Through the 7 weeks of reading and writing experiences, we have covered various issues that are related to our main topic, body. For the second sequence of this class, we have particularly focused on the law and body. Through Kafka’s “Before the Law,” we have learned the paradox of approaching the law. The capitalized Law is something unattainable and unapproachable to many people, even though our Constitution claims that we are all equal before the law. And through Melville’s “Bartleby, the Scrivener,” we have also learned about the modernity that is ruled by the law, or that is “not always” controlled by the law. Modern capitalist society has always produced its misfit just like Bartleby. But we also witnessed the potentials of “passive resistance.” Both texts encourage us to ponder upon the relationship of law and body. Annie Proulx’s “Brokeback Mountain” directs our attention to a bit different topic: the love without public recognition. We saw how the two married gay men had to suffer from their inner struggle between living freely on the Brokeback Mountain and living as a conventional patriarch of a family. In this beautiful short story, we also saw how women suffered from patriarchal society, which we witnessed in Susan Glaspell’s Trifles as well.
This time, you will be able to demonstrate your insight and thoughts regarding the issues suggested in the literary works. In this paper, you will analyze the literature of your choice. And you should not rest on the interpretation of the literature on a basic level, but relate it to much broader issues such as women’s rights, disability, racism, social injustice, etc.
Possible essay ideas are as follows:
Comparison of “Brokeback Mountain” as a literary text with its cinematic adaptation (In this case, please watch the film, and choose and describe specific scenes and sequences)
The Fate of Women in Patriarchal Society in “Brokeback Mountain” and Trifles
The Meaning of Passive Resistance in “Bartleby, the Scrivener”
The Malfunctioning American Dream in “Bartleby, the Scrivener”
…
Task
Write a critical (social issues) and analytical (literary analysis) essay about one or multiple literature(s) of your choice (You can choose from “Bartleby, the Scrivener,” Antigone, “Brokeback Mountain,” and Trifles.)
You are required to refer to, cite, and analyze the literature(s) of your choice in your paper, and then relate it(them) to much broader social issues such as women’s rights, disability, racism, social injustice, etc.
Choose your own title.
Remember this is both a critical and analytical essay, not the summary practice. So, please DO NOT summarize any texts (If needed, you can paraphrase or cite the critical texts of your choice).
You may also cite other academic or non-academic sources, but if so, then you need to reveal the source information in the Works Cited section at the end of your paper.
Properly cite quotations and provide a proper MLA bibliography (Works Cited section).
Other Considerations
Your fourth main paper should:
NOT PLAGIARIZE any contents or information from other sources.
Present clear, complex, and persuasive argument about the topic.
Be aware of possible counter-argument(s).
Page limit is 4-5 pages (Do not exceed 5 pages in total).
Use rhetorical strategies that are proper to academic writing.
Provide proper evidence in and out of the chosen default text to support your argument.
Be aware of your audience, which means your writing should target at academia.
Be prepared to REVISE your own writing after the individual conference.
Avoid any possible sexist, racist, homophobic topics, or other discriminatory words and expressions.
Format
• Limit your paper to 4 to 5 pages (Never exceed 4 pages in total) except a works cited section.
• Should be double-spaced with 12 point Times New Roman font and 1 inch margin.
• All citations should follow the proper MLA style.
Last Completed Projects
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