Post by oureternity on Mar 11, 2008 10:09:38 GMT -5
Since we've got only four to go, I'll do two more, I read them a long time ago so I'm using different sources, I'm pretty sure it's accurate though.
Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift
"Satire", Swift observed, "is a mirror in which people see everyone else's face but their own". In Swift's satirical masterpiece, spread on four parts, Swift places a mirror of sharpness, gaiety and exposure of humankind and his weaknesses in front of humanity. Gulliver, the heroine of this fantastic satirical novel visits far places in 4 different parts of the country. He visits Lilliput, the land of dwarfs, Brobdingnag, the land of giants, Laputa - an island consisting of intelligent people, and finally in the country of the Houyhnhnms, horses who control human beings. Swift uses all these elements in order to clarify from different point of views the political culture and leaders of his time, and to prove that different establishments don't have an absolute value. Swift also expresses deep thoughts about life in general, thoughts that are still very relevant to this day, and aren't typical only to his period.
Othello, by William Shakespeare
What is very unique about the heroine of the play, Othello, is the reference in the play towards him. Regardless of Othello's identity - being a Moor (Muslim, dark skinned), he's being presented with empathy, a thing which is very untypical in the English literature at Shakespeare's time. The play was written in 1604, although its sayings are relevant to this day. The play represents relationships between women and men - obviously the reader gets the first impression that the men are the one in control of their women, although in a closer look we get the impression that there's a great power attributed to the women of the play - for example, when Desdemona leaves and goes against her father in order to accomplish her dreams and wills. The hatred towards women in the play is very clear and strong, women were extremely inferior and despised - although somewhat, in a lot of courage and power the women overpower it. We get the sense that Shakespeare really does something which is so different from the accepted terms - he breaks all the rules and in this play, lifts up the poor, and the others - men, he represents in a darker light.
Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift
"Satire", Swift observed, "is a mirror in which people see everyone else's face but their own". In Swift's satirical masterpiece, spread on four parts, Swift places a mirror of sharpness, gaiety and exposure of humankind and his weaknesses in front of humanity. Gulliver, the heroine of this fantastic satirical novel visits far places in 4 different parts of the country. He visits Lilliput, the land of dwarfs, Brobdingnag, the land of giants, Laputa - an island consisting of intelligent people, and finally in the country of the Houyhnhnms, horses who control human beings. Swift uses all these elements in order to clarify from different point of views the political culture and leaders of his time, and to prove that different establishments don't have an absolute value. Swift also expresses deep thoughts about life in general, thoughts that are still very relevant to this day, and aren't typical only to his period.
Othello, by William Shakespeare
What is very unique about the heroine of the play, Othello, is the reference in the play towards him. Regardless of Othello's identity - being a Moor (Muslim, dark skinned), he's being presented with empathy, a thing which is very untypical in the English literature at Shakespeare's time. The play was written in 1604, although its sayings are relevant to this day. The play represents relationships between women and men - obviously the reader gets the first impression that the men are the one in control of their women, although in a closer look we get the impression that there's a great power attributed to the women of the play - for example, when Desdemona leaves and goes against her father in order to accomplish her dreams and wills. The hatred towards women in the play is very clear and strong, women were extremely inferior and despised - although somewhat, in a lot of courage and power the women overpower it. We get the sense that Shakespeare really does something which is so different from the accepted terms - he breaks all the rules and in this play, lifts up the poor, and the others - men, he represents in a darker light.