In this blog post, we will take a detailed look at the theme of the role and courage of the intellectual, focusing on the significance of the “poisoned cup” and “one chicken” as depicted in the scene of Socrates’ death. What is the meaning of the “poisoned cup”? Greek scholar Alexander Elliott concludes his play ‘The Trial’—which dramatizes the process from Socrates’ trial to...
Why Does the Novel ‘The Dead’ Focus on Reincarnation Rather Than Death?
In this blog post, we’ll examine how the recurring imagery of death in the novel ‘The Dead’ shapes the concept of “the dead” and creates a narrative of reincarnation, using the examples of Negeli and Amakasu. Introduction This novel begins with a shocking depiction of death right from the first chapter. Chapter 1 describes a Japanese officer committing seppuku, which is filmed...
How can Pearl S. Buck serve as a mentor to women today?
In this blog post, I reflect on Pearl S. Buck—whom I encountered at a used bookstore during my middle school years—and the themes she raised—“freedom, happiness, and women”—and what they mean for my life and for women today. In my second year of middle school—a time when I was brimming with curiosity about the world and vaguely pondering how I should live my life as a woman—I encountered...
Where does the enduring vitality of Isaiah Berlin’s biography of Marx come from?
In this blog post, we will examine Isaiah Berlin’s biography of Marx and the reasons for its enduring vitality. Isaiah Berlin and the Two Concepts of Liberty Isaiah Berlin is widely recognized as a leading political theorist and scholar of the history of ideas in the latter half of the 20th century. He gained widespread recognition for his 1958 lecture, “Two Concepts of Liberty.” This...
Why Does Politics Exacerbate Inequality?: A Key Analysis of “Gangnam Left 2”
In this blog post, I will summarize the causes of deepening inequality in Korean politics as raised in “Gangnam Left 2,” along with the author’s diagnosis and solutions, and briefly examine the book’s main arguments and implications. Main Content and Issues Raised in the Book “Gangnam Left 2” builds upon its predecessor, shedding light on the Gangnam Left and the polarized political...
What kind of work is Thomas Hardy’s ‘Tess’, and what was the author trying to convey?
In this blog post, we will explore the literary world and plot of Thomas Hardy and his masterpiece, ‘Tess’, to examine the work’s literary significance. Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) was a leading novelist and poet of the late Victorian era. He reached the pinnacle of late Victorian British literature as a novelist and was also highly regarded as a poet. Using his hometown of Dorset...
In what historical context was ‘Utopia’ written?
In this blog post, we will examine Thomas More’s life, the background behind the writing of ‘Utopia’, and the work’s historical significance. Sir Thomas More was the son of Sir John More, a judge of the High Court of Justice in England, and was born in 1478 on Milk Street in London. As a child, he was educated at St. Anthony’s School on Threadneedle Street before entering the...
What Does Salinger’s “Glass Family” Series Tell Us?
In this blog post, we’ll examine J. D. Salinger’s literary world, mysticism, love, and the dilemmas of modern life, focusing on his “Glass Family” series. From 1945 to 1951, Salinger published 16 short stories; five of them were about Holden Caulfield and his family, while three were part of the so-called “Glass Family” series, which is widely regarded as a projection of Salinger himself...
Why did J. D. Salinger choose to live in silence, cut off from the world?
In this blog post, we’ll explore why J. D. Salinger—who gained worldwide fame for ‘The Catcher in the Rye’—chose to live in seclusion, as well as various anecdotes surrounding his life. J. D. Salinger (Jerome David Salinger), who sparked the so-called “Salinger phenomenon” worldwide with ‘The Catcher in the Rye’—considered required reading for American college...
What is ‘The Carrot’ about, and what message does it convey?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the overview, plot, characters, and analysis of ‘The Carrot’, a representative work by French author Jules Renard. About the Work Written by French novelist and playwright Jules Renard, this work is based on his own difficult childhood. A coming-of-age novel that depicts the daily life of an adolescent boy through engaging vignettes, it has...