Among them, there is rejection of science, clash between Nature and culture, notions of good and evil (duality), human nature, and the contradiction with and opposition to convention and religion. ... Throughout these events, Hawthorne conveys the romantic belief that science corrupts humans and inflames the greed for knowledge that is beyond human limits. ... Like science, culture is seen as a threat to human souls and nature. 19th C America is characterised by a crucial conflict between culture and Nature. ... This hellish atmosphere of the room leads him to relate it to Dante's Infe...

• Word Count: 9442
• Approx Pages: 38
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

123 I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. 124 I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. 125 I do not think that they will sing to me. 126 I have seen them riding seaward on the waves 127 Combing the white hair of the waves blown back 128 When the wind blows the water white and black. 129 We have lingered in the chambers of the sea 130 By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown 131 Till human voices wake us, and we drown. ... The epigraph comes from the Inferno of Dante's Divine Comedy (XXVII, 61-66). ...

• Word Count: 6460
• Approx Pages: 26
• Grade Level: High School

Upton Sinclair's novel the Jungle illustrates how greed and ruthless competition has made turn of the century America into a brutal jungle.Take or be taken? was the guiding rule, and everyone was someone else's prey. Those at the bottom of the economic ladder - wage earners and their families were at a particular disadvantage in the capitalist jungle.Workers were slaves to the whims of their masters, the capitalist who own and ran private industry. Many of the workers were immigrants ignorant of the language and ways of their new country were the most vulnerable members of this class...

• Word Count: 4457
• Approx Pages: 18
• Grade Level: High School