For Writergrrl101

Crime and Punishment: Crime and Punishment shows the folly of intellectual ambition. The novel tells the tale of a law student, Raskolnikov, who commits a murder of an old pawnbroker, half to show his own brilliance as a Napoleon of crime, half to steal the woman's money to give to the poor. Raskolnikov bungles the murder and also ends up killing the old woman's sister. He hardly obtains enough money to be of any significance to anyone. The presence of a young woman forced into prostitution, Sonia, shows him the importance of humility, and her piety eventually causes him to repent and realize that a good heart is more important than a good mind or an intellectual theory of charity.

Canterbury Tales: Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales illustrates how people of the Middle Ages were not stereotypes, but had complex views of their society just like we do of our own world. Chaucer laughs at pious hypocrites and celebrates women like the bawdy wife of bath. Both noble tales and tales making fun of old men who marry young women are found in the book, showing the diversity of medieval society and the common humanity that unites people across the ages.

Macbeth: Macbeth illustrates how absolute power can corrupt absolutely, and violence begets violence. Macbeth is not a bad man at the start of the play, but he commits an evil action, and his usurpation of the Scottish throne turns him into a tyrant, a monster he cannot recognize in the mirror. From a good soldier, he turns into a bad king. He becomes a man who believes the transparent lies of the witches who, along with the urging of his ambitious wife, motivated him to commit the murder of King Duncan.

Hamlet: Hamlet's depressed and uncompromising nature resonates with anyone who has ever been an adolescent. Hamlet is intensely critical of aspects of his society others take for granted, such as King Claudius' right to marry his brother's widow and Old Hamlet's suspect death. Hamlet's criticism can be harsh, and misogynistic as well as misanthropic, but he is an inspiring example for young readers. He urges readers and playgoers today to continually question the morality of their elders and betters, and strike out against the 'smile' or lie that hides the real truth about power in society.