The Despair of Poverty—Through the Eyes of a Newborn Girl
Moments after her birth, the newborn girl was dropped down a pitch-black trash chute, mercilessly by her young teenage birth mother, as if she was just a pack of unwanted, stinking garbage. She was not the first baby … Read more
Surprise Stoning: Attacking Gender Norms in “The Lottery”
Transcript: Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” explores gender norms and the conforming values of tradition through the suspenseful nature of a dystopian society. The story was published in 1940s America, when the United States was recovering from the events … Read more
The Normalization of Violence in “The Lottery”
Within “The Lottery,” there are many different twists and turns that the story takes to lead its readers down a disturbing path. With a title like “The Lottery,” one might think that the characters within this short story are … Read more
Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?
Nov. 17, 2020 Caroline Cochrane “Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates was first published in 1966 in the Epoch Magazine. In this story, A young girl named Connie strives to be nothing like her … Read more
The Eve of Modern Men and Women
The main character of “Eve’s Diary” by Mark Twain, written in 1905, is about the first woman ever brought into existence. When she arrives, she knows she is there to fulfill a specific purpose, and she begins to explore the … Read more
The Great Storm Before the Great Depression
The Great Storm Before the Great Depression Selfishness, greed, and narcissism. These are the adjectives describing a late 1920s story about a nameless man living in the Florida Keys, who, after a huge storm at sea, takes his small boat … Read more
The Dangers of Blindly Following Traditions
Traditions are important and very current in our society today. They create a predictable, dynamic flow that people can follow while embracing all of the cultures that came before them. Traditions have been important to the flow of … Read more
Women Have Nothing to Lose but Their Chains: “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Charlotte Perkins Gilman approaches attitudes regarding gender and mental health in her 1892 short story, “The Yellow Wallpaper.” Through her diary entries, Gilman illustrates the life of a woman who we assume to be named Jane, who has traveled to … Read more
Living to Die: “The Wall” by Jean-Paul Sartre
Early twentieth century Europe was defined by suppression, dictatorial power, and ultra-nationalism; otherwise known as fascism. Benito Mussolini was the first leader under this ideology, paving the way for future dictators such as Adolf Hitler. Their systemic murder of millions … Read more
Escaping Unjust Gender Stereotypes in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
Escaping Unjust Gender Stereotypes in “The Yellow Wallpaper” Charlotte Perkins Gilman once stated, “In a sick society, women who have difficulty fitting in are not ill, but demonstrating a healthy and positive response.” “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte … Read more