Group items tagged

Talks about themes such as setting and appearance vs reality. Clearly, people aren't focused on internal qualities such as politics or religion; the rich care only about how they are perceived and how they appear. The need for social acceptance gives way to the appearance vs reality theme

This shows the symbolism of the color green in which Ftizgerald uses colors to express his themes and the setting which symbolizes the social classes on a larger scale

This quote shows the neglection in perrys life. It also shows how he did not have any role models to set his thoughts straight

Kovesdy argues in this article that Dewey Dell follows in her mother's footsteps in small acts of rebellion towards the stereotypical matriarchal role that is forced upon her. By loosing her virginity before marriage, she shows protest towards the traditional role society has set for her. And by being unable to master household chores, she denies the expectations set for her.

The argument of who is in more risk of an occupational hazard: a McDonald's part time employee or the chain manager, it's a difficult decision to realize... of course, that was a sarcastic statement. Corporate giants and its executives have been indulging themselves in countless benefits including the benefit of proper health care while its typical kitchen employees struggle to keep up with quota demands set by greedy managers, providing an education for themselves and trying to raise children in order to maintain a family. This excerpt is clear proof of the sickening business ethics large corporations now follow: not to protect its workers, but rather the privileged who wallow in their own wealth. 

Like the slaughterhouse companies in "Fast Food Nation", Wal-Mart sells harmful products--in this case tainted with toxic lead rather than crap. Both these lead-painted toys and E. coli-filled burgers pose threats to the most vulnerable members of our society, children.

"Historically, the idea of a minimum wage was to allow a full-time worker to earn enough to buy the basic necessities of life."

Exactly! How has our nation passed minimum wages that people can barely even live a "minimum" life on? This makes no sense to me.

I agree. That's why there needs to be a national living wage like they have in San Francisco, Washington DC, and Maryland (generally, the living wage they set is between $10 and $15 an hour--$3 to $7 more than the minimum wage).

He government is set up to help the minimum wage workers survive by providing programs that set a standard for the industry. However, these programs are obviously ineffective proven by enrenreich's novel. It shows how the government can trick people into thinking they are being helped

"The United States has had more experience than other countries with such plans, which are meant to eliminate the adverse effects of fluctuating employment on living standards. The most successful examples have been found in the consumer goods industries, which appear to be affected less by fluctuations in the economy."

This quote here shows Woolf's target audience which combines not only women but also working-class people. This shows that her ideas of oppression and the need to rise up can be intertwined in both groups of people as they are completely differnet yet united by a set of beliefs. Therefore, the workrs of The Jungle, Fast Food Nation etc. can follow Woolf's principles

Discusses the impact of setting on the plot and purpose of the novel, and how the various rich groups have corrupted the American dream from an innocent, ambitious hope for fortune into greed, debauchery, and misbehavior

This article discusses the acknowledgement of the social gap in fiction and the use of fiction to influence people's position on the gap. The Great Gatsby can be seen as an influence to bridge the social gap, as some feel bad for the class struggles preventing Gatsby from being with Daisy.

Nice quote

Wealth changes people to become reckless snobs looking to have a little fun with what they have... but the minute you set heart to something and forget the rest, you are incompatible with the wealthy peers.

Discusses the new genre set up by Capote's novel. A blur between hard facts and dreamy fiction, it is praised as the highlight of his career.

The murder of Brother Clifton really helps the narrator develop his maturity. This helps him see the individuals rather than the masses thus finally discovering the corruption of the Brotherhood

The professor who shares his views in this article describes a "new racism" in America, that is seemingly transparent, invisible due to its lack of recognition. Racism has increasingly become a taboo topic, especially at colleges and universities. The author makes the point that it is acceptable to talk about different cultures in academic settings, while racism is still highly institutional in some parts of the countries and is much more of a difficult subject to discuss. This cloaking of the problem has led to the new racism and blindness of Americans to still occurring racial problems.

This discusses the change within the narrator which leads him to maturity. Bound by te barriers of white society, his ignorance to the oppresson leads to his easily manipulation. After going in the whole though he sees the need to unite with his race

"Every society organizes around a set of beliefs, values, and behaviors. Prejudices play a major part in shaping these beliefs and the resulting behavior that leads to unequal treatment among various groups within the society. "

"These historical patterns of race relations greatly influenced how people in America through time perceived others and interacted with them. These patterns of behavior became entrenched, creating social standards people were expected to live by. Blacks were stereotyped as weaker, less able, and less valuable than whites."

This article explains racial prejudice forms and becomes instilled in a society. The prejudice then affects various aspects of the society against the object of the oppression. Invisible Man demonstrates this concept through the racism the narrator experiences being a member of society. Some of the discrimination against the narrator is unintentional, but some is deliberate. This article would support an essay discussing the effect of prejudice on society's values, customs, and beliefs.

The most relevant parts of this article are the introduction and the 60's section. These discuss the struggle of the black population and the impact of leaders like Malcolm X on society. 

"The most prolific narrator is Darl, the second-oldest son, who has unusual perceptive abilities but is committed to an insane asylum for setting fire to a barn in a futile attempt to end their ridiculous journey, a ten-day ordeal in July without the aid of embalming"

This source provides a short but thorough analysis of the basic themes in the novel. The quote focuses on Darl, and his seemingly insane actions, which also seem very reasonable. This goes along with the theme of sanity vs. insanity.

This article by PBS chronicles the evolution of the workers in the meat packing industry. The article tells of the meat packing industry revealed by Sinclair to present conditions. The average hourly wage for meat packing workers has fallen since the 1970's. The article also tells of the poor working conditions "Fast Food Nation" describes and how meat packing is one of the most dangerous jobs in America.

Schlosser says in his book how he feels that little has changed since the times of the chicago meat packing trusts, and this pbs article speaks in support of that claim. It gives examples of how conditions in 2005 are "that the working conditions in America's meat packing plants were so bad they violated basic human and worker rights"

Meatpacking industry through the years. This article highlights the way that the meatpacking industry and its ethics/conditions have changed (or not) throughout the years. It argues that things are pretty much as bad as the times of The Jungle.

This article gives historical information on the meat packing industry of the early 1900's. The article tells of the progressive movement of the age which supported reforms. The article tells of the response to "The Jungle" and the innovative aspects of the new processing regulations. The article also gives a short biography about Sinclair's childhood to his death.

"Unskilled immigrant men did the backbreaking and often dangerous work, laboring in dark and unventilated rooms, hot in summer and unheated in winter." The article shows how cruel the conditions of the factory worker were. And since the work force was unskilled and immigrants, they were often taken advantage of because they knew no better

The ethical issues addressed in The Jungle and how they relate to the bills passed after the publication. It talks about how Roosevelt responded to the book and passed many new restrictions on the Chicago meatpacking district, as well as businesses all over the country.