Herman Wouk Essays

  • Character Analysis: The Caine Mutiny By Herman Wouk

    1239 Words  | 3 Pages

    A human being develops and grows throughout their life through many challenges and sometimes it takes an event in one’s life to change a person. In the novel “The Caine Mutiny” by Herman Wouk, is a novel about Willie Keith, a chubby and well educated son from an upper class family who joins the Navy. Willie goes into the Columbia University School of Journalism, which has been converted for the war effort. He is almost rejected because of his physical reasons of not being fit, but his Princeton

  • Herman Wouk's The Winds of War How Should One Read A Book?

    659 Words  | 2 Pages

    Herman Wouk's  The Winds of War - How Should One Read A Book? While reading Herman Wouk's classic tale, The Winds of War, I came across several passages describing a young man's vision of Germany. Although the author supplies me with his ideas, his desire and his provocative details on how this young Major views Germany at the time of the second world war, I still find myself wondering and questioning aspects of the written text before me. Apart from being drawn from my sub-conscious

  • Man Versus Nature in Herman Melville's Moby Dick

    902 Words  | 2 Pages

    Man Versus Nature in Herman Melville's Moby Dick I conjure him in the storm-clouds above the bell-tower-- he is there, in that roiling expanse, the underbellies of the clouds like a huge celestial pod traveling with him. He is a shock of white against the mumbling sky-- the kind of sky that appears as an illustration in the Bible when the clouds part and there, just there, above the waiting shepherds, above Mary's bowed head, above the mountaintops, lo, the angel of the lord descends or even

  • Desire in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick

    2920 Words  | 6 Pages

    Desire in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick Moby-Dick describes the metamorphosis of character resulting from the archetypal night sea journey, a harrowing account of a withdrawal and a return. Thus Ishmael, the lone survivor of the Pequod disaster, requires three decades of voracious reading, spiritual meditation, and philosophical reflection before recounting his adventures aboard the ill-fated ship.1 His tale is astounding. With Lewis Mumford’s seminal study Herman Melville: A Critical Biography

  • Comparing Henry David Thoreau And Herman Melvilles Writings

    1690 Words  | 4 Pages

    Comparing Henry David Thoreau and Herman Melville's Writings Henry David Thoreau and Herman Melville focused their writings on how man was affected by nature. They translated their philosophies though both the portrayal of their protagonist and their own self exploration. In Moby Dick, Melville writes about Ahab's physical and metaphysical struggle over the great white whale, Moby Dick, symbolic of man's struggle against the overwhelming forces of nature. Ahab's quest is reported and experienced

  • Herman Melville's Moby-Dick

    1914 Words  | 4 Pages

    Herman Melville's Moby-Dick Herman Melville began working on his epic novel Moby-Dick in 1850, writing it primarily as a report on the whaling voyages he undertook in the 1830s and early 1840s. Many critics suppose that his initial book did not contain characters such as Ahab, Starbuck, or even Moby Dick, but the summer of 1850 changed Melville’s writing and his masterpiece. He became friends with author Nathaniel Hawthorne and was greatly influenced by him. He also read Shakespeare and

  • Facing A Fire Case Analysis

    1431 Words  | 3 Pages

    prepared by Ann Buchholtz, there are several problems and issues to identify in determining if Herman Singer should rebuild the factory due to a fire or retire on his insurance proceeds. I believe that this case is about social reform and self-interest. I think that Singer needs to ask himself, what is in the firm’s best economic interests. There are several things to question within this case, what should Herman Singer do and why, should he rebuild the factory or begin retirement, if he rebuilds, should

  • Herman Melville's Bartleby, the Scrivener

    3535 Words  | 8 Pages

    Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener" The narrator states fairly early on in Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener" that both he and Bartleby are "sons of Adam" (55). The phrase plays on a double entendre, referring to both the Calvinist Biblical Eden and to the view of America as the "new Eden." Many recent critics have traced the biblical aspects of this and other elemen ts of the story, claiming the character of Bartleby as a Christ-figure, and as such carries out the role of a

  • Perspective on Religion Herman Melville's Moby-Dick

    5383 Words  | 11 Pages

    Perspective on Religion Herman Melville's Moby-Dick A cornerstone of the philosophical and narrative substructure of Herman Melville's Moby-Dick is point of view, or perspective. The textually primary point of view in the novel is Ishmael's, since he is the narrator of the story. However, Ishmael relates his story in such a way that one can easily detect numerous other "voices," or other perspectives, in the story, which often oppose the narrator's voice. These other, non-primary perspectives

  • Narcissus And Goldmund Research Paper

    769 Words  | 2 Pages

    Cyclical Structure of Narcissus and Goldmund   Narcissus & Goldmund, by Herman Hess, contains a distinct cyclical structure. This structure is contributed to through characters, themes, ideas, times, and places. Each of these elements facilitate the development of an organized, creative work, delving deep into the human psyche to reveal that both Narcissus and Goldmund are players in the same game. There are three separate cycles present in the novel. The first cycle occurs during the

