Joe "King" Oliver

Acting as an archetype in literature for hundreds of years, the common man remains one of the most ubiquitous characters in the American literary canon. Even though the concept emerges long before, the idea of the common man mostly manifests itself in the writings of American realist authors during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Realists strive to create works that focus on reality, its hardships, and familiarity instead of romanticized exaggeration of the trivial and…

Having an open mind creates the possibility of accepting new ideas, but refusing to listen to others can do more harm than good. In Things Fall Apart, Antigone, and Titus Andronicus, stubbornness of the protagonist is the main conflict that leads the tragic hero to their downfall. All three tragic heroes, Okonkwo, Antigone, and Titus believe their own beliefs are the correct ones to be followed and that there's nothing wrong with it, however as the stories progress it's clear to see that this is…

Know the value of things, not the price. The Great Gatsby is a twisted novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, there are people who get so caught up in money that they miss out on the opportunity to appreciate life’s blessing. This is a tragic love story that depicts the theme of the “American Dream” and how it is corrupted by the desire for wealth. What really is the “American Dream” though? It is the right to prosperity, equality, and the pursuit of happiness through hard work and determination.…

maintains the tradition of refusing to eat until he sees or hears of a great adventure. This is when the Green Knight enters the hall riding a green horse. He challenges the king to participate in his game that is to strike him with his axe once on condition that the Green Knight can do the same in a year and a day’s time. King Arthur is about to accept the challenge when Sir Gawain says he will take the honour instead. Sir…

A hero can be defined as a person who is noted for courageous acts and nobility of character. The character of Macbeth is a classic example of a Shakespearean tragic hero. In Shakespeare's Macbeth we see that Macbeth is a man of respectable birth who has inner conflicts, and a strong background which leads us to see the qualities of a tragic hero. For example, madness can be described as an internal and tragic characteristic of Macbeth. This plays a significant factor in the decline and downfall…

The play Look Back in Anger written by John Osborne, invites its readers to think about the changes of the postwar ages. It mirrors the British mood in those days by hate and dislike among its characters. As a realistic play it can be perceived as disagreeable and also associated to protest. Changes of stance, different points of view and a mixture of senses and reactions make up the plot. There is a kind of war of hurting words between people, provoked by differences in social class, painful…

In The Great Gatsby, Tom Buchanan is cheating on his wife, Daisy with his mistress Myrtle. In the relationship, Myrtle uses her sexuality to attract Tom and he abuses her by breaking her nose. A reader today with a Marxist and a reader with a feminist perspective may interpret their relationship differently. Marxist literary criticism focuses on the struggle between the lower and upper class and the issues of power and money in literature. Readers with this point of view would perhaps look for…

While The Great Gatsby is a fictional story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in many ways the book mirrors Fitzgerald's real life. The Great Gatsby in its entirety represents the internal battle Fitzgerald faces between his chase of fame and fortune and his loathe of the unachievable “American Dream”. Understanding Fitzgerald's real life is key to better understanding the novel. In many instances both characters Nick and Jay represent a part of his internal conflict. The tragic love story, The…

With the power of wealth, an individual can try to win over their love but will fail in the end. The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, talks about the West Egg and East Egg in the luxurious time of the 1920’s. The novel revolves around the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his love for Daisy Buchanan. This forbidden love is able to portray Fitzgerald’s message in the novel that money can buy an individual popularity in society but not sacrificial love. In society, money cannot…

most likely to break faith with the aforementioned individual. This is reflected in his quote, “There’s daggers in men’s smiles; the near in blood, the nearer bloody.” In context, this quote is spoken by Donalbain, a prince and a son of the murdered King Duncan, after he learns of his father’s death. Donalbain, after hearing of his father’s murder, converses with his younger sibling, trying to determine the best course of action. They decide to separate ways, in order to be safer; after all, in…