One may think it is unfair to try so hard to accomplish a goal‚ and in the end it seems that all their hard work and everything they lost paid off for nothing. David Mamet once said “…it is the human lot to try and fail...” I agree with this quotation because it cannot be truer in my own life‚ as well as the tragedy Antigone by Sophocles in which two tragic heroes Creon and Antigone have to endure the pain of trying and failing. To the naked eye it may seem although Creon and Antigone are the complete
Premium Sophocles Oedipus Tragedy
It is perceived throughout literature that characters within a novel are solely prompted by personal interests. Yet‚ we learn that they are sometimes driven throughout the work ascertaining a purpose larger than themselves. Whether it is an author’s use of literary elements (such as dialogue‚ characterization‚ or conflict) or even in their craft alone‚ it is inevitable in the two classic works: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and The Crucible by Arthur Miller. In The Grapes of Wrath‚ we discover
Premium The Crucible The Grapes of Wrath Salem witch trials
Authors use pieces of literature such as Joseph Conrad’s novel‚ The Heart of Darkness‚ the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe‚ and the satirical essay by Binyavanga Wainaina “How To Write About Africa” to show how they or other people portray Africa. Authors use different tones of voice to write: either about the same event or the same place so that their works appeal to a specific audience. Books can be written for the same audiences as well. Authors can voice their books differently to get
Premium Black people Chinua Achebe White people
Lao Tzu once said‚ “He who gains victory over other men is strong‚ but he who gains a victory over himself is all powerful.” I believe this means that the most powerful person is one who understands and has control over themselves. Richard Wright‚ in his autobiography Black Boy‚ and the titular character of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel‚ The Great Gatsby both lend themselves in portraying the truth of this quote. This quote can be interpreted as saying that one who understands and has control over
Premium F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby Jay Gatsby
Most people would say that‚ “after the lowest part of your life‚ there will always be a light that follows it”. In Night by Elie Wiesel and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho‚ characters are placed in a situation where in they are challenged. However‚ after all the hard work and sacrifice they went through it all paid off at the end. As the story progresses in each book‚ characters go through tons of complications which then causes them to have the mindset of giving up. Although life is a gamble‚ unless
Premium Auschwitz concentration camp Elie Wiesel
Kevi Fuseyamore May 29‚ 2013 Genna pd. 8 Benjamin Disraeli once said‚ "Circumstances are beyond the control of man; but his conduct is in his own power." This quote means that we can’t control our natural given situations‚ but we can control how we go about them. I agree with this quote because not only does it apply to literature‚ but it applies to real life as well. A Raisin In the Sun by Lorraine Hansbury and The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time by Mark Haddon both illustrate the
Premium The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time English-language films
Robert Assagioli once said‚ “Without forgiveness life is governed by . . . an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation.” In other words‚ if one can’t learn to be compassionate‚ one’s life is going to be controlled by a continuous feeling of hatred and revenge. This quote is accurate because people need to forgive others in order to move on with their own lives. Harboring negative feelings and holding grudges consumes you. The Tragedy of Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare illustrates this quote
Premium Romeo and Juliet Characters in Romeo and Juliet Tybalt
F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby as memoir recalling a story of a life he once pertained. Within writing this narrative containing several symbols and metaphor it reveals the dark truth of life. As Hamlet said to Ophelia‚ “God has given you one face‚ and you make yourself another.” The battle between who Gatsby is and who he perceived himself to be‚ creates a futile battle. As the narratives reaches the peak of the climax‚ Gatsby believes by wedding Daisy he’d reach ultimate success. However
Premium F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby Jay Gatsby
“Reading good literature won’t make a reader a better person any more than just sitting in a church‚ synagogue‚ or mosque will. But reading good books well just might.” This quote is from the article “How Reading Makes Us More Human.” It shows that although the common belief is that reading will make us better people‚ it doesn’t mean anything to us unless we really know how to comprehend the book itself and allow it to influence our decisions. A text that applies to this idea is A Raisin in the Sun
Premium Change Human A Raisin in the Sun
In the novel Go Set a Watchman‚ Harper Lee comments‚ “Prejudice‚ a dirty word‚ and faith‚ a clean one‚ have something in common: they both begin where reason ends” (Lee 270-1). This quote not only describes what prejudice is‚ but also how it comes to be. Prejudice is illustrated in many different forms throughout various works of literature. A few skillfully portrayed classics include: Twelve Angry Men‚ a play by Reginald Rose‚ “As I Grew Older”‚ a poem by Langston Hughes‚ and To Kill a Mockingbird
Premium To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee Jury