The reinvention of Twelfth Night by production company Shotgun Players has several interesting elements. The modern adaptation of the Shakespearean classic is ebullient with innovation and experimentation. The uniqueness of the play is in showcasing how Shakespeare could be transformed into a musical feature. Director John Tracy presents a unique interpretation of the Shakespearean classic…
Category: Literature
Compare and Contrast: Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron and the propaganda of the welfare state
Kurt Vonnegut’s Harrison Bergeron is a critique of overstated equality. As members of civil society we all agree upon the value of equal rights and equal opportunities. But when equality is taken too seriously, it can have counterproductive effects. All of us have experienced inequality of power, fortune and endowments in our personal and social…
Declaration of the Halfrican Nation by Wayde Compton & Stinky Girl by Hiromi Goto
The two texts in question are foremost witty and profound pieces of literature. The artistry and element of fun induced in the two writings make them alluring to the readers. Within this attractive form they present important social comment. As for their content, they both illustrate various hues and shapes that constitute human oppression. This…
An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma: A brief review
Following up on the impressive debut novel The Fisherman (published in 2015), Chigozie Obioma’s follow up work An Orchestra of Minorities has once again created a buzz. Set in rural Nigeria, the novel follows the life of Chinonso, a young poultry farmer, who struggles with the sudden loss of his father, having already lost his…
This Side of Paradise: Literary Elements
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s early twentieth century classic showcases several elements of literary art. The tale of romance and longing of the protagonist Amory Blaine is at once charming, poignant and rich in social comment. In terms of literary elements, the novel is a bildungsroman, for being an exposition on the process of growing up. Not…
The city of Raymond according to Maxwell, Norman and the shabby stranger
In His Steps is a rare work of fiction, which achieves a perfect balance of theology and social comment. The important characters in the novel each add their own perspectives to the town of Raymond. We find areas of convergence as well as divergence between their views on the town. But in synthesis, a composite…
Serotonin by Michel Houellebecq: A brief review
Michel Houellebecq has the distinction of being the best known contemporary French litterateur across the globe. Houellebecq had never hesitated to call a spade a spade in his works of art, be it his novels or poems. The latest offering Serotonin is almost prophetic in that it deals with a phenomenon in France that is…
Comparing two biblical commentaries on Adam and Eve
John Wesley’s explanatory notes on Genesis-3 throws light on the intricacies of the relationship between Adam and Eve. At the outset, the choice of Serpent as the incarnation of devil is explained. The serpent is a sly creature that can operate with subtly in capturing its prey. Since the serpent can strike a fatal blow,…
Negro by Langston Hughes: Poem Analysis
Negro by Langston Hughes is neither technically complex not metaphorically rich. Yet it strikes a powerful chord in the hearts of the reader, mainly on the back of its emotional appeal. The poem is an illustration of how simple words and easy historical references can be synthesized into powerful art. This essay will argue how…
Various treatments of love in chosen literary works.
The nature and context of love in the chosen literary works is somewhat different. Each of these works belong to a different era and represent the sensibilities and customs of their times. At the same time, love is a universal human phenomenon, which transcends time and localized culture. To this extent there is unity within…