In this blog post, we’ll examine—through ‘Berlin Alexanderplatz’—the fate of people living amid the chaos, crime, and poverty of a metropolis, as well as the significance of the changes that take place within that context. The Metropolis as the Protagonist “Berlin Alexanderplatz” is Alfred Döblin’s masterpiece and one of the most important works of modern German literature...
Brave New World Revisited: Have the Soma and Technocratic Dictatorship Huxley Warned About Already Begun?
In this blog post, based on Huxley’s 1958 essay collection ‘Brave New World Revisited’, we will specifically examine the threats to modern civilization he warned about—including overpopulation, excessive organization, chemical persuasion, and manipulation of the subconscious. “Brave New World Revisited”: Technological Civilization and the Crisis of Humanity Published in 1958—27...
Is the Life I’ve Chosen Really the Right Choice? — Reflections on “The Death of Ivan Ilyich”
In this blog post, I’d like to share how reading “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” led me to reflect on the path I’ve chosen in life and its meaning. My Choice “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Questions about what our future will look like—one of the most common questions we hear as we grow up—didn’t mean much to me until high school. Since my career path was determined by studying...
Why did Nabokov use death to explore art and freedom in ‘An Invitation to the Gallows’?
In this blog post, I reflected on the meaning behind the contrasts between reality and fantasy, time and memory, and art and freedom as they appear in ‘An Invitation to the Gallows’. Nabokov’s Literary World Shaped by Exile and Memory Vladimir Nabokov was born in 1899 into a wealthy aristocratic family in St. Petersburg. He spent his childhood and adolescence in that city, and...
How Should We Understand Goethe’s ‘Faust’?
In this blog post, I offer a simple, unbiased commentary on Goethe’s poetic drama ‘Faust’. Work Commentary Since this poetic drama ‘Faust’, to which Goethe devoted his entire life, may require some explanation for readers, I have provided a simple, unbiased commentary. This article is intended to aid general readers in appreciating the work and is not meant to...
What aspects of modern life does Goethe’s ‘Faust’ reveal through the tragedy of Gretchen?
In this blog post, we explore how Goethe exposes the conflicts of modern humanity and the contradictions of early capitalism through key scenes such as Gretchen’s sacrifice, Walpurgis Night, and the court masquerade ball. The ‘Iliad’ of Modern Life Written during the transition from late medieval feudal society to modern capitalist society and refined over the course of some 60...
What were Goethe’s life and literary world like?
In this blog post, we will examine Goethe’s life and major works, with a particular focus on the meaning behind ‘Faust’. Goethe’s Life and Works Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born on August 28, 1749, in the Free City of Frankfurt am Main on the banks of the Main River as the eldest son of a distinguished family, and he passed away on March 22, 1832, in Weimar. When Goethe...
Goethe’s “Faust”: How Should You Read It?
In this blog post, I’ll share some tips on how to approach Goethe’s “Faust” without feeling overwhelmed, as well as a simple overview of the basic background of the work and its author. Faust: No Need to Be Afraid At some point in life, everyone hears about Goethe, the world-renowned German poet, and his work ‘Faust’. This often leads many people to think, “I really should read...
How can science and the humanities transcend their boundaries and converge?
In this blog post, I will examine the causes of misunderstandings and prejudices between science and the humanities through Richard Dawkins’ ‘Unweaving the Rainbow’, and explore ways in which these two fields can communicate and converge across their boundaries. What image do people outside the STEM fields have of science and scientists? The critical perceptions of scientists...
Can rape be viewed as an evolutionary adaptation?
In this blog post, based on the debate titled “Is Rape an Adaptation?” presented in ‘Darwin’s Table’, I will proofread and edit a piece on how to interpret rape behavior from an evolutionary perspective, organizing it into a natural and easy-to-read format. “Darwin’s Table” examines social phenomena from an evolutionary perspective, presenting both supporting and opposing...