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A Novel By Any Other Name: Reflections on The Name of the Rose
Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose is a literary phenomenon with a mysterious cultural appeal. How did this philosophically dense, 500+ page novel about medieval monks sell fifty million copies? We would need a detective as skilled as the novel’s protagonist, William of Baskerville, to solve the mystery.
Between Satire and Tragedy: Troilus and Cressida
In Troilus and Cressida (1602), Shakespeare presents familiar characters in an unfamiliar way. This problem play takes Homer’s epic heroes–Achilles, Ajax, Hector, Ulysses–and represents them as a pale simulacrum of their reputations. The main plot, the failed love story between Troilus and Cressida, reinforces this satirical presentation of pagan heroism.
The Cynical Spy Out in the Ethical Cold
By exploring a world where deception is currency and loyalty is a luxury, The Spy Who Came In From the Cold forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about morality in the face of global conflict. Sixty years after its publication, the novel retains its power.
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Experiments in Criticism 