Reet Chatterjee
Reet Chatterjee
Writing Portfolio
Portfolio of Work
The Intersection of Christianity and Gender Roles in the Epic Poem Beowulf
December 2020
An in-depth examination of Christianity's influence on the Beowulf poet's depiction of gender roles. The paper argues the claim that the Beowulf poet’s contrasting depictions of male and female leaders reinforce the gender norms traditionally associated with Christianity, suggesting that gender disparities in leadership roles stem from Christian influence.
Food Insecurity Amidst a Pandemic: A Crisis Within a Crisis
December 2020
With the economic turmoil and millions of job losses due to the coronavirus pandemic, a record number of Americans face food insecurity this holiday season. The pandemic has exacerbated issues already present in America’s food insecurity crisis, significantly affecting those already experiencing financial hardship.
Microaggressions Impact Student Learning and Classroom Dynamic
November 2020
Microaggressions have become troublingly normalized in modern society. Schools, as microcosms of society, are not exempt from this issue; underrepresented students battle not only microaggressions, but also the implications they cause to a learning environment.
I Asked Teenagers How They Feel About the American Flag. It Got Interesting.
October 2020
In our country today, the American flag holds a different story depending on who you talk to: some are proudly waving the flag at parades while others are burning the flag at protests. A symbol of unity has morphed into one of controversy, leaving Americans to question what the flag really means to them. To address this questioning, the National Public Radio asked 1,800 adults how they feel about the American flag. As expected, opinions varied greatly, but most Americans agreed that the country lacks a sense of national unity. To get a glimpse of the youth perspective, I interviewed six high school seniors about what the flag means to them.
The Perils of Reckless Discovery in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
September 2020
A short analysis paper on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The paper utilizes Victor Frankenstein’s scientific exploration as a metaphor for British imperialist exploration, uncovering the adverse effects of reckless discovery adulterating western purity and domestic affections.
Fast Fashion: The Environment's Costly Sacrifice to Cheap Fashion
March, 2020
An in depth examination of the modern fast fashion industry's collective impact on the environment. This paper synthesizes expert voices on how to best deter the environmental harm associated with the textile and clothing industry.
Finding Bliss in the Unexpected
February 2020
A personal reflection on where I find bliss in my life for the University of Portland's essay contest. The essay revolves around Willa Cather's famous tombstone quote: ‘This is Bliss: To be dissolved into something great.’
The Unquestionable Power of Laughter
December 2019
An academic research paper arguing the influence that humorists have on society's moral standards. The essay supports Alain de Botton's claim that the chief aim of humorists is not merely to entertain, but "to convey with impunity messages that might be dangerous or impossible to state directly."
"Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves"