3A/B Literature

Define your chosen character in terms of whether he is the protagonist (hero), antagonist (villain), supporting player (a helpmate of either the hero or villain) or a catalyst. A catalyst character (also referred to as an agent for change) often does not participate directly in any of the action, but instead fulfills the role of inspiring the lead character to take up a cause or quest he might otherwise not have pursued (for example, Spider-Man's kindly uncle who gets killed early in the story would fit this definition).

Pay sharp attention to the subtext of your character's actions and what they really say about him.

Discuss the character's interactions with others and whether the character treats them as superiors, peers or subordinates. Assess whether these interactions are consistent with or contrary to your expectations of their assigned roles.

The roots of the book go back to my study of the American Puritans. The society they founded in America was not a democracy as we know it, but a theocracy.

novel isn't simply a vehicle for private expression, but that it also exists for social examination

This is a book about what happens when certain casually held attitudes about women are taken to their logical conclusions.