  • Humorous Wedding Speech by an Old Roomate (Flatmate)

    558 Words  | 2 Pages

    an Old Roomate (Flatmate) Well, congratulations to Herman and Connie. I assume that you are now expecting me to have a bit of fun at Herman's expense. Well, the only trouble is, Herman's expenses have been so high today that I’m not sure how much more he can take. Herman and I have been great friends (mates) for a long time now, and inevitably we've shared many things over the years: football; college; my driving license when Herman didn't have one - and now, a wedding table. Who'd have thought

  • George Herman Babe Ruth

    2443 Words  | 5 Pages

    George Herman "Babe" Ruth George Herman "Babe" Ruth was an American icon or symbol just as Uncle Sam was; the Babe started it all. He was the best pitcher in his day and still remains the strongest slugger in the game. Ruth had power, strength, an appetite and a desire for the game that no other player would ever have. It was "Babe Ruth, a hero of prowess who had achieved greatness by the sheer extent of his extraordinary ability" that put a smile on all the youngsters faces. No matter where

  • Herman Melville: A Biography And Analysis

    2567 Words  | 6 Pages

    Herman Melville: A Biography And Analysis Throughout American history, very few authors have earned the right to be called “great.” Herman Melville is one of these few. His novels and poems have been enjoyed world wide for over a century, and he has earned his reputation as one of the finest American writers of all time. A man of towering talent, with intellectual and artistic brilliance, and a mind of deep insight into human motives and behavior, it is certainly a disgrace that his true greatness

  • Herman Melville's Bartleby the Scrivener

    1070 Words  | 3 Pages

    American Dream? The American dream! What is the American dream? Who lives and considers their life the American dream? Does Bartleby live the American dream? What makes this story have anything to do with the American dream? Well in the next few pages I am going to try to relate my idea of the American dream to this story. The American dream to me is quite simple, happiness living in America. To strive for happiness you need some other tools, just face it happiness isn’t everything. Money is a big

  • Herman Melville's Billy Budd - Captain Vere was Correct

    633 Words  | 2 Pages

    Captain Vere was Correct in Billy Budd Captain Vere makes the correct decision by executing Billy Budd.  If CaptainVere lets Billy live the rest of the crew might get the impression that they will not be held accountable for their crimes.  If the crew feels that they can get away with what ever they want then there is a chance that they might form a rebellion and have a mutiny.  A mutiny would destroy the stability and good name of the ship and the crew.  Captain Vere does not want to

  • The Path to Understanding in Herman Hesse’s Demian

    1332 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Path to Understanding in Demian In Hermann Hesse's, "Demian," Emil Sinclair develops into a self-cognizant man after experiencing true friendship and the purity of life. Immaturity and innocence surrounds him as a child until a confidant by the name of Max Demian places him on the path to understanding himself. After opening his eyes to the feebleness of life, the boy realizes his true purpose of existence. Beginning life in the "realm of light," (7) Sinclair passes through life being criticized

  • The Role of Teachers in Herman Hesse's Siddhartha

    1371 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Role of Teachers in Herman Hesse's Siddhartha Throughout history there have been countless numbers of teachers: artisans, craftsmen, ideologist, to name a few. They have all master some skill, gained some wisdom, or comprehended an idea. These teachers have achieved knowledge which allows them to excel and to be above and beyond regular people. Knowledge is something everyone strives for, and many desire. To achieve knowledge, one must have an eye-opening experience, and epiphany that leads

  • Herman Melville's Bartleby the Scrivener

    1089 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since he will not quit me, I must quit him. "Ah Bartleby, Ah Humanity." (Page 140, Herman Melville) This is the key to Bartleby, written by Herman Melville, for it indicates that Bartleby stands as a symbol for humanity. This in turn functions as a commentary on society and the working world, for Bartleby is a seemingly homeless, mentally disturbed scrivener who gives up on the prospect of living life. However, by doing so Bartleby is attempting to exercise his freewill, for he would "prefer

  • Herman Melville's Billy Budd as Allegory of Good versus Evil

    1320 Words  | 3 Pages

    Herman Melville's Billy Budd as Allegory of Good versus Evil Herman Melville's Billy Budd relates an allegory of innocence versus evil by symbolizing Billy Budd, John Claggart, and Captain Vere as Jesus Christ, Lucifer, and God. The protagonist in the novel is Billy Budd.  The experiences that Billy undergoes throughout the novel parallel what Jesus Christ endured in his life.  Melville characterizes Billy Budd as an innocent man physically and mentally.  The first feature sailors would notice

  • The Plight of the Common Man in Herman Melville's Bartleby, the Scrivener

    4254 Words  | 9 Pages

    George Edward Woodberry, author of the Heart of Man, published in 1899, emphasized the significance of the role of the individual as an active and equal partner in American democratic rule: The doctrine of the equality of mankind by virtue of their birth as men, with its consequent right to equality of opportunity for self-development as a part of social justice, establishes a common basis of conviction, in respect to man, and a definite end as one main object of the State; and these elements are