Salinger, when Holden Caulfield tells his story from inside the mental hospital, there is a good chance treatment he is receiving is affecting the way the theme and tone of his story turn out. In the 1950s, mental institutions around the country quickly filled as every slight problem with a person was viewed as insanity. ... "By 1959 only 12% of admissions to mental illness hospitals were compulsory, and the trend was towards shorter periods of in-patient treatment and towards outpatient treatment. ... Even though Holden continually talks bad about himself, most of his memories have symboli...

• Word Count: 1490
• Approx Pages: 6

These issues were not only the influences that led her to write The Yellow Wallpaper, but the story is a mirror image of her life. ... This is one of the major themes that the short story The Yellow Wallpaper is based upon. Kuhns 3 One point that I find very intriguing in the short story is the yellow wallpaper itself and the description of it by the narrator. ... This statement is true in both Gilman's life and it's recreation in the story. ... Here again, Gilman has the uncanny ability to combine aspects of her life with that of the story. ...

• Word Count: 1862
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

An Analysis of Edgar Allan Poe's Main Characters In each of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories, "The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Fall of the House of Usher", and "The Cask of Amontillado", Poe writes each main character with different personalities although some similar traits can be found in all his main characters. ... He starts off the story by convincing the reader he is not a madman. Insanity is one personality trait that is usually linked to all Poe characters. ... Both characters had well planned murder plots in each story. ... In both stories they refer to their murder victims ...

• Word Count: 1238
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

What are the particular characteristics of the play which make its story timeless and universal?" ... This story is timeless and universal in that people thought out history have followed and continue to follow charismatic leaders, this is true of politics and religion. ... Whatever the reasons are, these rabble-rousers continue to appear at various times in history and are never short of supporters. ... The major phase of McCarthy's career was mercifully short. ... Miller warns against this and tries to highlight to the people of America the insanity of the witch trials of Salem...

• Word Count: 1761
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

At age seven - after spending 12 weeks in a one room schoolhouse with 39 other students of all ages - Tom's overworked short tempered teacher lost his patience with the child's persistent questioning and relatively self centered behavior. ... Most interestingly, because this paper was the first ever to be typeset, printed, and sold on a train, an English journal gave him his first international notoriety when it featured a story on it in 1860. ... His mother was showing evidence of insanity that was aggravated by the ups and downs of a difficult life. ...

• Word Count: 3349
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: Undergraduate