The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde tells the story of a young man, Dorian Gray, who becomes obsessed with his own beauty. After artist Basil Hallward paints his portrait, Dorian wishes to remain youthful forever, while the painting ages in his place. Influenced by Lord Henry Wotton’s hedonistic philosophies, Dorian pursues a life…
White Jacket, or The World in a Man-of-War is a novel by Herman Melville, published in 1850. The story follows the experiences of an unnamed sailor aboard the USS Neversink, a warship in the U.S. Navy. The narrative is presented in the form of a first-person account, providing readers with an intimate glimpse into life…
“Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, is a powerful novel published in 1852 that highlights the brutal realities of slavery in America. The story follows Uncle Tom, a kind and dignified enslaved man, who is sold by his owner, Mr. Shelby, to settle debts. Tom is taken to a cotton plantation in the…
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is set in 17th-century Puritan Massachusetts and explores themes of sin, guilt, and redemption. The novel begins with Hester Prynne, a young woman who is publicly shamed for committing adultery. As punishment, she is forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest, symbolizing her sin and ostracizing…
