Frank Norris’s, The Octopus, is a novel which, on its simplest level, is the story which in Norris’s own words, “deals with the war between+ the wheat grower and the railroad trust.” There is much more depth to this novel, however. Norris’s novel also addresses issues dealing with capitalist “forces” along with the notion of justice. Ideas of one’s free will—choices versus determinism—are also present as strong undercurrents in the book. The Octopus also deals with issues concerning the strength of the individual—or what one can alternatively look at as a call for collective action. These alternate levels of The Octopus will be the foci of this paper.
Reflections on Michael Shaara’s “The Killer Angels”
Michael Shaara’s The Killer Angels is illustrative of the fogginess that often accompanies warfare. The novel covers the very brief period of June 30th, 1863 through July 3rd, 1863. It is a story of the Battle of Gettysburg, three years into the Civil War. The Killer Angels is also a story that at times questions what the Civil War was about.
Reflections on Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin looks at slavery from the perspective of a Christian lady, and addresses the question of whether Christianity and slavery can coexist in a society we would like to call moral and humane. The question is a part of a larger one, one that is commonly referred to as “the problem of evil.” Stowe poses another question about the society of which she writes, and that is whether we are racially superior and whether this is any justification of acts of conquest. These questions will be discussed in brief in this paper, using specific character descriptions to help support the discussion.
The Ancient Maya of Belize: A Review and Summary
Dr. Anabel Ford’s The Ancient Maya of Belize: Their Society and Sites manages to successfully accomplish at least two things for an individual interested in Maya studies. First, it provides the reader with some useful background information on the Maya civilization and their sites, allowing for a more comprehensive contextual understanding of what one may observe as a visitor to the Maya region. Second, it presents the reader with slightly more detailed descriptions of 18 of the more major sites they may be interested in visiting in Belize. As such, this small booklet can be quite a useful addition to the backpack of a traveler wishing to observe the ancient Maya civilization.
The Size of the World
I am a king in a time long ago. I have heard rumors that the earth is round. I feel that it is in my interest to find out whether or not this rumor has any truth, and I understand that great progress is often achieved when trying to learn with an open mind. As such, I have summoned my wizards and set upon them two tasks. The first is to find out what the shape of the earth is. The second is to estimate the size of the earth. Here is what they found.