The Mysterious Stranger by Mark Twain is a philosophical novel set in 16th-century Austria. Three boys encounter a supernatural being named Satan, who claims to be an angel and demonstrates miraculous powers. He manipulates reality, exposing human hypocrisy, cruelty, and the illusion of free will. As he performs miracles and disrupts lives, he challenges morality,…
Moby Dick or The Whale by Herman Melville is a classic novel following Ishmael, a sailor who joins the whaling ship Pequod. The ship is captained by Ahab, an obsessive and vengeful man seeking to kill Moby Dick, a massive white whale that previously maimed him. As the voyage progresses, Ahab’s relentless pursuit leads the…
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a psychological novel that explores the moral struggles of Raskolnikov, a poor ex-student in St. Petersburg. He commits a brutal murder, believing that certain individuals have the right to transgress moral laws for a greater good. However, after the crime, he is consumed by guilt and paranoia, leading…
An Essay on Man by Alexander Pope is a philosophical poem, written in heroic couplets, that explores the nature of humanity, its place in the universe, and its relationship with God. Published in 1733–1734, the work attempts to justify the ways of God to man, reflecting the Enlightenment ideals of reason and order. The poem…
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas tells the story of Edmond Dantès, a young sailor falsely accused of treason and imprisoned in the Château d’If. After years of imprisonment, he learns of a hidden treasure on the island of Monte Cristo. Escaping, he assumes the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo and…
Bleak House follows the intertwined lives of several characters as they navigate the labyrinthine English legal system, particularly the interminable case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce. The story is narrated by Esther Summerson, a kind-hearted orphan raised by a cold guardian. The case, which has dragged on for generations, symbolizes the corruption and inefficiency of the…
Beowulf is an Old English epic poem set in Scandinavia, recounting the heroic deeds of its protagonist, Beowulf, a Geatish warrior. The story begins with King Hrothgar of Denmark, whose mead hall, Heorot, is terrorized by a monstrous creature named Grendel. Grendel, enraged by the joy and noise from the hall, slaughters Hrothgar’s men for years,…
