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Full-Text Articles in American Studies

Every Good And Perfect Gift: How Jonathan Edwards Uses The Motif Of The Gift To Communicate The Gospel, Lauren Bridgeman Dec 2021

Every Good And Perfect Gift: How Jonathan Edwards Uses The Motif Of The Gift To Communicate The Gospel, Lauren Bridgeman

English Class Publications

When a person brings a gift to a party or holiday gathering, they often do so out of fear of people viewing them as impolite if they forget. This societal norm creates the impression that the receivers deserve the gift. However, objects of value that are deserved are called wages, not gifts; gifts are products that are undeserved and unearned. Though the motif of a gift is uncommon in literature and is not as common as motifs of nature or childhood, it is important to understand the components of a Gift. Involved in an exchange are a Giver and a …


Frederick Douglass And The Patriotic Imperative, Kaitlyn Stoddard Dec 2021

Frederick Douglass And The Patriotic Imperative, Kaitlyn Stoddard

English Class Publications

In today's post-Civil Rights era, I believe that America has lost sight of what patriotism is and where it belongs. Patriotism, as it is understood today, has become mistakenly merged with nationalism. In the minds of the public and media, patriots are supposed to exhibit undying loyalty and dedication to their country. This sentiment is better aligned with nationalism, a concept that I would argue should ideally be distinct from patriotism. While the execution of the two concepts may ultimately seem similar from the outside, the foundation of each concept is different, leading to varied execution thereof. To regrasp true …


Bigger And Abnormal Psychology: How Antisocial Personality Disorder And A Lack Of Identity Helped Shape Bigger's Behavior, Trayton N. Armstrong May 2021

Bigger And Abnormal Psychology: How Antisocial Personality Disorder And A Lack Of Identity Helped Shape Bigger's Behavior, Trayton N. Armstrong

English Class Publications

One of the most discussed murders in modern American literature is Bigger Thomas, the protagonist of Richard Wright’s Native Son (1940). The novel centers on the last days of Bigger’s life, as he commits two homicides, extortion, and rape. These crimes led to a death sentence of the electric chair after a flimsy trial. While it might appear at first that Bigger’s situation is simply a result of the racism of the late 1930s, with the segregated South Side noticing and hating the disparity they see compared to the more affluent white residents in neighboring burgs, I would argue that …