English Literature & Theology

"The Weed" by  Amrita Pritam   "The Weed" is a short story by Amrita Pritam that explores themes of gender inequality, patriarchal oppression, and social conditioning in rural Indian society. The story is narrated from the perspective of a woman who observes the life and thoughts of another woman, Angoori, a newly married bride. The story The Weed revolves around Angoori, the young second wife of Prabhati, who is a servant of the narrator’s neighbor’s neighbor. After the death of his first wife, Prabhati returned to his village for the funeral, where Angoori’s father offered her hand in marriage. However, their marriage was only consummated after six years due to Angoori’s young age and her mother’s paralytic attack. When Prabhati finally took Angoori to the city, his employers objected, but he assured them that she would manage on her own. In the city, Angoori initially observed strict purdah but gradually became more comfortable. She loved wearing jewelry and en...

  "The Golden Touch" by  Nathaniel Hawthorne Summary, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story  "The Golden Touch"  is a retelling of the Greek myth of King Midas, who is granted the ability to turn everything he touches into gold. The story introduces King Midas, a wealthy and powerful ruler obsessed with gold. Although he has vast riches, he is never satisfied and constantly desires more. His greatest wish is that everything he touches would turn to gold, believing that this would make him the happiest man on earth. One day, while contemplating his fortune, a mysterious stranger appears before Midas. The stranger, who seems to have magical powers, offers to grant Midas a wish. Without hesitation, Midas wishes that everything he touches should turn to gold. The stranger warns him to consider the consequences, but Midas, blinded by greed, eagerly accepts the offer. The stranger grants his wish and disappears. At first, Midas is overjoyed with his new ability. He touches ob...

  The Poplar Field  (1784) by William  Cowper The Poplars are fell’d, farewell to the shade And the whispering sound of the cool  colonnade , The winds play no longer and sing in the leaves, Nor Ouse on his bosom their image receives. Twelve years have elapsed since I last took a view Of my favourite field and the bank where they grew, And now in the grass behold they are laid, And the tree is my seat that once lent me a shade. The black-bird has fled to another retreat Where the hazels afford him a screen from the heat, And the scene where his melody charm’d me before, Resounds with his sweet-flowing ditty no more. My  fugitive  years are all hasting away, And I must e’er long lie as lowly as they, With a turf on my breast and a stone at my head E’er another such grove shall arise in its stead. ’Tis a sight to engage me if any thing can To muse on the perishing pleasures of Man; Though his life be a dream, his enjoyments, I see, Have a Being less durable e...

  Because I could not stop for Death    By Emily Dickinson Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage held but just Ourselves – And Immortality. We slowly drove – He knew no haste And I had put away My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility – We passed the School, where Children strove At Recess – in the Ring – We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain – We passed the Setting Sun – Or rather – He passed Us – The Dews drew quivering and Chill – For only Gossamer, my Gown – My Tippet – only Tulle – We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground – The Roof was scarcely visible – The Cornice – in the Ground – Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses' Heads Were toward Eternity – Summary, Emily Dickinson’s “Because I could not stop for Death” is one of her most renowned poems, written around 1863. In this piece, the speaker, a woman, recounts how she was visited by Death, depic...