Abstract
This paper looks how Susan Glaspell's play "Trifles" uses many ideas found in feminist criticism and explores the three main tools Susan Glaspell uses in driving her point home: the experience of the woman, the traditional roles of men and women, and the use of binary oppositions.

From the Paper
"One idea of feminist criticism is that literature is based on womens? experience, and ?it is specifically the connective, the accumulative details of experience, that provide the structural key for the comprehension of this story (Alkalay-Gut 1).? Upon entering her home, Mrs. Hale notices that Mrs. Wright left certain things undone, such as dirty dishes in the sink, the half-wiped table, and the half-poured sugar. Being a farmer's wife herself she understands this, and defends Mrs. Wright when the men criticize her untidiness by replying, ?There's a great deal of work to be done on a farm (Glaspell, 401).? She understands what it's like to have a million things to do and not enough time to do them. Women often make the job look so easy that men like these believe there isn't much to it. She also knows that these men do not appreciate the effort put forth to manage a household, but more importantly she speaks her mind, asserting her views firmly."

Tags:feminism, symbolism, criticism, woman

Abstract
This paper takes a look at the differences between the two characters, Walter and Beneth, and their outlook on life.

From the Paper
"Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun is a brilliant play about family, money, and power. The characters Walter and Beneatha have conflicting ideas on everything including; who the head of the family is and what it means to be successful, the role of women in society, and assimilation. "A Raisin in the Sun is about dreams, ironically enough. And how those psychological projections of human life can come into conflict like any other product of that life." Throughout history, we have been taught that you have to be flexible and compromise-especially in a family situation."

Tags:benetha, characters, compare, contrast, hansbury, in, loraine, raisin, sun, the, walter

From the Paper
"The purpose of this research is to examine the use of symbolism and imagery in The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. The plan of the research will be to set forth in general terms the pattern of ideas emerging in the work, and then to discuss the symbolic and imagistic means by which the pattern is elaborated, the ideas are given concrete representation, and the combination of dramatic and thematic content given emotional expression.
The action of The Glass Menagerie is built around Tom Wingfield's memory of a family of sometimes violent and often pathetic emotions, and of the just plain sad fate of his mother Amanda and his sister Laura, who each in her way is doomed when it comes to coping with the realities of the outside world. The difference between them is that Amanda is a survivor and Laura a ..."

Abstract
Illusion versus Reality in The Glass Menagerie

A good piece of literature will be remembered through its theme. A great piece of literature contains more than one theme so that all readers relate on some level to the content of the piece. "The Glass Menagerie", by Tennessee Williams, is the perfect illustration for this point. It contains theme on top of theme, each of which may be analyzed and interpreted through textual evidence. I have read this play many times throughout my life; my interpretations have changed along with my knowledge of life and people. The theme I have chosen to examine for this paper is illusion versus reality. I believe that this is the underlying theme of the piece. While other themes and ideas certainly exist, this theme holds the piece together
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Abstract
This paper discusses Arthur Miller's play, "Death of a Salesman". The paper focuses on the dreams of the antogonist of the story, Willy Loman and the way in which Willy surpressed his dreams for the dreams of other people. The paper discusses how he chose the wrong dreams and how this ultimately led to tragedy and to his downfall.

Table of Contents:
How is this the wrong dream?

From the Paper
"Death of a Salesman is tragic because it is clear that Willy's pain is self-inflicted. Had he followed his brother into the wild, or even chosen to work in a more appropriate profession, he could have focused on the dreams that would have truly made him happy such as providing for his family on his own land. Instead, he wastes his life chasing someone else's dream, desiring the respect of strangers so much that he loses the respect of loved ones and becomes someone unworthy of the respect of his wife, the one person left who will defend him. Willy's common and realistic dreams for a happy home are washed away by his unrealistic dreams of remarkable success in business. Biff says his father had all the wrong dreams because Willy only communicated the wrong dreams to Biff and Happy. Willy also had other dreams, but he decided they were not important. However, he made his decisions so that his sons never realized he ever thought any differently, and in that way, Biff's statement is true. Chasing different dreams would have led to different outcomes. The dreams that Willy did pursue were the wrong dreams for him. His death is a direct result of his choice to pursue those dreams."

Tags:dreams, ideals, discontent

Abstract
This paper examines how Robert Rogers' play, "Ponteach: Or, the Savages of America", tells an illuminating story of relations between the Indians of America and their English occupiers. It looks at how in a remarkably progressive feat, Rogers condemns the despicable and dishonorable practices of the English while painting a more realistic picture of the Indians. It also discusses how, in a defiant turn from popular practice and opinion, Rogers quite consciously argues the similarities between the Indians and English while criticizing his own culture's shameful hypocrisy and trickery.

