Honoré de Balzac's Views on Family in Three Novels
Honore de Balzac had a talent for exposing French social life, particularly in relation to families. Through Cousin Bette, Father Goriat and Lost Illusions, Balzac expressed his belief that modern society, with greed,…
Communication Styles: Passive, Aggressive, and Assertive Skills
A cousin of mine has a personality that may be labeled as "passive." On many occasions, I have noticed her putting the needs of others first, while considering her personal needs secondary.
The Sorrows of Young Werther: Obsession, Society, and Tragedy
Young Werther is perhaps an extreme case of love gone wrong. Indeed, while it is not normal or reasonable for people to kill themselves when a person they lust for is already spoken for, it does indeed happen even in…
Downton Abbey: Race, Class, and Gender in Historical TV
This essay considers media engagement from a personal perspective, examining the writer's relationship with the television program Downton Abbey. In particular, it discusses how the appeal of Downton Abbey also helps the show mask some of its more problematic ideological issues, such as its treatment of race, gender, and class. While the program touches on these topics, ultimately it uses its representation of history to undermine radical movements by questioning their motives and justifying the unjust power structures that still exist across much of the world.