Student 4-Student Instructor English 1302

Student 4student Instructor English 1302

Write an argumentative/research essay of four or five fully typed pages (double spaced) that addresses a literary topic of your choosing. Formulate a thesis statement that targets a debatable topic or prompt in fiction, poetry, drama, or a combination of these genres by an author. Develop an outline to reflect the direction and structure of your paper before writing the essay. You may choose from alternative prompts such as analyzing the actions of a major character in Hamlet using ethical tests, appraising the values of a character in The Metamorphosis, analyzing an author's ethics through their works, or evaluating the ethics of characters created by an author to examine the influence on the work.

Your essay should include: a clear explanation of the issue, evidence from sources with interpretation and evaluation, a sophisticated and well-argued thesis considering complexities, synthesis of opposing viewpoints, logical conclusions, and implications. Proper formatting in MLA style is required, with at least three citations (including at least one from library database sources). The paper must demonstrate college-level spelling, punctuation, sentence variety, and minimal grammar errors. Include a clearly stated thesis, logical topic sentences, and proper MLA formatting for in-text citations and works cited.

Additionally, submit an outline worth 5% of your final grade. Your essay should incorporate a visual component, including a description, explanation, and discussion of consequences and implications of your chosen image, connecting it with your essay content.

Paper For Above instruction

The importance of ethical analysis in literature provides profound insights into human nature and moral decision-making. This essay explores the intersection of ethics and literature by examining character actions and authorial values within selected works, illustrating how ethical considerations influence themes, character development, and reader interpretation. Through a focused analysis of major literary characters and the ethical frameworks they embody, the essay demonstrates the vital role of ethics in shaping literary narratives and their societal messages.

The first significant aspect to consider is how characters' actions are judged through the lenses of ethical tests, such as the Golden Rule and universality. For instance, in William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Hamlet himself faces moral dilemmas that evoke questions of justice and morality. Hamlet's hesitation to kill Claudius exemplifies internal conflict regarding ethical action—should he act decisively based on justice, or refrain due to moral hesitation? By applying the Golden Rule—treat others as you wish to be treated—and the principle of universality—would Hamlet want others to act as he has—the ethicality of his decisions can be critically evaluated. This analysis offers a nuanced perspective on the moral complexity of Hamlet's choices (Shakespeare, 1603).

Similarly, Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis presents a character study of Gregor Samsa and explores societal and individual values through Gregor’s treatment and the reactions of his family. The values held by Gregor’s sister and parents reflect societal norms and expectations, which justify or condemn their reactions to his transformation. Their responses—alienation, rejection, and neglect—can be examined through an ethical lens, questioning whether their actions align with moral principles of empathy and moral duty. Kafka’s portrayal prompts reflection on the societal ethics regarding disability and individual worth (Kafka, 1915).

Furthermore, analyzing an author’s own ethics reveals how personal values resonate within their works. For example, Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People articulates his critique of social hypocrisy and moral integrity. Ibsen’s own ethical stance—advocating for truth and moral responsibility—permeates the play’s characters and themes. By examining multiple works by Ibsen, it becomes evident how his ethical convictions influence his portrayal of individuals confronting societal pressures. This analysis emphasizes the connection between an author's personal ethics and their literary output, shaping the societal critique embedded in their work (Ibsen, 1882).

Conversely, evaluating characters from a single author’s broader body of work demonstrates how their ethical perspectives evolve. For instance, William Faulkner’s characters—such as those in As I Lay Dying—reflect complex moral landscapes shaped by cultural and personal conflicts. Analyzing how Faulkner’s own ethics informs his characters’ decisions reveals their moral ambiguity, emphasizing the challenges of moral judgment in the human condition. This synthesis underscores the importance of contextual ethics in understanding literary characters and themes.

The final component considers the implications of these ethical evaluations for understanding literature’s role in society. Recognizing how authors embed their ethical beliefs and how characters embody moral struggles enhances our comprehension of literature as a mirror of social values. Ethical analyses influence our interpretation of texts, prompting critical reflection on moral issues like justice, empathy, and societal responsibility. Ultimately, this examination highlights the significance of ethics in literature for fostering moral awareness and societal critique.

References

• Kafka, F. (1915). The Metamorphosis. Kurt Wolff Verlag.
• Ibsen, H. (1882). An Enemy of the People. Gyldendal.
• Shakespeare, W. (1603). Hamlet. The Folio.
• Faulkner, W. (1930). As I Lay Dying. Jonathan Cape & Harrison.
• Additional scholarly sources on literary ethics and author analysis.