The ending of Song of Solomon is highly ambiguous, it answers little concrete answers on Milkman's future. Milkman does experience an epiphany, realizing the importance of his ancestry and his personal identity. Milkman's epiphany is most evident in his ability to "fly" once Pilate dies. Milkman learns how to "ride" the air by surrendering to it, by letting it take control. By ending the novel here, all Morisson shows is that Milkman flies away, and the myth of Solomon’s Leap lives on. Morrison ends the novel where it does, leaving leaving the reader with multiple unanswered questions and forcing the... Continue reading

From the first two chapters of Song of Solomon Toni Morrison makes obvious that names will play an integral role in the development of characters. Milkman, his dad, and his grandfather all share the same name, even though his grandfather made it up. Macon Jr. (Milkman's dead) refuses to aknowledge Milkman's request to know his grandfather's real name. Macon's dad and Milkman all share more than simply their name, and most likely this will be revealed later in the novel. Macon Jr.'s sister, Pilate, has a name that may possess even more importance. Her father named her specifically and deliberately,... Continue reading

After reading about Apple's hidden methods of manufacturing it is hard not to connect the exploitation of Chinese workers to those of the Congolese in Heart of Darkness. Both Apple and the Belgian operate on the false principle that their objectives are less corrupt than they appear. The Belgian fulfilled the role of the "civilizers" in Africa and Apple seemingly distinguishes itself from its competition as a "unique" company. In my opinion, the atrocities committed by Apple are far more significant due to the fact that, unlike the Europeans, we have unlimited access to all the information occuring in Apple's... Continue reading

Within Heart of Darkness Marlow constantly references the differences between the "savage" and dark Congolese and the "enlightened" European colonists. However, Marlow cites the fact that he feels sympathetic for the oppressed and impoverished Congolese and criticizes the narrow minded destruction of the European colonists. In this way, Marlow cannot be seen as a reliable narrator. Marlow attempts to protect the colonists by describing them as enlightened as sacred while in reality he has no sympathy towards their cause. Similarly, he sympathizes with the dark and savage Africans even though he ostensibly supports their oppressors. This may hold significance in... Continue reading

Breaking Bad serves as a prototypical example of a modern tragedy. The series centers around the character of Walter White, a reserved high school chemistry teacher, father, and husband. As he receives the news of his Stage 3 terminal lung cancer Walter White becomes increasingly concerned with his family. Specifically, he worries that if he dies he will leave them with little to no money or resources. In order to supplement his income Walter enters the methamphetamine production business and pays for all his treatment. Eventually, his lies are exposed and he finds himself without a family and involved with... Continue reading

Key to the plot of King Lear is the fact that the main characters are constantly disguising themselves, either in intent or physical demeanor. For example, Goneril and Regan both lie to their father, professing their love for him while they have no real love for him. Edgar and Kent are similar in the fact that both are forced into disguises by the threats of society. Through these parallels Shakespeare points out a connection between the concept of honesty and the roles people perform in society. It will be interesting to see as the play develops how the disguises play... Continue reading

All I know is a door into the dark, Outside, old axles and iron hoops rusting; Inside, the hammered anvil's short-pitched ring, The unpredictable fantail of sparks Or hiss when a new shoe toughens in water. The anvil must be somewhere in the centre, Horned as a unicorn, at one end square, Set there immoveable: an altar Where he expends himself in shape and music. Sometimes, leather aproned, hairs in his nose, He leans out on the jamb, recalls a clatter Of hoofs where traffic is flashing in rows; Then grunts and goes in, with a slam and a flick... Continue reading

While the plot of Light In August is filled with conflict and power struggle the end of the novel is both amibiguous and offers little progress in its characters. Joe Brown is once again fleeing his prior life, Lena continues on her seemingly hopeless search for Joe, Byron finds himself in a position of inferiority, and both Joe Christmas and Hightower are dead, doomed forever to be known as outsiders to society. Faulkner make it seem as though his characters have made almost no progress at all despite their traumatic experiences. In this way it can be seen that Faullkner... Continue reading