As a first-generation college student and a child of Armenian immigrants, I see education as the key to achieving the American Dream. My parent’s stories of life under the authoritarian rule of the Soviet Union sparked my interest to learn more about the laws that make America’s democracy unique. So, I decided to major in English in order to hopefully one day become a more articulate attorney.
My coursework in English Literature has not only strengthened my reading and writing skills but also instilled within me an appreciation for the power of the word and democratic thinking. Throughout my classes, my professors have taught me the importance of analyzing literary sources through different lenses. Instead of accepting texts at face value, I am encouraged to read between the lines and find my own interpretations and analyses of popular and classical pieces of literature.
For example, I could easily dismiss the medieval female mystic Margery Kempe as a madwoman. In her narrative, she hysterically cries on the streets for Jesus and believes that she has married the godhead! However, Prof. Rollo helped me sympathize with Kempe, as she fought against the misogyny of her time and remarkably got her story recorded by two male scribes, transforming her, in my eyes, as one of the strongest characters in literature and history. Likewise, I could consider Bartleby the Scrivener as a stubborn weirdo, who causes unnecessary trouble for the narrator, but “I would prefer not to” accept this interpretation! Prof. Gustafson redefined my interpretation of Melville’s short story and helped me view Bartleby as a militant protestor who fights against the powers that be. Or, I could watch the films of Hitchcock and blindly call him a sexist for the violence he inflicts upon his female characters. Yet, Prof. Modleski opened my eyes and showed me how strong and smart the women in Hitchcock’s film truly are (and how Hitchcock had some serious mommy issues!). While people only focus on analyzing the more obvious themes in his films, Prof. Modleski has inspired me to think outside the box and analyze these movies by reading against the grain.
I have read texts through almost every theory imaginable: feministic, political, theological, philosophical, queer, Freudian, Marxist, and archetypal perspectives! This ability to view the same thing through different interpretations is the most valuable skill I have learned in my college career. By applying this to the law, I can view court cases through various perspectives and have a better understanding of how the law differently affects each group of people. My education as an English major will permit me to work and ensure that “We the People” refers to every single person in society, and not only those in power. For this important lesson, I am eternally indebted to all my English professors.
