The Moral Vision of Atticus Finch
In To Kill a Mockingbird what does Atticus Finch’s relationship with the minor but important character Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose suggest about the quality of his moral vision?
“To Build a Fire”: An Environmentalist Interpretation
How can we read “To Build a Fire” as a cautionary tale about the exploitation of nature?
Thoreau’s Critique of Democracy in “Civil Disobedience”
What criticisms of representative democracy does Thoreau raise in “Civil Disobedience”?
Aylmer’s Motivation in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark”
In “The Birthmark” how does Nathaniel Hawthorne use symbolism to reveal the motivation of Aylmer, the story’s protagonist?
Individualism in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self-Reliance”
In his essay “Self-Reliance,” how does Ralph Waldo Emerson define individualism, and how, in his view, can it affect society?
Citizen Leadership in the Young Republic
What qualities of citizen leadership did John Adams consider essential to sustain and nurture the new republic?
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, 1776
How did Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense convince reluctant Americans to abandon the goal of reconciliation with Britain and accept that separation from Britain — independence — was the only option for preserving their liberty?
Benjamin Franklin’s Satire of Witch Hunting
How does Benjamin Franklin’s satire of a witch trial argue that human affairs should be guided by reason?