Although, the message of the story was the clear, the manner in which the story was told was quite vague to me. ... Kurosawa used parts of both stories to establish the theme of the movie. ... The written text simply lays out what happened and does not give much impact on the message of the author. For me, just reading the text alone did not show me the deeper focus of the story. ... It had more emotion and I think that it has challenged me more. ...

• Word Count: 1134
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper," is a story about a new mother suffering from a temporary nervous depression. ... In this story, Gilman uses symbolism to reveal some themes associated with "The Yellow Wallpaper." Gilman uses the symbolism of the yellow wallpaper itself to expose ideas regarding the themes of entrapment and oppression associated with Victorian gender roles as well as the relationship between creativity and mental health. ... By the end of the story, the narrator finds escape when she becomes the wallpaper woman as she cre...

• Word Count: 1068
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

"Show Me the Money!... This particular theme is how consumerism plays a role in the Pleasure vs. ... All in all, these two ads support Cross's theme of Pleasure vs. ... For the most part both ads tell their own story. Each story holds the same conclusion of constructing the ideal model of a 1950's woman. ...

• Word Count: 1155
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

The theme can be paraphrased by the author or shown through statements made by a character. As I read over Ernest Hemingway's short story, Hills Like White Elephants, there is one powerful theme that clearly stands out. ... The man then goes on to say, "And if I do it you"ll be happy and things will be like they were and you"ll love me?" ... For example, during the opening conservation it seemed to me that when the woman said she felt the mountains looked like white elephants. ... This shows a lack of interest, and gives me the feeling that he was thinking when to inquire about the abo...

• Word Count: 963
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Throughout the story the narrator has an issue with thinking on her own. ... The theme of freedom reveals itself at the end of the story when the narrator started tearing down the wallpaper in the room. In the story the narrator is physically ripping the wallpaper apart. ... And I've pulled off most of the paper, so you can't put me back!'... Gilman Perkins captures this theme of gender by not giving the narrator a name. ...

• Word Count: 627
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The narrator disagrees, and believes that, "congenial work, with excitement and change would do me good" (159). He feels that he is helping her by not giving her any responsibility, but in reality that lack of control she has over her own life causes her to become even more ill. ... She states that, "it keeps me quiet by the hour" (166). ... And I've pulled off most of the paper, so you can't put me back!'" ... In this story the theme and point of view interlace and work together to create an intense description of an almost child-like prescription for overcoming depression. ...

• Word Count: 1298
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The "damsel in distress" who is saved by her "knight in shining armor" seems to have been a theme in most stories. Nathaniel Hawthorne strayed from this redundant theme in his story The Scarlet Letter. ... Despite being troublesome and quite a handful, Hester manages to give Pearl what most girls at her time never caught a glimpse of the freedom to be herself. ... Even Dimmesdale himself refers to Hester's strength when he says, "Thy strength Hester support me up yonder scaffold" (Hawthorne, 194). ... Never did it occur to me that Hester wanted to keep Pearl from her father though it ...

• Word Count: 3565
• Approx Pages: 14
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Both Tales share the common theme of women's power over men. ... With his story the priest tells the young man that "Scholars who heard this story wrote it down to teach that obedience may well bring a man to love and give him happiness, as it did this knight- (Florent 3). ... After he gives the choice to his mistress she becomes overjoyed, because now she will be beautiful all the time for the rest of her life. By giving the power to his mistress to make the choice, she is freed from a spell that was put on by her evil stepmother (Grower 3). ... This is evident through the knights wo...

• Word Count: 1259
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The theme of race throughout "Desiree's Baby" reveals racism in a universal nature. ... Mallard has heart problems which made me view her as a naturally weaker character at the beginning of the story. ... In "Story of an Hour", marriage gives the impression that the male has complete control over the woman. ... This showed me that a woman in the nineteenth century was not even aware just how much she has to hold back and give up when married. ... In conclusion, Kate Chopin's works, for example, "Desiree's Baby" and "Story of an Hour" showe...

• Word Count: 1578
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

This story takes place in the Australian bush, nineteen miles away from the nearest civilization. ... This short story is about a woman who is alone with her four kids when they encounter a snake. ... All that she "tells" us gives us a impression about how this woman is. ... Her oldest boy seems to see that it is hard for her living out there alone, when her husband has left her when he says: "Mother, I won't never go droving"; blast me if I do!". ... The theme in this story can be said very short. ...

• Word Count: 570
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

The book, which was written as both a novel and a statement, has themes such as the strength of the mind during hard times and powerful female roles. ... The country-pioneer environment gives room for an unconventional life away from civilization. ... "I do not care that your grandmother say it makes me like a man, I like to be like a man," She says. ... You know you ain't right to kiss me like that. ... Jim Burden tells the story while looking up from the ground, in a sad reminiscing way. ...

• Word Count: 821
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The cyclic pattern of the narrative gives a structural framework to the story in which very little actually happens. ... The young boy, Tommy, seeing how drained and distressed his mother is, with a burst of insight exclaims "Mother, I won't never go droving; blast me if I do!" ... This anecdote broadens the viewer's perspectives of women life and develops an understanding of her experiences and it also gives breath of the story. ... The major theme in the story is the love and romance between Joe and Mary. ... The point of this is to give the story a bit of gentle humour. ...

• Word Count: 1266
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Fulfilling your needs and desires in Nikki Giovanni's "Master Charge Blues- In Nikki Giovanni's poem "Master Charge Blues- we are told a story of how a woman misses her mate and uses her master charge to escape the feeling of loneliness. ... I think that one possible theme for this poem may be that when the one you long for and desire most is not present you need to fulfill those desires in other ways, for instance shopping. ... This to me means that she is feeling regret and frustration because of her feeling of loneliness. ... This again gives me a sense of lon...

