Southern Hemisphere

The theme of fear and paranoia presented in Waiting for the Barbarians, by J.M. Coetzee, apparent in the white population of the frontier town, lies in the ever present idea that black people are inherently evil and should be avoided at all times. This idea presented by Coetzee, stems from the similar mentality present in what was then, current day South Africa. It can be proved that this idea was merely formed from paranoia, with little substantial evidence to prove the dark side of the black…

Morrison has created memorable African American characters who struggled to live their lives as full individuals with their triumphs and tragedies. Her characters overcome the brutality of slavery, racial and economic oppression and sexism; they depend on their own inner strengths, spirituality and love of their African American culture. In her writings, Morrison shows the invisible bonds of the African American community. According to Morrison, her characters go through difficult circumstances.…

in America, and his short story “Home” is a prime example of his moving work. “Home” follows an ill black violinist, Roy Williams, who returns back home to the United States after a brief stay in Europe. Unfortunately, he returned to his small southern hometown called Hopkinsville in Missouri during the early twentieth century. The time when the Jim Crow laws were still intact. The story follows an ill Roy wanting to see his family for the first time in years, but his return was not filled…

Racial discrimination represents an issue which damages the foundation of any civilized society – it turns people against each other and has no basis except ignorance and thirst for power. Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man” approaches this problem through the eyes of a young black man, at the beginning of the twentieth century in America, an invisible entity without a voice in a divided society, in which political decisions are made by the white people in power. The main character is…

Tough Love In her book The Bluest Eye, Morrison presents the line between success and failure, drawn by parents’ to their African American children, as a tool used to prepare them for society. The line is depicted through the parents attitudes towards their children. Their mannerisms mimic how society has treated them in the past, moreover, it is a mechanism used to prepare their children for what is to come. Consequently, if the child can’t physically or mentally take it, they fail. If the…

As America entered her antebellum period, there was a shifting of culture while the constitution remained the foundation of the nation, people began to question the injustices of certain people groups, Indians, Blacks and women. What is more, many writers touted the greatness of America, while others doubted whether the institutions of the nation were worth following. Among these writers was Ralf Waldo Emerson and Sojourner Truth. Although it is unknown if their lives intersected, there is a…

Social Mobility For Gatsby vs Janie Upon first glance, Gatsby from Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, and Janie from Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God seem very different. Gatsby — a wealthy white man-- seemingly has all the ability in the world to gain money and status, whereas Janie appears to have very little social mobility, as she is a black woman living in the South. However, upon closer inspection, it is clear that they have similar hopes and dreams, and that within their…

The first two readings of this week were found on D2L and they were Appalachian Values and Appalachian History. Appalachian Values is a enjoyable read, giving fantastic insight into Appalachian culture and mannerisms. Seeing as my family was raised in an Appalachian part of Tennessee, I am beginning to see that many of my family’s values reflect these values. My family has always been proud of its self-reliance and I relate that to Appalachia as well, by growing our own food, providing our own…

The year was 1963, many historical feats were occurring, Nixon and Kennedy had the first televised debate, Mohamed Ali won a gold medal and the Civil Rights Movement was at a climax in America. As the chaos of segregation was unfolding in the Southern states, Governor George C. Wallace and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, were at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement. In the beginning of the year, Governor Wallace will address his constituents with his, “Segregation Now, Segregation Forever”…

Second Essay During the half-way point of the twentieth century, new themes in American writing emerged as the social circumstances around the country changed. Two clear examples of these changes in themes are the plays A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolff by Edward Albee. In both of these plays, the concept of living a life of Illusion is a major theme that had not until then gained the attention of the American public. Through the…