Social Commentary Examples - Free Essay Examples and Topic Ideas

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin: Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a great example of a leader who fits Machiavelli’s ideas of a good leader. He has managed to stay in power even when not publically in power. He is the former president and the former prime minister of Russia, and as Andrew Park states in “Russia's Vladimir Putin mimics Machiavelli's 'The Prince'”, “...everybody tacitly agrees the incumbent prime minister of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, is a puppet of Putin’s.” He also shows himself in…

OUTLINE Introduction Thesis Statement In the novel, Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë uses classic Victorian heroes and characters to represent the stages of growth that Jane must go through in order to become a mature Victorian heroine. Quotes, Examples and Descriptions of the Heroes and Character Types Brontë used in Jane Eyre Victorian Heroine Definition and Context Jane Eyre Bronte’s Social Commentary on the Victorian Hero Tragic Hero Definition and Context Rochester Bronte’s Social Commentary on the Tragic Hero The Ant-Hero…

INTRODUCTION Sadeq Hedayat's 'The Blind Owl' is one of the most important literary works in Persian language. The original Persian text of The Blind Owl, marked "not for sale in Iran," appeared as a mimeographed publication in India in 1937. It was assumed at the time that Hedayat feared the repressive rule of Reza Shah; he feared especially that with the publication of this work he might have violated the established norms. He was aware that the propagation of a…

One of the finest pieces of American fiction ever written, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby provides the reader with an abundance of carefully interwoven themes: intricate relationships, epic battles between greed and self-respect, social commentary on wealth and power, and in the end, a story of moving forward in life, despite our innate desire to look back at where we have been. Of all of the approaches to analyzing this classic work, an often over looked aspect is the…

“NOW, what I want is, Facts”, and so starts Charles Dickens novel Hard Times which first appeared as a serial publication in 1854. Dickens regularly took inspiration from the prevailing conditions as topics of his writings and proceeds to make social commentaries through his brand of creative fiction. Examples of these are Oliver Twist (Dickens, 1837) and Bleak House (Dickens, 1952). Hard Times was similarly inspired. The novel is mainly a critic of Utilitarianism, the dominant philosophy at the time…

Realism, a literary movement that surfaced in the mid-19th century, served as a reaction to the idealistic tendencies of romanticism that had dominated the preceding decades. It aimed to present an unembellished reflection of reality, offering a mirror to society. Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations" stands as a quintessential example of this literary movement, employing various techniques to weave a narrative that both adheres to and deviates from the conventions of realism. Chronological Structure of "Great Expectations" The novel's basic structure…

Bob Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman in 1941, stands as an icon in modern American musical history, recognized for his distinctive songwriting, unique singing voice, and thought-provoking lyrics. Despite differing opinions on his work, there is a unanimous acknowledgment of Dylan's profound impact on the musical landscape. This essay explores the intricacies of Dylan's masterpiece, "Hurricane," delving into its narrative, social commentary, genre elements, language, metaphorical richness, and the unique style that places Dylan in a league of his own…

Authors often utilize their literary works as vehicles to convey criticisms of society. These critiques are not overtly directed at specific individuals or events, but rather, they serve as a reflection of the authors' concerns regarding issues of social injustice and misguided values. Two exemplary works of literature that employ social criticism effectively are "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens and "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In both novels, these authors skillfully project their social criticisms to readers through…

Satire is a genre of literature in which things such as vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are ridiculed with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement. Although satire is usually comedic, it is usually used for constructive criticism. In Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, satire is used to point out the faults and stupidity of America and its people during the 1840s and to ridicule them in a comedic way. `In this story, Twain uses…

Horace Miner's thought-provoking essay, "Body Ritual among the Nacirema," serves as a captivating exploration of cultural practices and the underlying implications of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. Through his vivid portrayal of the Nacirema, Miner encourages readers to reflect upon their own society and its cultural idiosyncrasies. This essay delves into the key themes and messages conveyed by Miner, emphasizing the importance of cultural understanding and critical self-reflection. Cultural Relativism: Challenging Our Perceptions Miner's article challenges the reader's perceptions by presenting…

Gender equality is a common theme used by writers to express their personal views on the role of women in society. This can be seen in works like "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid and "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gillman, where both authors take a feminist approach to women's roles and status in their respective time periods. Feminism, which encompasses various social theories, moral philosophies, and political movements, is primarily concerned with the experiences of women in areas such as…

Postmodernism is a creative movement that is said to have originated in the 1950s. As the name suggests, it is the successor of modernism, and the development of postmodernism is visible in not only literature, but also other creative disciplines such as architecture, music, fashion, film and painting. Postmodernism was created as a reaction to its predecessor, and its “rational, scientific, and historical aspects”. This results in postmodernism being self-conscious, ironic, and experimental, concerned with the instability and unreliability of…

Reality TV vs. Real Life TV One of the main sources of news and entertainment is television. Every household has a television set in their home which the family consumes hours watching. Many reality TV shows are based on shallow and vague values. The growing trend in television now for our culture is “REALITY TV” (real life on TV). Just like the appeal to junk food or the internet reality TV has a dominant effect on our children and us…

Social Control Theory vs. Social Learning Theory Abstract Social control theory and social learning theory are two theories that suggest why deviant behavior is chosen to be acted upon by some individuals and not others. Both take a different stance on the issue. Social control theory suggests people’s behavior is based on their bonds to society, if they have strong bonds to society they conform and if not they have a tendency to act out or become involved in criminal…

"Every word and every part of an individual was expected to be in accordance with the rigid ethical and habits rules, and each, even the smallest discrepancy from the rule was considered an offense which made the delinquent openly disgraced. Even literature and art had its cannons which were to be appreciated" (Mathews, 2009). In Oscar Wilde's satirical funny, The Value of Being Earnest, Victorian hypocrisy is presented within the lines of the play as it unfolds a story about…

During an interview with the Los Angeles Free Press in 1965, Bob Dylan said, “All I can do is be me, whoever that is,” (Dylan) which perfectly describes the sentiment you get from his works. During his music career, he has changed many aspects of his image, music style and religion, going so far as to legally change his name from Robert Zimmerman to Bob Dylan. Living during a very fast changing society, his works reflect on the Civil Rights…