Essays
Various Academic Essays I've Worked On
Of Slave and Master: Honor and Slavery in Frankenstein and Oroonoko
April 19, 2022
Aphra Behn’s Oroonoko presents a violent, gory, and negligent depiction of slavery. With no unpleasant detail left unwritten, one may reasonably consider that Oroonoko is an abolitionist text, simply by virtue of the horrid depiction of slavery. However, these violent images are not written with the specific intent of condemning the horrors of slavery, rather, the text uses this cruelty to define the roles of master and slave while presenting skewed descriptions of honor. This honor is recognized with the titular character: Oroonoko, who is initially regarded as noble, yet is still shown in dishonor and cruelty in his failed slave rebellion. In much a similar way, Victor Frankenstein descends into dishonor and enslavement to his creation. Victor’s fascination of alchemy and refusal to obey the expectation of his social class both function to create a descent in his honor. Ultimately, both Oroonoko and Frankenstein emphasize that even the most highly regarded citizens of European culture are not invulnerable to the threat of being enslaved on the basis of looming dishonor. By this, Oroonoko and Frankenstein ensure that no rebellion can eradicate the dishonor among slaves, and any such attempt only further diminishes any remaining honor.
Queerness in Ancient Texts
October 22, 2021
It is certainly true that the discourse on queer identities and relationships have expanded in our more modern climate, however queerness is not a modern-day phenomenon. Homosexual and homoromantic relationships have always existed, alongside gender fluidity, non-gender conformity, bisexuality and pansexuality. Though the terms used to describe these sexualities and identities are a product of recent rhetoric, the existence of queerness throughout human history, even in our most ancient texts, is absolute. While political and religious beliefs have led to non-queer interpretations of many of these texts, we can reasonably deduce that the queer themes are central to the texts and the characters presented. And from this deduction, we can conclude that not only has queerness existed since the writing of Gilgamesh, but this queerness is central to a proper understanding of our ancient literature, from Gilgamesh, to The Iliad, to the Bible.
Zork: A Robot is my Dungeon Master
19 September 2022
Though primitive and strictly text-based, Zork I (1980) engages provides a conversational high fantasy game of interaction using the limited power of the home computer and artificial intelligence technology found in Eliza (1966), the first artificial intelligence chat-box, in order to deliver a player experience that feels remarkably intuitive despite it’s limitations. Unlike many early digital games, Zork I does not rely on graphics to present a narrative to the player. Rather, Zork I delivers narrative through text descriptions, to which the player may input commands in order to interact with the world which is being described to them. This freedom of interaction proves to be the most remarkable feature of Zork I, as it allowed for emergent narrative experiences within the context of the embedded narrative while also making interaction feel personal and casual, despite player’s interacting with a computer program.
Feminism in Male-Dominated Literature
December 2, 2021
The notion that the negligent treatment of women in middle-age text is deliberately beneficial to uplifting the voices of women may, perhaps, seem counterintuitive. The prominent female characters in Laustic and The Tempest are treated quite harshly by the patriarchal men in the story, yet they display exemplary qualities of heroics. While the feminist movement has become more prevalent in modern times, the notions of female empowerment are certainly worth considering in a time where the writing landscape was male-dominated, and the female voice was greatly constrained and oppressed. There is certainly a danger when arguing that past texts are relevant to modern equality movements, however, the truth is, while the feminist movement has now been more properly defined, feminism was still prevalent when these texts were written. Feminism is not simply dependent on empowering the women of the text, in fact, this detracts from the strengths of women celebrated through feminism. Rather, feminism can be seen through the oppression of women in the text. By depicting women in abusive relationships, the flaws of a patriarchal world are revealed alongside the strengths of the woman in the battle for independence.
Connecting Modern-Day Literature to the Past: How the Deep History of Mont-Saint Michel Makes it Enticing in Modern-Day Literature
November 28, 2021
The arts have a certain way of enduring through time, delivering resonant ideas and values that enter culture and allow those of us within a culture to progress forward with new thought. Art defines our understanding of the world, as there are cultures we have yet to explore, ideas we have yet to consider, and history we have yet to understand. Art allows for a greater understanding of ideas and beliefs we had not before considered, thus forcing us to think critically and arm ourselves with new knowledge that becomes fundamental to philosophy. Thus, when creating art, the artist must avoid superficiality, lest their work be forgotten. The benefit, however, in modern times, is that art history is so expansive that there is seemingly limitless inspiration that can be taken from the world. Especially in literature, this inspiration can enhance the stories that are told by interjecting these stories with already rich history, which provides enough depth to truly immerse the reader.
Royal Regality: How the Value of Class Wealth created Château Chambord
April 14, 2022
The Château de Chambord, or, Chambord Castle represents not only a monumental change in the art and architecture of early 16th century France, it also demonstrated the strive for regality among the royalty of the time. Château de Chambord depicts a far different time, one where wealth was a prime indicator of decency, and pointless extravagancies were an expectation of wealth. This value in extravagancies and public perceptions is perhaps what turned the intended hunting lodge in Chambord into [debatably] the most extravagant castle in Europe. Ultimately, while visually magnificent, the regalia served no purpose but to visually impress, so much so that the castle could hardly be enjoyed for its intended purpose.