How do Shakespeare's love stories in his novels reflect the society of his time?

They show the importance of family and social status. In many of his plays, the lovers' relationship is affected by their families' standing. For instance, in 'Romeo and Juliet', the Montagues and Capulets' feud is a big obstacle to their love.

In 'Young Goodman Brown', the presence of the devil - like figures in the forest can be seen as a representation of the hidden temptations and the underlying moral decay that the Puritan society feared. The story shows how the strict religious upbringing of the characters was constantly at odds with the allure of the unknown and the potentially sinful. Hawthorne was using these ghostly elements to comment on the society's struggle with maintaining its moral and religious integrity.

Hawthorne's horror stories often reflect the Puritan society of his time. For example, in 'Young Goodman Brown', the strict religious beliefs and the hypocrisy within the Puritan community are shown. The people who seem so pious during the day are involved in what seems like devil - worship at night. It shows how the society's outward appearance of goodness may hide a lot of moral decay.

In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', it reflects the Victorian society's repression of certain aspects of human nature. The strict moral code of the time made people suppress their darker desires, which is shown through Jekyll's transformation into Hyde.

In his novels, Orwell was concerned about the loss of democratic values. In the society of his time, there were signs of political oppression and the restriction of civil liberties. 'Animal Farm' was a satirical take on the Russian Revolution and how power can corrupt. It reflected how the ideals of a revolution can be subverted, just as happened in some political situations during his era.

In Dostoevsky's works, characters like Raskolnikov from 'Crime and Punishment' are a product of the social environment. The extreme poverty and the allure of new ideas about the individual's place in society led him to his actions. His subsequent guilt and moral struggle also reflect the society's underlying moral values. In 'The Brothers Karamazov', the family's disputes over inheritance, love, and faith are reflective of the larger social issues of greed, lust, and the search for meaning. The characters' interactions and their internal conflicts show how society was grappling with modernity, class differences, and the erosion of traditional values.

His quote 'We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be' from 'Cat's Cradle' shows that he believes society often shapes itself based on false pretenses. People put on masks and act in certain ways, and over time, these acts become part of their identity, which can have a negative impact on society as a whole.

In Somerset Maugham's Collected Short Stories, the social norms are very evident. The way people interacted, the roles they played in society, such as the proper behavior of a married woman or a gentleman. The stories also touch on the limited opportunities for certain groups, like women. Maugham's writing was a mirror to the society he lived in, with all its flaws and peculiarities.

His stories often show the economic disparities. For instance, in many of his works, we can see poor characters struggling to make ends meet while the rich seem to have everything. This reflects the class divide in his time.

In 'Pride and Prejudice', the love story reflects the society's emphasis on class and wealth. Elizabeth's family's lower social standing affects how she is perceived in the marriage market, and Mr. Darcy's initial pride is also related to his high social position. The novel shows how love was often intertwined with social and economic factors in that era.