• Word Count: 686
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Alice seems only to be truly happy when she has "sovereinetee/ as well over hir housbonde as hir love,/ and for to me in maistrye of him above." (1044-1046) This, although a quote from her tale and not her prologue, perfectly sums up Dame Alice's one true joy in life, and therefore becomes the main theme of her tale. ... When the knight gives her the choice, he places her in the governing position. ... The Wife of Bath describes herself as old and lethargic: "But age, allas, that al wol envenime, Hath me biraft my beautee and my pith." (481-482). ... In the beginning of both stories...

• Word Count: 802
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The writings in the wife's journals and the symbolic description of the wallpaper show the rising theme of feminism. ... "Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change would do me good. ... "There comes John, and I must put this away, -he hates to have me write a word." ... The wallpaper is symbolic of oppression and gives the narrator her freedom from the shackles. Initially the wife expresses a horrid discontent for the wallpaper and gradually in the story she takes a liking to it. ...

• Word Count: 831
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

"Stop gouging me, you bastard," he said, "I"m going to tell!" ... All of these instances give Leo a depressing and grim experience that he can't handle. ... And then I would remember I had a wife at home who loved me, or later that I had a beautiful alcoholic girlfriend who could make me happy forever." Now later in the story he says "As for me, my girlfriend and I had split up, but we couldn't keep away from each other." ... Carver, being more grim and depressing, while Johnson being more disillusioned, they both strike upon the same themes and feel the same about women in the...

• Word Count: 1590
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Throughout the poem, there is a reoccurring theme of hatred and violence, personified through antagonists, the 'Klu Klux Klan'. ... The protagonist of the play (The African American woman), goes on to say, "My lover told me: Shush, we have too many stories to carry on our backs like houses, we have struggled too long to let the monsters steal our sleep, sleep, go to sleep". ... My mother taught me well". Implying that all her life she has been treated unfairly either because of her race or gender, but her mother taught her not to give in to those who discriminate agai...

• Word Count: 1038
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

These stories would include acts of heroism, courage, boldness and self-sacrifice. ... The sales man replies "Could have fooled me, I thought it was just a girl.... The winter the narrator is eleven years old, she hears much more on theme of becoming a girl and serving her role as a girl. ... Henry and the father get into the truck to chase Flora down, on the way out of the gate Laird, once again, is yelling excitedly "let me go too, let me go too!... " The narrator cannot give an answer; she doesn't know why she did it. ...

• Word Count: 1909
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

And yet he was to me most brutal, too; My ribs yet feel as they were black and blue, And ever shall, until my dying day." ... Instead, the Tale has to be seen in the light of some of the overall themes and narrative strategies of the Canterbury Tales. Digressions by Chauntecleer as well as by the Nun's Priest give birth to confusion and, interestingly enough, entertainment. ... Therefore, he told this story, sarcastically, and set a direct opposite to his position. ... The views to women in medieval time were revealed many times in the story. ...

• Word Count: 981
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

In the short stories "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver and "Girls at War" by Chinua Achebe, the theme of blindness is prevalent. ... Robert is not the only one in the story to have vision. ... My wife gave me a savage look. ... Later in the story, Reginald meets her again. ... Reginald refuses to give the old woman a ride. ...

• Word Count: 1281
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

This is a dramatic and fast moving story once we meet the main character in Judith, half way through the book. The first half of the story sets up the scene for the arrival of Judith to rescue her people from distress. ... The theme of the story is that Israel will prosper provided it can avoid sin (Deut 30: 15-20). ... Holofernes, the great leader, would think when she says "God has sent me to accomplish with you things that will astonish the whole world" (11:16), he think positively on these words, which have a more sinister meaning. ... Judith gives credit to God for the killing...

• Word Count: 1014
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Women at Point Zero is a tragic story of, Firadaus who, standing on her own from the very beginning of her life, tries to find justice in a corrupt society. At first glance this book mainly deals with such various themes such as physical abuse, prostitution, and the attempt to gain some hold in life, with the addition of current importance such as corruption, hypocrisy and the exploitation of a minority. ... The film "The Circle" was basically based on the same theme pertaining to the constant struggle for women to survive, but it was represented in a completely different mode than Woman at...

• Word Count: 1223
• Approx Pages: 5

Sexuality and gender are major themes in The House on Mango Street. ... "And the story goes, she never forgave him. ... (p.11) This story disturbs Esparanza because it shows how suffocating marriage can be to a woman like her grandmother. ... She will not give it away." ... Instead, these women, like Marin, will not give up this power until they get what they want in life; which is to escape from Mango Street. ...

• Word Count: 1121
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

One theme is that although there may not be significant and outright mentioning of many women in the story, they can still be stronger than men in a mental aspect and use that strength to influence others to do their bidding. ... Nurse Ratched is the primary woman in the story and the first one to be introduced. ... This is shown in the passage, "In my dark I hear her rubber heels hit the tile and the stuff in her wicker bag clash with the jar of her walking as she passes me in the hall. ... Thus, Billy is consequently driven to commit suicide and serve as yet another example of the ne...

• Word Count: 957
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

This play differs from a short story or a novel in its layout. ... Peters gives an important piece of information: the Wrights didn't have a cat; Mrs. ... The plot of this story is in chronological order. ... This, in addition to the scenery itself, helps to give the necessary background information. ... The title of the story is fairly self-explanatory. ...

• Word Count: 2006
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School