Their Eyes Were Watching God
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Zora Neale Hurston
1930s
Zora Neale Hurston
1930s
CharactersCharacters
• Janie-- wants love, independent??• Logan--farmer, loves Janie• Jody--rich, powerful, Janie as a prize• Teacake--young, attractive, gives Janie
freedom
• Janie-- wants love, independent??• Logan--farmer, loves Janie• Jody--rich, powerful, Janie as a prize• Teacake--young, attractive, gives Janie
freedom
PlotPlot Janie looking for love raised by grandma
(mother raped by white teacher) Marries Logan for security only 1 year Marries Jody for adventure 20 years Marries Teacake and goes to
Everglades Hurricane and rabies, court scene Flashback structure returning from
burying Teacake
Janie looking for love raised by grandma (mother raped by white teacher)
Marries Logan for security only 1 year Marries Jody for adventure 20 years Marries Teacake and goes to
Everglades Hurricane and rabies, court scene Flashback structure returning from
burying Teacake
ThemesThemes
Love Feminism Race Rural life Marriage
Love Feminism Race Rural life Marriage
The Turn of the ScrewThe Turn of the Screw
Henry James1890s
Henry James1890s
CharactersCharacters Governess- protagonist/antagonist, sees ghosts,
feelings for master, possible insanity Miles- manipulative, dies, expelled from school,
orphan Flora- Supposed innocence, afraid of gov. sent
away from Bly, orphan Mrs. Grose- servant below gov. companion but
possible manipulative as well Quint and Jessel- former servant and gov. ghosts
haunting the children, forbidden relationship Douglass- keeper of gov. story, possibly loved
her
Governess- protagonist/antagonist, sees ghosts, feelings for master, possible insanity
Miles- manipulative, dies, expelled from school, orphan
Flora- Supposed innocence, afraid of gov. sent away from Bly, orphan
Mrs. Grose- servant below gov. companion but possible manipulative as well
Quint and Jessel- former servant and gov. ghosts haunting the children, forbidden relationship
Douglass- keeper of gov. story, possibly loved her
PlotPlot Young Gov. arrives at Bly to care
for children at request of Uncle. Gov. allowed no contact with
Uncle. Sees ghosts and gets
increasingly hysterical. Ends by smothering Miles?
Young Gov. arrives at Bly to care for children at request of Uncle.
Gov. allowed no contact with Uncle.
Sees ghosts and gets increasingly hysterical.
Ends by smothering Miles?
ThemesThemes Madness Oppression of females Class Inequalities Supernatural Isolation
Madness Oppression of females Class Inequalities Supernatural Isolation
The AwakeningThe Awakening
Kate Chopin1899
Kate Chopin1899
CharactersCharacters
Edna- young wife and mother, discontent with social role
Leonce- controlling husband M. Reisz- Independent artist type, not
liked by society Adele Ratignolle- typical “mother-
woman” befriends Edna Robert- loves Edna, wants to marry her Alcee- seduces Edna
Edna- young wife and mother, discontent with social role
Leonce- controlling husband M. Reisz- Independent artist type, not
liked by society Adele Ratignolle- typical “mother-
woman” befriends Edna Robert- loves Edna, wants to marry her Alcee- seduces Edna
PlotPlot
Edna awakens to her true self after attention from Robert.
Moves out of her home and attempts independence with men.
Fails to be both independent and intimate.
Drowns in the sea.
Edna awakens to her true self after attention from Robert.
Moves out of her home and attempts independence with men.
Fails to be both independent and intimate.
Drowns in the sea.
ThemesThemes
Social conventions Feminism Love/possession Art
Social conventions Feminism Love/possession Art
Native Son
Richard Wright1930s
Characters
Bigger- young poor black, violent, fearful, chauffeur
Mary Dalton- rich white, ties with Communists, friendly
Daltons- rich family, try to help blacks but really oppressive with business
Bessie- submissive, drunk, girlfriend to Bigger
Max- lawyer, speech for Bigger
Plot
Bigger born to poverty in Black Belt, becomes chauffeur for whites.
