Word: protagonists
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...Berlin outlines O'Neill's innovative style. In The Emperor Jones O'Neill overwhelmingly used symbolism and created the first major part for a Black man. He used The Hairy Ape as a vehicle for a condemnation of the capitalistic, mechanistic materialism of American society. In comparing Yank, the protagonist, to Oedipus and Hamlet. O'Neill is addressing the oldest theme in history--man's struggle with his own fate. The play, Berlin notes, "is more existential than political, more metaphysical and spiritual than social, Man's desire to belong, his quest for belonging. is the measure of his humanity...
...issues about which Naylor writes with profound clarity prove one of the novel's greatest downfalls. She wants to write about so many issues that at times she seems anxious to squeeze in at least a one-line comment about every contemporary social issue. At a moment when the protagonist of one story is on her knees, paralyzed with fear and horror before six youths who are about to rape her, Naylor takes time out to comment on the problems of the rapists...
...decided what to do." The jingling verse of Hunches in Bunches (Random House; $5.95) could come only from the prescription pad of Dr. Seuss (a.k.a. Theodor Geisel). At 78, Geisel retains his unique ability to wrap a concept in clothing. This time he portrays hunches, tempting the indecisive protagonist away from his homework. The good doctor is an eye-and-ear specialist; his infectious rhymes are meant to be read aloud...
...spirit. The temptation, which has become almost a generic convention, is for film makers to adopt a dehumanizing reverence, which creates a holy void, a sort of white hole, at the center of the film. Meanwhile, they hope that background bustle will distract audiences from noticing that the protagonist seems to be on permanent leave of absence...
...coup" (i.e. martial law.) Later, he first sees pictures of the military tank and checkpoints through the window of a television rental store, where all the sets are tuned to the same station. This startling, almost surreal image of history fragmented into ghostly slivers of flickering light illuminates the protagonist only distantly...