In 1954, Algeria held a unique place in France’s national psyche, being both part of France and something totally barbarous or alien. Considered French territory, yet filled with Arabs who, in French eyes, were not French. Those not of the Gallic ethnicity were the majority Arab population. According to the elite in Paris, they were… Continue reading The ghosts of Algiers
Ulysses Deriding Polyphemus is an 1829 work by Turner which depicts the tale from Book IX of Homer’s Odyssey of Ulysses, Odysseus’ name in Latin, and his encounter with the cyclops Polyphemus. The encounter results in Ulysses blinding the one-eyed giant and sailing away, taunting the son of Poseidon — an action which comes back… Continue reading Turner’s Ulysses Deriding Polyphemus — a reading
“In Book IX, Milton presents Adam and Eve’s harmonious relationship with the natural world as the clearest symbol of their prelapsarian innocence”. In light of this comment, and with close reference to relevant contexts, discuss Milton’s presentation of nature in Paradise Lost Book IX. Throughout Paradise Lost, the reader is made aware of Milton’s tendency… Continue reading Nature and nocuousness — an exploration of Milton’s presentation of prelapsarian Adam and Eve
How does self-identification lead to the formation of relationships? Self-perception can be one of the most unreliable sources of one’s character; I will show how relationships are based on one’s idea of themselves, rather than who they actually are. I would like to illustrate how the ego prevents one from seeking friendships of those they… Continue reading The friendship contract of a murderer — examining friendships and self-perception in Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment
Katabasis — “a going down” — etymology: καταβαίνειν, Greek, “to descend”, from “κατα”, down, and “βαίνω”, I go. This essay deals with the question of how classical literary elements and mythology can be utilised in a way which enhances the critical and provocative in poetry which seeks to cut ties with tradition, in what at… Continue reading Classical katabasis in Allen Ginsberg’s Howl
