Again discusses the minds of Dick Hickock and Perry Smith. Hickock was raised in a normal fashion, leading many to determine that he was born to kill. Perry, on the other hand, had a horrific childhood. His mental disease may have been brought on by his disturbing upbringing, or it may have been worsened by it.

Discusses similarities within Frankenstein and In cold Blood. One major theme in the two books is how isolation affects the human mind and the detrimental effects a neglected child can have once he or she enters society.

"More than 750,000 children each year in America are abused or neglected, one every 42 seconds."

This article, published by the Children's Defense Fund, describes child abuse and neglect in America and the effects it has. The child welfare system does everything it can in helping neglected children, but it is common for them to turn to crime and end up in prison as adults.

Just as the car JFK was riding in when he was assassinated is a popular display in a Michigan museum, the tombstones of Dick Hickock and Perry Smith are "treasures" that the public enjoys viewing. The tombstones, which were paid for by Truman Capote, were stolen in 1980 from the graveyard in which the two were buried. They were recovered twenty years later, and now the State of Kansas owns them and plans to put them on display. A Topeka museum is now preparing a crime and punishment exhibit in which the stones and the gallows used on Dick and Perry will be featured.

While In Cold Blood is a widely praised nonfiction novel and is read by students across America, it is also highly controversial. Some parents and teachers disagree with letting students read the gory details of the Clutter murders. High school-aged students should have the right to read the piece.

Describes Capote's childhood, which interestingly parallels the upbringings of the Monster and Perry. Abandoned by his mother, Capote was often isolated as a young child. However he turned his attention to writing and playing piano rather than getting revenge. Capote became an instant celebrity in his early 20s and his life was a success, unlike the lives of Perry and the Monster

"Schizophrenia is a severe, lifelong brain disorder. People who have it may hear voices, see things that aren't there or believe that others are reading or controlling their minds."

This article describes schizophrenia, the debilitating disease that Perry has. Perry's inability to think clearly about the effects of his actions and his lack of a conscience proves that he has severe mental imbalances.

This article discusses how Victor Frankenstein transcends the bounds of nature and creates an artificial human being. This creation seemed within reach at the time, as new scientific discoveries were being made constantly, including human mastery of electricity.

"In this sense, the roads in the novel function as the intersection of the family and the new age of the southern rural community."

This article relates the roads that the Bundrens take in burying their matriarch to a crossroads of family life in the rural south. Instead of a traditional close family unit, southern families at the time the novel was written were beginning to separate and take different paths in life. The transition is described in the Bundrens' bumpy road to Jefferson to bury Addie.

"Most of humanity rests comfortably on the idea that even if no one else loves us, our mothers still will. But a new study casts some uncomfortable doubt on that assertion. It suggests women may be biologically programmed to love children who are healthy and most likely to live."

This LA Times article talks about the nature of unconditional parental love and a new study that contradicts it. Addie Bundren's hate of her children, excluding Jewel, does not parallel the way that most parents feel about their children. However, a new study has shown that unhealthy or imperfect children may not attract the same love as healthy children. Perhaps Addies imperfect view of her children, and their father, led to her complete lack of love for them.

This article focuses on Faulkner's use of satire and biblical references in As I Lay Dying. His use of fire and water as disasters that the Bundrens must overcome recalls references of biblical stories.

The nobel prize-winning author represented his native south in his novels. His characters show the rise of the south and its decadent fall.

Each member of the Bundren family in Willam Faulkner's novel As I Lay Dying is unique and memorable, but the most complex of these characters is the second son.

Darl is sent away by his remaining family to an insane asylum at the end of the book. However, his thoughts and actions during the trip were sane, especially when viewed against those of his family. His omniscient point of view may be eerie to Dewey Dell and Jewel, but in the end Darl understands the true nature of his family.

Darl and Jewel are shown to have a great deal of tension on the journey to bury their mother, Addie, in Jefferson. While each family member has their own selfish reasons to want to reach Jefferson, Jewel is the real driving force behind the trip due to his love of Addie. Darl, on the other hand, slows the trip down in direct opposition of Jewel. His jealousy leads him to transition to an antagonistic figure.

This article focuses on the etymology behind each name in As I Lay Dying. Darl is a darling, but his mother scorns his love, whereas Jewel is the most loved child in the family, even though he has an unkind personality. The names are highly sarcastic

This article talks about the effects that neglect had on a child, Frankenstein's monster. While the monster had body parts of dead humans, he had the mind of a newborn baby, and turned into the monster he became due to the treatment he received from Frankenstein. Unfortunately, child neglect is a very real problem in the world today and can stunt the psychological and moral growth of people.

This article is interesting, as it portrays the book of Frankenstein to be a "hideous progeny", similar to the monster himself. It also talks about other subliminal messages that the novel contains, including the effects of Frankenstein's image of the creation. He originally attempted to make it have gigantic stature to make it better than human beings, but the lack of physical harmony on the creature actually makes it horribly grotesque.

This Frankenstein site, published by the government, covers all of the major societal issues in Frankenstein. This particular article focuses on the Monster's desire to have a mate that can relate to his problems and spend time with him. Frankenstein scorns his creations wish for love, and the result is more destruction to his world.

On 21 February 1965, Malcolm X was gunned down in broad daylight at a political rally at the Audobon Ballroom in Harlem, New York. The very embodiment of black power, Malcolm X gave his life for his cause. A freedom fighter, he was determined to achieve his aims - "by any means necessary," as he put it.

Malcolm X truly was misunderstood. The influences in his life shaped who he was at certain moments in time, and I don't think the world really got to see the true Malcolm until after her returned from Mecca with a different mindset about whites.