Maria Sibylla Merian

In the 18th century, Maria Theresa, the young daughter of Holy Roman Emperor and Habsburg Emperor, Charles VI, inherited the Austrian, Bohemian, and Hungarian thrones, despite being a woman. Maria Theresa was the wife of Francis I, and the mother of 16 children, most notably, Joseph II, and Marie Antoinette, who both grew up to become major rulers. The archduchess of Austria came across many hardships and events that would slow down her reforms, but her power did not crumble. Whether it might be…

“Nothing is enough to the man for whom enough is to little.”- Epicurus. In John Steinbeck's “The Pearl” there are multiple themes that are illustrated repeatedly throughout the course of the book. One of these themes expresses that materialism and greed left unchecked can lead to immoral behavior such as violence. This theme can be seen in several different ways throughout the book. Specifically, the main character Kino, Kino’s attackers and the fights he had with Juana, his wife develop the…

Greed can definitely control a man and any other person. John Steinbeck, the famous American author, wrote the novella The Pearl. The Pearl is a very interesting book that is a man that finds the pearl of the world and hopes it leads him to great fortune. Kino figures out the hard way that he was wrong. Throughout the book Kino changes his important things in life change as he copes with resolving his internal conflicts. In the beginning of the book he values his family and boat. “It was very…

All Quiet on the Western Front is a novel written by Erich Maria Remarque, a victim and former soldier of war. The author served in the German army during the “Great War” and experienced traumatizing events, such as carrying a dying comrade and frequently working at the darkest hours of the night trying to avoid sniper fire. Once discharged from the military due to medical reasons, Remarque struggled through day to day life, constantly experiencing delusions and trauma from the war. Remarque…

All Quiet On The Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque is set in World War I in Germany, where Paul Baumer, a nineteen year old soldier, is assigned to the frontlines. The book tells the story of Paul on the battlefield, his time in the camp where he stays with some of his old classmates, when he is on leave, and in the hospital. Paul tells stories of the horror of the war and how it changed him forever. The author, Erich Maria Remarque, who’s real name was born on July 22, 1898 in Osnabruck,…

In the short story “The Treasure of Lemon Brown” by Walter Dean Myers and the novel The Pearl by John Steinbeck the main characters , Greg and Kino, face struggles which change what they think is important in life. While each character faced a different struggle they both valued family in the end. Kino’s experiences changed what he valued in life. In the beginning of the story Kino values his family. This quickly changes after he found the pearl. He faces internal struggles and soon becomes…

It is in human nature to be destructive. While humans cannot get along with each other; creating the value of money out of paper, drawing imaginary lines on the surface to claim who owns what land, and even declaring that humans own each other based on the colour of their skin. Wars started popping up across the planet, calling themselves a succession, a revolution and a dominance. One of the first major wars was titled World War One, which split the planet in half: The Allies vs. The Central…

Family runs like a song sometimes high notes, sometimes low notes, but always a beautiful song. The father, Kino, the mother, Jauna, the baby, Coyitito, live in a small brush house in La Paz, Mexico. The most important thing to them is family. The Pearl by John Steinbeck is an intriguing book that exemplifies how much family matters. In the book, Kino and Juana are willing to sacrifice every little thing they have for the health of Coyitito. Coyititos’s health was so important to Jauna and Kino…

As human beings, we all have to make decisions that impact our lives. Some of these decisions could be beneficial; however, others can lead to violence and misfortune. The Pearl by John Steinbeck illustrates the story of Kino, a poor native living with his wife and child in Spanish-controlled Baja California. On a day like any other, he discovers a great pearl in the ocean, as large as a seagull’s egg. Believing that he was now incredibly wealthy, he immediately began dreaming about all the…

Pearls One symbol in the story are the pearls O-lan keeps between her breasts, portraying she and Wang Lung's relationship. When Wang Lung first discovers the jewels O-Lan had pilaged from the rich man's home, Wang Lung demands that she give them to him, but she requests to keep two small pearls, and that was when, "Wang Lung, without comprehending it, looked for an instant into the heart of this dull and faithful creature, who had labored all her life at some task at which she won no…