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After my foray into reading industrial novels, beginning with Dickens’ “Hard Times,” I was thrilled with “Mary Barton.” Gaskell is an excellent writer and her story is a heart-wrenching tale of the dark side of “progress.” On a lighter side, you may enjoy her “Cranford” – very different style of writing but quite enjoyable. I will definitely put the other four suggestions on my list of must-reads for pure enjoyment – this will be after the must-reads for work. Thanks for these suggestions.

There is a quality in Hitchcock’s films that is almost inexplicable; however, your analysis of his work hits the nail on the head. The subtlety of direction that needs no dialogue (I’m thinking of Rear Window and Vertigo) is something Hitchcock perfected. Your analysis of “the innocent man” makes me want to revisit the films you mention in your article. It will be great to view these with your article in mind – especially I Confess.

Like Melissa, I think that Shakespeare’s plays are excellent vehicles for teaching modern dilemmas because there are so many universal themes presented. For those who believe that is a waste of time, I would suggest that the manner in which they are taught may have much to do with a lack of interest. Using a variety of adaptations and showing a variety of clips on important speeches demonstrates how each production is unique. The Tempest, read in conjunction with Aime Cesaire’s A Tempest demonstrates a post-colonial mind-set that continues to haunt us today. Taming of the Shrew examined through a feminist lens and the antisemitism of The Merchant of Venice, examined in terms of nationalist rhetoric that excluded “the racialized Other” would be excellent approaches to teach these timeless plays. Melissa’s assertion that Shakespeare’s histories and comedies do provide valuable insights into the human condition is well-conceived. I agree that excitement needs to be generated through providing creative approaches to the plays.

This is a well-researched paper. As one interested in Victorian literature, I was fascinated with how you associated vampires of that era with eroticism, degradation of humans (particularly white men) and class – the wealthy, aristocracy feeding on the life’s blood of the working class. I agree that vampire motifs will always reoccur, perhaps because they are so strongly associated with social, economic and ethical concerns that remain a focus in our own era. Excellent paper – I enjoyed your comprehensive view of vampires then and now.