Accidentally kills Mary and blames it on Communists
Search for Bigger highlights oppression of blacks
Max defends Bigger but loses
Themes
RaceClassFearIsolationViolence
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Ken Kesey
1950s
Characters
McMurphy- hero figure, in jail, Christ comparison
Nurse Ratched- hides sexuality, overly controlling
Chief Bromden- deaf, mute, Native-American Harding- effeminate, dainty hands Billy Bibbit- stutters, innocent Black aides- abuse power, rapists
Plot
Mental hospital completely run by Nurse.
Mac comes in and rebels against her, raises the men up against the system.
Mac is sacrificed through lobotomy.
Themes
Race Conformity Sexuality Gender Insanity
The Tortilla Curtain
T.C. Boyle1999
Characters»Delaney--rich, white liberal,
writer»Kyra-- aggressive realtor, »Candido--illegal mexican, »America--illegal mexican,
Plot» Delaney hits Candido w/ his car» Candido desperate for work
keeps having problems (injuries, fire, rape, mud slide)
» Delaney attacks Candido w/ a gun
» Ends with birth of baby but drowns and Candido grabs Delaney
Themes» Race » Hypocrisy» Immigration» Borders/walls» American Dream» Survival
Great GatsbyGreat Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald1920s
F. Scott Fitzgerald1920s
CharactersCharacters
Nick- narrator, Midwest, supposedly unbiased
Gatsby- rags to riches, hunts DaisyDaisy- wealthy, voice of moneyTom- brutal, snob, cheaterMyrtle- wants to be upper class, very
sexualGeorge- submissive, lower classJordan- gender contrast, careless, love
interest with Nick
Nick- narrator, Midwest, supposedly unbiased
Gatsby- rags to riches, hunts DaisyDaisy- wealthy, voice of moneyTom- brutal, snob, cheaterMyrtle- wants to be upper class, very
sexualGeorge- submissive, lower classJordan- gender contrast, careless, love
interest with Nick
PlotPlot
Nick moves East and befriends Gatsby and Buchanans
Gatsby reunited with Daisy only to be denied again due to his reputation
Nick moves East and befriends Gatsby and Buchanans
Gatsby reunited with Daisy only to be denied again due to his reputation
ThemesThemes
ClassAmerican DreamMoralityTreatment of women
ClassAmerican DreamMoralityTreatment of women
Huck Finn
Mark Twain1880s and pre-Civil War
CharactersCharacters
Huck- white boy, matures, goes against society.
Tom- very romanticized, imaginative Jim- runaway slave, very moral and
logical Huck’s dad- drunk, abusive, thief King and Duke- carpetbaggers,
manipulative thieves Widow and Miss Watson- care for Huck,
want to civilize him
Huck- white boy, matures, goes against society.
Tom- very romanticized, imaginative Jim- runaway slave, very moral and
logical Huck’s dad- drunk, abusive, thief King and Duke- carpetbaggers,
manipulative thieves Widow and Miss Watson- care for Huck,
want to civilize him
PlotPlot
Huck fakes death and escapes from his father down river.
Meets Jim and has many adventures always finding trouble and violence when on land.
Huck ends up realizing society is wrong and decides to free Jim
Huck fakes death and escapes from his father down river.
Meets Jim and has many adventures always finding trouble and violence when on land.
Huck ends up realizing society is wrong and decides to free Jim
ThemesThemes
RacismSatire- hypocrisyViolenceEducationMaturation
RacismSatire- hypocrisyViolenceEducationMaturation
The Crucible
Arthur Miller
1690s and 1950s
Characters
• Proctor- protagonist, cheater, honor• Abigail- antagonist, jealous• Hale- Rev. character change• Mary Warren- weak, manipulated
PlotPuritan society, run by strict religion.No outlet for sins, emotions, ect.Town run by hysteria, revenge, power.Belief in innocence of children. Need a sacrifice to stop corruption.
ThemesConnection to McCarthyismReligionPowerIntoleranceHysteriaInnocenceLying/Manipulation