Barrett

Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University proudly showcases the work of undergraduate honors students by sharing this collection exclusively with the ASU community.

Barrett accepts high performing, academically engaged undergraduate students and works with them in collaboration with all of the other academic units at Arizona State University. All Barrett students complete a thesis or creative project which is an opportunity to explore an intellectual interest and produce an original piece of scholarly research. The thesis or creative project is supervised and defended in front of a faculty committee. Students are able to engage with professors who are nationally recognized in their fields and committed to working with honors students. Completing a Barrett thesis or creative project is an opportunity for undergraduate honors students to contribute to the ASU academic community in a meaningful way.

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Madness and Immorality in the Works of William Shakespeare and Edgar A. Poe

Description
This thesis analyzes the relationship between the themes of madness and immorality in two plays from William Shakespeare (Hamlet and Othello) and three stories from Edgar Allan Poe (“The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” and “The Black Cat”). In the beginning, this thesis provides a brief overview of the…

This thesis analyzes the relationship between the themes of madness and immorality in two plays from William Shakespeare (Hamlet and Othello) and three stories from Edgar Allan Poe (“The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” and “The Black Cat”). In the beginning, this thesis provides a brief overview of the history of madness, focusing on humanity’s longstanding association of mental illnesses with immorality. Afterward, an analysis of the aforementioned works reveals connections and differences in how the works portray the relationship between the two themes. Throughout the analysis, the thesis includes information regarding each author’s historical context (specifically in regard to social, cultural, and historical associations between madness and immorality) to explore the authors’ depictions of their mad characters. The plays Hamlet and Othello indicate that madness, on one hand, results from God’s bestowment of rightful punishment on those that pursue revenge against His prohibition of seeking revenge. The plays, although primarily Othello on this second point, also suggest that madness originates from the influence of diabolical sources that gain control over those that pursue immoral actions. On the other hand, Poe depicts the relationship between madness and immorality slightly differently. In the works of Poe, immorality and madness connect in that madness triggers immorality. In the end, this analysis reveals how these works, differing slightly in the details, nevertheless show humanity’s old, prevailing association between madness and immorality.
ContributorsAragon, Maya (Author) / Fazio, Marsha (Thesis director) / Hattenhauer, Darryl (Committee member) / School of Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
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Empathy Eternal: Vonnegut's Enduring Conviction

Description
Throughout his many works, Kurt Vonnegut Jr. explored a multitude of topics and issues central to the human condition, becoming a highly vocal social critic whose messages still retain significance even decades after publishing the majority of his novels. His characteristic wit and tendency towards science-fiction created a signature style…

Throughout his many works, Kurt Vonnegut Jr. explored a multitude of topics and issues central to the human condition, becoming a highly vocal social critic whose messages still retain significance even decades after publishing the majority of his novels. His characteristic wit and tendency towards science-fiction created a signature style through which readers are not only entertained, but greatly impacted by the observations on society he displays through his writing. He had a special affinity for writing about the care of all people and the inequality on which capitalistic societies thrive, perceiving the harsh realities of what this system does to those who have not the fortune, luck, or circumstances required to be successful under capitalism. His humanistic beliefs shine through in his writing, showing his dedication to the idea of empathy for all human beings. This concept of empathy will be the main focus of this paper, as it comes through within Vonnegut’s writing and relates to different issues that continue to plague modern America.
ContributorsTallant, Alex (Author) / Goodman, Brian (Thesis director) / Bryant, Jason (Committee member) / Department of English (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05