Ian Buruma

which he represents the issue of multiculturalism in France. Indeed, when reading any source, it is necessary to understand the background of the author. For example, the periodical “Strangers at the Gate”, by Judith Miller, can be read in an entirely different light when Miller’s background as a journalist is taken into consideration. Miller, a writer for the New York Times, retired after it was found that her reporting around the Iraq War was factually inaccurate and was overly-favorable to the position of the Bush administration. Having knowledge about Miller’s background as a journalist impacts the way in which one understands her writing. In “Murder in Amsterdam” by Ian Buruma, the fact that Buruma is from the Netherlands and that he knew Theo Van Gogh prior to his death greatly impacts the way in which Buruma will frame things and write about them. In “Rivers of Blood” it was also important to look at Enoch Powell and his political background. If someone were to read “Rivers of Blood” without knowing that Powell was a member of Parliament in the Conservative Party and giving the speech to the Conservative Association, they would not fully grasp the content of the speech. Likewise, knowing that de Bourmont consistently writes articles in support of union strikes and ending gentrification helps to frame the way in which he discusses issues of integration in France. Coming from a history of liberal journalism, it is not surprising that in the article, de Bourmont posits…

In the very first scene of the play the idea of one having control over one's own fate is evident through the contrasting actions of Cordelia's to those of Goneril and Regans. In Act one scene one of the play King Lear decides to give control of his kingdom to his daughters with each daughter receiving a third of the kingdom. The kings’ only catch being that each of his daughters has to profess their love for him in order to receive their share of the kingdom. Lears two eldest daughters Goneril…

Global Issues in Context. Web. 9 Dec. 2015. This column is a take on the more pop-culture side of cloning, where human nature and more negative ethics come into play. It shows how cloning is already taking over the polo world, making it much more competitive. The direction of the sport might mean bad news for actual horses, who can’t compete with perfect specimens. The column offers my paper a look towards the other side of bioethics that condones cloning as “playing god,” highlighting the…

Welcome to the beautiful and distinguished Sinclair family; welcome to American perfection. We Were Liars illustrates a perfect family living the Dream life; private island, grand houses, big family, picnics on the beach and boat rides to the vineyard. The novel indicates abstract concepts of love, loss and youth, and demonstrates topics of tragic heroes, sibling rivalry and political power. Harris Sinclair, the patriarch of the family, is the American ideal. He is the Sinclair family, and…

The presence of the supernatural is in The Tragedy of Macbeth, is common like the one to The of Tragedy Hamlet. Hamlet and Macbeth were both pressured into going against the natural social order that they lived in; Hamlet had the heavy task to cast justice with his own young hands, at the request of his deceased father. Macbeth was told his fate by three witches; as well was haunted by the ghost of Banqo. The presence of the supernatural influenced both of the actions of Macbeth and Hamlet. The…

Many people sacrifice the most important things or persons they have in life just to do a right. For example, in King Lear Cordelia sacrifice the love she had for her father, what can happen to her family while sending the army to attack, or even her freedom after her father realized that she was the only daughter that truly loved him. In other words she sacrifice her life without thinking about it, for love. Cordelia was so blind to realize that her father didn't have much love as he had for…

To what extent are the protagonists of ‘Atonement’ and ‘The Girl Who Would Speak for The Dead’ similar and different? Often, in times of struggle, people can be put in different situations and come to similar conclusions. Authors, Ian McEwan and Paul Elwork, push their protagonists to extremes within their stories and come to the same conclusion, that to move on in their lives they need to find reparation. Briony Tallis from Ian McEwan’s novel ‘Atonement’ leads her family through a long period…

Consequently, Western society’s perception of the aged has not changed much since Shakespeare wrote the play. Moreover, Lear is viewed by his evil daughters as irrelevant, old and foolish. When Lear arrives at Gloucester’s castle hoping that Regan will accept him, she responds, “O, sir, you are old! / Nature in you stands on the very verge / Of her confine” (Shakespeare 2.4 145-147). Regan demonstrates the burden of taking in her father, portraying how individuals in Western society view their…

In the play ‘King Lear’, the play writer shapes the characters in different ways. Gonoril and Regan in particular, display their figures of flattery and blatant boasting in attempt to please the king. It is important to note that both Gonoril and Regan profess flattery through ostensible manner. In Gonoril’s speech, she says: “Sir, I do love you more than words can wield the matter” (1-49). The meaning of this is that Gonoril’s love to Lear is beyond describable, with no word to match her…

The author－Ian McEwan, one of the most influential writers in modern Britain, was born in a poor working family in Alder shot and graduated from Sussex University. He has resolute characters, sharp mind and assiduous exploration spirit. By delicate and trenchant writing style, he is adept at outline a variety of anxiety and fear on people’s mind, and he focuses on violence, death, sensual desires, good and evil. The majority of his novels reflect the dominating forces of sex and the distortion…