Essays on Harold Bloom

The play Othello composed by William Shakespeare portrays the tragedy of a character whose blind jealousy deprives him of everything he has. Due to its complexity and controversy, Othello was and remains a stumbling point for a lot of critics and researchers. Difficulty in the interpretation of this tragedy is caused by its characters` questionable morals. Moreover, with further analysis one may see that the theme of marital issues and betrayal in this tragedy is supported by another theme of morality and amorality which will determine the actions of not only the main character but that of everyone else. ...

The definition of the Western Canon is always changing, according to literary critic and Yale professor Harold Bloom: but is that mutability a good thing? Bloom, a rather conservative literary critic, believes that there should be literary standards that outlive the fashionable theories of the day. In our times, these literary theories include ideas borrow from Marx, Foucault, New Historicism, and ethnocentric and gender perspectives, among other lenses through which to view the production of literature. Amidst these ever-changing standards and definitions of a “classic,” Bloom believes the study of literature and good reading habits—to read well and ...

All great stories have to start somewhere. They gain special shape through different layers of author’s experience. However, they could only become exquisite when they continue living outside of author’s mind. There is no need to prove that the stories depicted in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings received their special lives. In fact, they belong to the popular culture phenomenon that is addressed to many (Hall 1). Not only do they continue living after the death of J.R.R. Tolkien, but they also remain an inspiration for the myriads of other minds in various fields. ...