Bildungsroman is a special kind of novel that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of its main character from his or her youth to adulthood. A Bildungsroman relates the growing up or “coming of age” of a sensitive person who goes in search of answers to life’s questions withContinue Reading
Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami, better known as R. K. Narayan (1906–2001), was one of India’s most prominent English-language novelists. Celebrated for his simple yet profound storytelling, Narayan captured the essence of middle-class South Indian life through his fictional town of Malgudi—a setting that became iconic in Indian literature. Narayan’s literaryContinue Reading
Rosie in R. K. Narayan’s The Guide is a complex female character – a hybrid of tradition and modernity of Indian Culture. She challenges the Hindu orthodox stereotype of how a woman should be and yet a part of her complex nature is intensely orthodox. In her we can seeContinue Reading
R. K. Narayan’s antihero in The Guide, Raju, explores the complexities of a ‘Reluctant Guru’. His multifaceted career is inevitably controlled by his destiny, as ironically he turns into a true hermit. Through Raju, he tried to highlight the problems and possibilities of spiritual transcendence in a materialist world. OriginallyContinue Reading
Power and suffering constitutes the leading theme of Marlowe’s play Edward II. The assertion and the exercise of power and authority are a recurrent theme in this play. Suffering – sometimes delayed – results directly from the exercise of power and authority. The subject of this play is the reignContinue Reading
In comparison to Doctor Faustus, Tamburlaine, or Barabas the Jew, Edward II is not a typical Marlovian hero. He is not portrayed as one with so much outer glory, intelligence, villainy, or ambition as has been bestowed to the other three. It might even be argued that, compared to theContinue Reading
The “Murder Scene” [V.v] of King Edward is the horrible climax of the “Deposition Scene” [V.i]. Here we find the king facing indescribable ignominy and humiliation. According to Charles Lamb, “The death scene of Marlowe’s king moves pity and terror beyond any scene, ancient or modern…” The king is shownContinue Reading
The play Edward II reaches its emotional climax in scene I, Act V where the king’s image as an irresponsible and weak person undergoes a total transformation, and he emerges as a tragic figure in his understanding of the worthlessness of a king stripped of power. The scene well representsContinue Reading
Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593) was a seminal figure in Elizabethan drama and a contemporary of William Shakespeare. Born in Canterbury and educated at Cambridge, Marlowe was not only a playwright and poet but also a scholar with rumored ties to espionage. His short but impactful career significantly influenced the development ofContinue Reading
John Milton (1608–1674) was one of the greatest English poets, renowned for his epic poetry, political writings, and profound influence on English literature. Born in London and educated at Cambridge, Milton was a deeply learned scholar fluent in several languages and well-versed in classical literature, theology, and history. His earlyContinue Reading
