J. M. Coetzee

In the drama, “An Inspector Calls” written by J.B Priestley, Sheila’s character is essential in enabling the playwright to convey his message about social responsibility. Sheila’s character acts as the conscience of the Birling family. Sheila acknowledges her faults and appreciates the wrongdoing her family has perpetrated against Eva Smith. Sheila’s character experiences the largest change within the play as she goes from being an immature, childish girl to a morally conscious young woman by…

Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone by J.K Rowling include many characters and themes, as both reveals throughout the book. Bravery, friendship and family are the few main themes explored. Friendship was the theme that linked the story together as it was developed for Harry Potter having adventures with his friends. The friendship between Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley intrigues the readers whereas it contains both genders. Furthermore, Rowling sets the characters with…

Throughout the Harry Potter series, storylines and plots changed throughout the books, but one thing remained consistent- the personalities of the characters. A reader could always rely on Harry to save the day, Ron to be his sidekick, Mrs. Weasley to be motherly, and Draco Malfoy to be a bully. This is because the characters each had their own archetype, or pattern of behavior throughout the series. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling specifically demonstrated these archetypes.…

Parents often find themselves frustrated and lost when they fail to understand the actions of their children, but try their best to adapt to new situations. In The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, the protagonist, Christopher Boone is a fifteen year-old autistic boy living in a dysfunctional family. Ed Boone and Judy Boone, the father and mother to Christopher, are estranged, with Ed being the primary caregiver to Chris. Ed faces many difficulties in raising his son…

Dr. Harald Sala once said, “Understanding yourself is a step towards inner peace, and a step nearer achieving your unfulfilled ambitions.” This quote is seen throughout the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, however there are characters in the play that know the meaning of understanding yourself and the happiness of success. Ben in the play is Willy’s older brother and is a form of guidance in Willy’s life, so he has a major impact on Willy and unlike his brother, he is very ambitious.…

On the Ground with a “Gap Year” Analysis Gregory Kristof wrote the article On the Ground with a “Gap Year” in 2011. The New York Times published many of the literary works of Kristof’s father, which gave Kristof the opportunity for publication by them as well. In his short article, Kristof described his experiences from his time in his gap year. A “gap year” is a yearlong break taken between high school graduation and the beginning of college. After Kristof’s gap year, he attended Harvard…

Since Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and The Odyssey have been released, they have been popular within the literature community and has been notable in the “Hero’s Journey” trope. Both Homer and Rowling have showed how a person can change mentally and physically after undergoing steps that take heroes different pathways as they progress throughout novels, which makes that hero unique in some way. Some pathways within the two pieces of literature have showed some similarities, but some…

In J.D. Salinger's book, “Catcher and The Rye” the main character, Holden is a young man who has already had much to deal with in his life. After dropping out of his boarding school, he travels back home and begins to spiral into a breakdown. Holden’s infatuation with protecting childhood innocence stems from the loss of his brother, Allie. Not being able to fulfill his wants to keep everyone around him “innocent” contributes to his eventual breakdown. Holden becomes obsessed with protecting…

In Hermann Hesse’s “Siddhartha”, John Green’s “Beowulf” and J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” the protagonist’s search for self-fulfillment is displayed throughout each authors stories differently. Siddhartha, an earnest and spiritual pilgrim consumed by his quest for philosophical discoveries and spiritual enlightenment, finds logical flaws in the teachings put before him which has him choosing between family, friends and religion “I have always thirsted for knowledge, I have always been full…

Part of being a teenager is trying to identify themselves and figure out where they belong in life. J.D Salinger, the author of the novel Catcher in the Rye, introduces a character who a conflicted teenage boy that is trying to figure out his identity and where he stands in the world. After being kicked out of his fourth private school, Pencey Prep School, Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of the novel, takes a 48-hour trip to New York in order to avoid confronting his parents until Wednesday,…