As with any of the ancient Greek myths, there are always a number of permutations and interpretations of the story that lead modern readers to question what the original intent of the story actually had been. ... Supposedly, Neptune was particularly charmed by her, and was supposed to have been sexually intimate with her in the temple of Minerva/Athena. ... The most fundamental essence of the original myth is that in which the primary character is forced to truly seeing oneself and, as a result, ask the perpetual question of "who am I?" Of course, such a question is at the core of every thinki...

• Word Count: 1572
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

As they wait the waiters discuss how the "old man who sat in the shadow of the leaves-(957) recently attempted suicide. ... These three characters represent Hemingway's perception of himself past, present and future as well as others who share a similar conscience with him. ... In this passage Hemingway himself may be expressing guilt as he acknowledges that he too was once of the same state of mind as the young waiter. ... Those who chose to be conscious of all the suffering and injustices in the world are all subject to the same questions which Hemingway faced yet are able to maintai...

• Word Count: 1197
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

This is the question that plagues the story's narrator, and it has plagued the readers of "Bartleby the Scrivener,"" as well. ... Ahab, who accepts no limits on man's ability to know, sums up the white whale's elusive meaning when he explains his hatred of the whale: "How can a prisoner reach outside except by thrusting through the wall? ... "How can a person exist without communication with others? " he wonders when he realizes that Bartleby neither converses with other people nor reads. ... This fails, but later in the story the lawyer tries again to reach Bartleby when he poi...

• Word Count: 2093
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate