Nikita's blog

 Derrida and Deconstruction This blog post is part of an academic task assigned by Dilipsir Barad , exploring the philosophical and literary concept of Deconstruction, introduced by Jacques Derrida. ( Click Here )  Introduction to Derrida Jacques Derrida, a French philosopher, is widely recognized as the father of Deconstruction , a critical approach that questions traditional assumptions about certainty, identity, and truth. Emerging in the late 20th century, Derrida's ideas challenged the foundations of Western philosophy and significantly influenced literary theory, linguistics, and cultural studies. Video 1 :  Defining Deconstruction The video introduces Jacques Derrida’s concept of deconstruction, emphasizing that it is not a destructive act but a critical method that questions how philosophical and intellectual systems are built. Derrida argues that all definitions, including that of deconstruction itself, are unstable due to the limits of language. Drawing from He...

  The God of Small Things: A Haunting Tale of Love, Loss, and Forbidden Truths Introduction Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things, published in 1997, stands as a landmark of postcolonial Indian literature. The debut novel won the Booker Prize and immediately garnered global acclaim for its lyrical prose and profound insight into the fabric of Indian society. Set in Kerala during the late 20th century, it’s a story told through the eyes of fraternal twins, Estha and Rahel, whose lives are shattered by caste, tradition, family secrecy, and the immutable “Love Laws” that dictate “who should be loved, and how. And how much.” A Domestic Tragedy Unfolding in Ayemenem The novel moves between 1969 and 1993, centering around the childhood of Estha and Rahel. As children, they are bound together not just by blood, but by trauma and tragedy. Their mother, Ammu, seeks liberation from an abusive marriage only to find herself at odds with her conservative family when she falls in love with Vel...

Journey into the Human Soul: Exploring Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness Introduction Heart of Darkness is one of the most influential and controversial novellas in English literature. Written by Joseph Conrad and first published in 1899, it is a powerful exploration of imperialism, colonial cruelty, and the dark side of human nature. The novella has sparked decades of debate, both for its rich symbolic layers and its complex portrayal of Africa and colonialism. Plot Overview The story is told by Marlow, a sailor who recounts his voyage up the Congo River into the heart of the African continent. He is on a mission to find Mr. Kurtz, an ivory trader employed by a Belgian company who has gone rogue and established himself as a kind of god among the native people. As Marlow ventures deeper into the jungle, he discovers not just the horrors of European imperialism, but the moral decay and madness that can take root when men are removed from the structures of civilized society. When he fina...

Death of a Salesman Introduction  Death of a Salesman, a play in “two acts and a requiem” by Arthur Miller, written in 1948 and produced in 1949. Miller won a Pulitzer Prize for the work, which he described as “the tragedy of a man who gave his life, or sold it” in pursuit of the American Dream. After many years on the road as a traveling salesman, Willy Loman realizes he has been a failure as a father and a husband. His sons, Happy and Biff, are not successful—on his terms (being “well liked”) or any others. His career fading, Willy escapes into dreamy reminiscences of an idealized past. In the play’s climactic scene, Biff prepares to leave home, starts arguing with Willy, confesses that he has spent three months in jail, and mocks his father’s belief in “a smile and a shoeshine.” Willy, bitter and broken, his illusions shattered, commits suicide. The American Dream: Myth, Reality, and the Road Ahead   What Is the American Dream? The American Dream is the belief that the Unit...

  And Still I Rise Introduction In 1978, the literary world witnessed yet another powerful milestone in Maya Angelou’s career with the release of her third volume of poetry, And Still I Rise . Published by Random House , this collection arrived during one of the most creatively rich and productive periods in Angelou’s life. By this time, she had already penned three bestselling autobiographies and two poetry collections , marking her place as a commanding voice in both prose and verse. Although Angelou is most widely celebrated for her autobiographies especially the groundbreaking I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings  she always identified first as a poet and playwright . From the outset of her writing journey, Angelou developed a unique rhythm of alternating between autobiography and poetry , allowing her to tell her story through both narrative and lyrical forms.  Inside the Collection And Still I Rise is composed of 32 compact and powerful poems , thoughtfully grouped ...

  A Prayer for my Daughter            This poem is “A Prayer for My Daughter” by W. B. Yeats , written in 1919 shortly after the birth of his daughter, Anne , and during a time of great personal and political unrest both in Ireland and globally. The poem is a deeply contemplative and emotionally layered reflection on fatherhood, hope, society, and spiritual values . Stanza 1 – The Storm and Inner Gloom Yeats begins the poem during a literal storm. As his newborn daughter sleeps inside, he walks and prays anxiously, troubled by a “great gloom” in his mind. The storm outside reflects the political and emotional turbulence of the world. Stanza 2 – A Father's Prayer He prays for his daughter's future while the wind howls violently around the tower. The sea-wind becomes a symbol of the uncontrollable, destructive forces of the world. He imagines the future rushing in chaotically, born “out of the murderous innocence of the sea.” Stanza 3 – Beauty and I...

                                Caged Bird By  Maya Angelou A free bird leaps on the back of the wind    and floats downstream    till the current ends and dips his wing in the orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky. But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage his wings are clipped and    his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings    with a fearful trill    of things unknown    but longed for still    and his tune is heard    on the distant hill    for the caged bird    sings of freedom. The free bird thinks of another breeze and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn and he names the sky his own. But a caged bird stands on the g...