Stefanie Fraser, a fourth-year English major, danced around the room when she learned about winning the James Middleton Essay Prize for her work on Eve’s temptation in Milton’s Paradise Lost. “My essay is primarily about the role Eve played in her own expulsion from Eden,” said Ms. Fraser, who plans to pursue a Master’s degree when she graduates. “I’d like to explore how geographic origin plays a role in post-colonial Indian literature, both as a blessing and a curse,” she said, referencing author Salman Rushdie as an influence. “After that, who knows? I need to take things one step at a time,” she said.

Steve Donovan, a fourth-year History and Queen’s-Trent Concurrent Education student, was surprised to have won. “My instructor suggested that I submit my work on the Irish War of Independence, so I did, but I never expected to win,” he said. Mr. Donovan’s essay focuses on the morally ambiguous use of terrorism, both by the United Kingdom and the IRA to achieve opposite ends in the war. “It seems to be a common theme throughout the world – different groups commit atrocities to advance their goals, and then justify their actions by calling them things like ‘freedom fighting’ or ‘suppressing rebellion’,” he said. Mr. Donovan plans to pursue a career as a teacher, living overseas. “I think that education is the most important thing that a person can obtain in this life – an educated population can’t be led against its will.”

Mr. Middleton, an accountant and passionate advocate of the humanities as a key component of the human experience, established the prize in 2004. His impetus was “to promote a sense of responsible community through an understanding of the past and present,” an objective that he feels is central to a degree in humanities, and of vital importance in our day to day lives. “Looking back through my library, I was awe-struck by the number of things written then that are just as relevant today – the role of government in promoting freedom, peace and order, for example,” Mr. Middleton said in a speech delivered during the award luncheon. The James Middleton Essay Prize is awarded to up to two students in the humanities each year. Students studying philosophy, ancient history and classics, english, and history are eligible for the prize on a revolving basis.

The winning essays are available to read online at the Associate Dean of Arts & Science web site.

Posted on Tuesday, November 2, 2010.