In this blog post, I will examine perspectives on scientific truth and falsificationism, focusing on Karl Popper’s ‘Conjectures and Refutations’, and share my personal thoughts on the subject. Throughout the long history of the philosophy of science, questions regarding what truth is, how it can be explored or acquired, and whether eternal truths exist have been major research...
What is the perspective on humanity and society presented in Jonathan Swift’s ‘Gulliver’s Travels’?
In this blog post, I’d like to examine the perspective on humanity and society presented in Jonathan Swift’s ‘Gulliver’s Travels’. Have you ever asked yourself, “What is a human being?” Have you ever wondered what it means to live in this world as a human being? We are born as human beings and live a single, irreversible life. Therefore, it is only natural to ask such questions...
Why was Pasternak’s “Safe-Conduct Pass” a certificate that justified his art and existence?
In this blog post, I will explore why Pasternak’s “Safe-Conduct Pass” served as a certificate justifying the meaning of his art and existence, by examining the background of its creation and the historical context. The Place and Significance of Two Autobiographical Works Boris Pasternak (1890–1960), winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, left behind two autobiographical works during his...
How did Alain Robbe-Grillet go from being the “inappropriate rebel” of the Nouveau Roman to becoming an icon of French literature?
In this blog post, we’ll explore how Robbe-Grillet’s experimental writing and the Nouveau Roman movement shook up traditional realism and humanism, leading him to a symbolic position despite his conflict with the literary establishment. Robe-Grillet, Spokesperson for the Nouveau Roman From the moment he first set foot in the French literary world, Alain Robe-Grillet provoked intense and at...
How Does Stefan Zweig’s “Confusion of Feelings” Depict Passion and Homosexuality?
In this blog post, we’ll examine how passion and homosexuality intertwine between Roland and his teacher in Zweig’s short story “Confusion of Feelings,” creating emotional turmoil. Work Analysis “Confusion of Feelings (Verwirrung der Gefühle),” published in 1926 by the Austrian author Stefan Zweig (1881–1942), is one of the most widely recognized works in Austria. This short story is...
What challenges did Charlotte Dacker’s ‘Desire’ reveal about women in 19th-century London?
In this blog post, set against the backdrop of 19th-century London, we examine Charlotte Dacker’s life and works—particularly ‘Joploya’ and ‘Desire’—and explore the questions they raised about female desire and social constraints. Charlotte Dacker went by several names. Before marriage, she was known as Charlotte King, taking her father’s surname, and when...
Why is Balzac’s ‘The Lily of the Valley’ considered the quintessential romance novel within ‘The Human Comedy’?
In this blog post, we’ll examine the autobiographical elements in Balzac’s ‘The Lily of the Valley’, his depictions of the Touraine landscape, and the significance of his character portrayals within ‘The Human Comedy’. “The Lily of the Valley” and “The Human Comedy” “The Lily of the Valley” was serialized in ‘Le Revue de Paris’ in 1835, when Balzac was...
How Did Radishchev Become the “Forerunner of the Revolution” in 18th-Century Russia?
In this blog post, we analyze Radishchev’s criticism of serfdom and autocracy as revealed in his “Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow,” and examine how he came to be reevaluated as a revolutionary symbol by figures ranging from Herzen to Lunacharsky. Radishchev and His Revolutionary Legacy “We Are Sympathizers” (Мы сочувственники). On July 30, 1918, the Soviet People’s Commissariat...
How does the plot of ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ unfold from Lilliput to Houyhnhnm?
In this blog post, I’ll briefly summarize the key plot points to show how each part of ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ (Lilliput, Brobdingnag, Laputa, and Houyhnhnm) connects through different themes and events. Preface The work’s preface contains two forewords. One is a letter from Gulliver to his cousin Simpson, and the other is a letter from the publisher to the readers. Part 1:...
Hermann Hesse’s Life and Literature as Seen Through Autobiographical Elements and Major Works
In this blog post, we will focus on Hermann Hesse’s life and works to examine the autobiographical elements deeply embedded in his writing and how his major works are interconnected. Strictly speaking, regardless of the genre to which a work belongs, it is impossible to conceive of a literary work that is not ultimately the author’s own story. Although a novel is defined as a plausible...