Metamorphoses

The constant exposure to relationships, experiences and events fulfil and determine the coming of age process. These may act as positive model or they can challenge a person’s view of the world via turbulent times, in which hope and awareness are gained aiding to acquire maturity. Hence, it is through the use of cinematographic and language techniques that the notions of relationships and dark experiences are explored in ‘Raw’ by Scott Monk and ‘The Breakfast Club’ by John Hughes. Both texts…

Willa Cather’s O Pioneers! tells the gripping tale of Alexandra, a farmer on the Nebraska plains and her ordeals as she faces obstacles with her farm life and personal life. The novel expands into further character plots, however, specifically that of Emil and Marie, Alexandra’s brother and his married love interest, respectively. Ending in tragedy, Cather memorializes them with this passage: “But the stained, slippery grass, the darkened mulberries, told only half the story. Above Marie and…

anonymity of soldier’s deaths and how it is death that delivers soldier’s from the horrors of war. The success of the poem can be directly affiliated with Slessor’s careful application of various poetic devices and his ability to confront and thus metamorphose the beliefs of patriotic civilians. Written in 1944, Beach Burial tributes soldiers who died near El Alamein in World…

What is love? Love is an abstract concept with many different meanings and definitions which can range from dear friend to passionate lover. Many psychologists have 6 or more categories for love; however the Greeks define love into four different categories such as Eros, Storge, Agape, and Philia. Each with a different meaning, signifying different types of love that can be felt. We have experienced at least three of the four types in our life and may experience all four in our lifetime. Not…

In The Epic of Gilgamesh and the Hebrew book of Genesis, floods occur that completely destroy the physical world and all of mankind, except for a select few people who are considered righteous people from their creator’s perspective. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, the god Ea instructs a character whose name is Utnapishtim to build a large boat. According to the tablet, Ea tells Utnapishtim to make all living things go up into the boat. The only people on the boat are Utnapishtim, his family, and a…

When one thinks of Sir Walter Raleigh he or she might pinpoint one aspect of him. Raleigh was not just a writer, explorer, or soldier, but he was all three and many more. He wrote countless manuscripts, discovered many foreign places in the New World, and led the English Navy in the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Even though it is the lesser known side to him, Raleigh had an impact on the way English literature was shaped. He did not write in the style typical of the time period, but instead…

Microbial associations with marine invertebrates Marine bacteria can have a large impact on other marine organisms throughout their lifecycle. Marine invertebrates may comprise more than 30% of all animal species and are commonly associated with distinct microbial communities (Otero-Gonzáles et al., 2010). Bacteria, archaea and single-celled eukaryotes may act as larval settlement cues, symbionts or pathogens to a range of marine invertebrate phyla. Bacteria quickly colonize available…

Unzegeifer, the original German translation, equates to “an unclean animal not suited for sacrifice”; such word is used to describe Gregor Samsa’s transformation into a vermin in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. A working class everyman, Gregor Samsa lacks the traditional societal honor that often characterizes one’s sacrifice to society. Gregor may not be a suitable sacrifice if he lacks the honor, let alone the willingness, to have his sacrifice hold any significant meaning. However, Gregor,…

Totalitarianism is a political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible. In 1948 , George Orwell presents his vision of dystopia , a world consisting of three total governed controlled states constantly at war with each other . Government constantly uses technological advancements in 1984 such as telescreens to keep party members under observation . When oppressed , one might revolt against…

In ancient Greek mythology, there are many stories of strong women, but none as tragically captivating as that of Medea. This story follows Medea’s intense romance with a classic Greek hero and results in tragedy for her and the ones she loves. Readers can sympathize with her heartbreak, jealousy, and desperation as she attempts everything in her power to restore her broken relationship after her lover abandons her for another woman and a marriage that will bring him wealth and power. This…