From the Paper
"While the themes of pride and savagery can only be applied to the Indians and the British, respectively, malicious accusations rain on the shoulders of both parties. In the third act, Monelia tells of her British fiancee who showered her with fine words and promises of committal before being rebutted for "ask[ing] to stain [her] Virtue" (III i). The rebutted fiancee calls Monelia a "proud Bitch" and "pray'd Heav'n to blast [her] Soul", and then "bid [her] begone in Haste/ Without the smallest Mark of his Affection" (ibid). This view of Monelia's is to represent the view Indian women take of English men: corrupt, flattering, false, venomous and ignoble."

Tags:indians, savages, english

Abstract
This essay discusses Linda as Willy's main problem for his mental illness. It proves that she is making him kill himself on purpose without showing it to others. Linda ignores Willy's mental illness, while showing that she cares. The paper shows how Linda adds to the problem by her actions. It examines her selfish desires for his well-being which go unnoticed at first.

From the Paper
"A sad, sad tragedy it is. A woman found a man that she thought would be successful in life. Everything might have gone well for a while, but hard times were sure to come. And when they did, the chaos began. What was an old lady to do when her kids turned out to be a bunch of no ones and her husband not making any money, had to borrow money from the neighbor, just to look good in front of his family? Get a job and possibly help? No, not Linda Loman, a character from Arthur Miller's book called Death of a Salesman. Linda decides to be a housewife who pretends to care about her husband's mental state, but, in reality, prefers that he kill himself so that she can live an easier and better life, by knowing of his mental problem and ignoring it, and in fact accommodating the problem, as well as her selfish desires of well-being."

Tags:death, essay, loman, mental, state, willy, selfish, novel

Abstract
This paper analyzes the absurdist existentialist tragicomedy
"Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" by Tom Stoppard. The paper looks at how Stoppard portrays the everyman by portraying the confusion of the characters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (two minor characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet). The paper also explains how this play is a nexample of good absurdist theater because it allows the audience to draw comparisons with themselves, realizing that the characters they have been so critical of, really represent humanity. The writer believes that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are not the heroes of the story and they are not given the opportunity to save the day, and never really manage to change the course of the play in any real way. The writer concludes that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, with their sad charm, are pathetic in a way only an absurdist everyman could be and all of the bleak statements on humanity that Stoppard throws at his audience really mean nothing in the end because after all, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.

From the Paper
"The play opens to an obvious dilemma. No matter how many times they flip their coin, or how much they try to interpret the meaning, the coin is always heads up. They believe they have freewill, and look desperately for a legitimate reason for this anomaly. On pg. 2, Guildenstern muses on their situation, "A weaker man might be moved to re-examine his faith, if in nothing else at least in the law of probability". Three pages later, he is still determined to find an explanation, "It must be indicative of something, besides the redistribution of wealth. List of possible explanations." (And he goes on to examine four possibilities, his will, time having stopped, divine intervention, the principle of probability)."

Tags:absurdist, existentialist, tragicomedy, Shakespeare, Hamlet, drama

Abstract
This paper examines how through a group of seven native women, Tomson Highway's "The Rez Sisters" portrays themes of empowerment and community development. It looks at how a group of six native women, all sisters in one way or another, develop from the animosity of bickering "bitches" to a close community, tied together by their gender, circumstances and ancestry. It explores how through their journey to The Biggest Bingo in the World the women are empowered to achieve a common goal, taking responsibility for themselves and for each other.

From the Paper
"United with a common goal they are then faced with a common problem. Emily points out they "are all welfare cases" and have no money (58,59). They turn to Pelajia, who does have some money, to help (59). Pelajia suggests they apply to the band office to ask the chief for a loan to fund their trip because the winnings could go towards paving the roads and solving all the problems of the band (59). The "grand and ridiculous march" to the band office that encompasses the entire stage, is the women's first surge of communal energy and self-empowerment (60, Pell paper). Again, Nanabush, the spirit of Native Culture, trails merrily along with the women as they march (60). Elated by their newfound empowerment the women are shocked at the chief's refusal (60)."

Tags:aboriginal, bingo, native, play

Abstract
This paper is an analysis of the relationships between Blanche, Stanley and Stella in "A Streetcar Named Desire". It shows that none of the relationships in the play were normal or healthy. In order, it examines the relationship between Blanche and Stella, the relationship between Blanche and Stanley, and the relationship between Stella and Stanley.

From the Paper
"Blanche and Stella Dubois came from a well-to-do family. The sisters grew up on a plantation called Belle Reve. Stella had always been very self-absorbed and one day, she left the plantation behind and found her way to the city. She left Blanche to take care of the remaining family. All was well on the plantation until the depression hit and money was scarce, even for the rich. Blanche had to take care of an ailing family while she worked as a schoolteacher to make ends meet. She saw most of her family die and she resents Stella for not being there to help take care of everyone. She is angry with Stella for leaving her with all the responsibilities."

Tags:relationships, unhealthy