from their loved ones. Hawthorne emphasizes that personal sacrifices must be made during one’s lifetime for those you love even if it means giving…

It was time to answer the question, after years and years of trials and tribulations, the day was here. My heart was beating out of my chest as I went through all of the possible things that the doctor might say once he entered the room. First, let me back track a little and explain the events leading up to this moment. My sister and her husband have been married for 5 years now and have struggled with infertility for three of those five years. When my sister and brother-in-law were informed…

beginning to set as we returned to John. The second opening act, Brett Elderedge, had just finished performing and Keith Urban would soon come on. The crowd also became aware of this and shouts of “Keith” began filling the stadium. The stage lights illuminated through the sky in different spectrums of colors. This was the moment I’ve been waiting for. The night was becoming darker as the sun eased closer to the horizon. The roaring of an electric guitar filled the air. The crowd went silent as…

possibly be someone who has multiple degrees, is rich, successful and stable in life. Everyone wants to live a luxurious and tranquil life, however in my opinion I think too much money can lead to unhappiness and depression. When we die, we will leave everything behind. Therefore, we shouldn’t become too attached to materialistic objects because they are just a mere fantasy. We place more significance on materialistic objects rather than the Creator himself, which then puts a strain on our…

A small hand reaches out from seemingly nowhere, the long shadowsmaking it impossible to identify who the hand belongs to. Chubby little fingers waves around in the air reaching for something out of sight. Minuscule scars illuminated by the scare light of the moon. The hand closes around a sturdy bronze frame, engraved with designs. Finally locating what it was searching for, the hand slowly begins sliding the object along the cluttered floor, pulling it towards them. As the hand returns to the…

ambiance of happiness and excitement, was now a dreary and dispiriting place. When I caught sight of the marquee, my memories of the past began to coincide with my vision of the present. The closer I got, the marquee that I perceived as brightly illuminated slowly revealed to be time-worn and dull as reality overtook my illusion. The front was boarded up, but I saw what seemed like a means of entry. After I set foot through the entrance, I immediately regretted…

this--for this--I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the whole world I would not give!”" (Wilde 19). Similarly, in the novel of Frankenstein, Frankenstein's monster is a hideous fiend whom everybody evades because they are disgusted by the appearance of the ghastly monstrosity. The monster is utterly shunned without given a chance to express how benevolent his soul is due to his deformity and is thus detested by the vindictive society. " A flash of lightning illuminated the object,…

However, the desert was not able to help him, and so he expresses his love for Fatima to the wind. He says “‘When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there’s no need at all to understand what’s happening because everything happens within you, and even men can turn themselves into the wind. As long as the wind helps, of course’” (147). Santiago believes that love is what makes you do the impossible, and it is what ultimately drives him to be able to turn himself…

fanciful. And it's a book that bestows a self-congratulatory glow upon anyone willing to grapple with it. "The Book Thief" resembles other, better novels that have been widely popular. Its roundabout approach to the Holocaust suggests "Everything Is Illuminated" Lite. Its embattled, feisty young heroine has a Potterish appeal as she makes her way through a mystifying adult world. There is a Vonnegut whimsy…

But for some reason… He was unable to do so. He struggled to get out of bed as if something, someone was holding him down. His eyes adjusted and there he was. Donkey. With his white teeth barely visible in the poorly illuminated room. Only then did Shrek realize that he was almost naked, with a robe covering his lower region. In the midst of all this Shrek still had time to make a joke. “What’s wrong here, did someone forget to pay the electric bill again?” “Silence you…