Homi J. Bhabha

Imagination is an extremely important guiding force for any age of human development. In finding Neverland, imagination becomes almost its own character as it grows and changes. In the film, Finding Neverland, Imagination allows the characters, James Barrie, and Peter Davies to literally switch roles of man and little boy, showing the literary elements of theme, symbolism, and point of view. The theme of Finding Neverland is to keep your imagination alive. James Barrie, the main character of the…

Holden the main character of Catcher in the Rye, is a seventeen-year-old who acts childish. The many actions he in an attempt to become is similar to an irresponsible adult’s attempts to become a more mature one. In his many experiences towards adulthood he smokes cigarettes, and although it’s unhealthy it’s one of the only ways he can seem like an adult. However, there is one drawback, and it’s that Holden wants to do childish things. His image of adults throughout the book is that they’re a…

Throughout the course of the novel, it is apparent that Caulfield is struggling from some type of “internal clash” (Gaynor 88) that causes him to feel the amount of resentment toward society that he does. Many critics argue that Salinger’s depiction of the painful transition through adolescence in The Catcher in the Rye closely resembles his own life journey. Wan Roselezam Wan Yahya and Ruzbeh Babaee, two professors at University Putra Malaysia, discuss this connection in their 2014 critical…

It is a part of human nature to desire the preservation of youth, in both appearance and personality. Children are able to have a simple and positive view of the world because of their innocent natures. We fruitlessly attempt to protect the innocence of childhood as we mature into adults. The main characters in both A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, and Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, are young men experiencing the difficulties of adolescence. They envy the purity that they see around…

Does everyone see actions and objects the same as each other? Do objects represent moments of time the same as they do for other people? How do some people recognize objects as being symbolic of other momentous occasions within a story? Symbolism is the use of natural objects or facts to convey ideas or qualities to the reader or viewer. Symbols are more commonly used, throughout literary pieces, as a way to project how an author perceives certain objects and people that the characters encounter…

Jon Krakauer tells of how a close friend of his wife and himself had been twice sexually assaulted by someone they knew. Shocked Jon Krakauer seeks to find out more about these occurrences and this leads him to Missoula, Montana, the titular town of the book and how it came to be known as “The Rape Capital” of the United States. He begins by explaining the importance of college football to this community and how the pride they took in the sport led to the veneration of star athletes. He…

Halie praises Ansel because of her two sons, Bradley and Tilden’s shortcomings. Ansel is Halie and Dodge’s dead son that we only know of from Halie. Whenever Tilden or Bradley is mentioned, Halie praises Ansel. While talking about her disappointment of her two current sons Halie said “When Tilden turned out to be so much trouble I put all my hopes on Ansel...He was the smartest probably...Smarter than Bradley, that’s for sure (26).” Halie cannot get over the magnificent son she lost, as she…

When adolescents are faced with the issue of ‘growing up’ many of them pounce on the opportunity to be labelled as a mature and responsible adult. In J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield’s refusal to grow up fuels his journey to explore the boundaries between adolescence and adulthood and find a place for himself in a society he detests. Throughout the novel, it is the children and adults whom he encounters, as well as his internal struggles that allow him to understand his…

Invisible City is a documentary filmed by Hubert Davis. Following the lives of Mikey and Kendell, two youths currently situated in Regent Park’s community housing during the beginning of Toronto’s ‘Revitalization’ plan for the area in 2005. During this development of the city, Davis explores the issues that affect these adolescent boys and their mothers. My initial interpretation of the film is how well the documentary addresses the concerns around public housing. The policy in the film such as…

Is Success Tangible? Arthur Miller’s 1949 play Death of a Salesman is a very powerful play that discusses not only the slow demise of Willy Loman, the aging salesman with two unsuccessful sons, but also highlights the different views that people can have regarding success. Willy Loman, the father of Biff Loman and brother of Ben, is a salesman who has dedicated his life to building up his reputation. His son Biff has spent much of his life trying to find a job he truly loves to do, but has…