Well, folks, I wrote my thesis statement today. So, here it is!
Who was Thomas Paine? More importantly, why does he matter to today's literary and political discussions? In order to answer these questions, one should first examine Paine's background. Secondly, Paine's writings-- especially Common Sense, The Rights of Man, and The Age of Reason-- need to be studied in the context of the Romantic Period and the historical events that shaped it as a whole. Also, Paine should be compared and contrasted to his contemporaries within the Romantic Movement. In addition, Paine's designation as one of the more controversial figures of his day needs to be examined. Another angle one must explore is the fact that Paine died in obscurity, but his ideas are enjoying a resurgence of popularity in the wake of current events. Finally, a study of each of these facets of Paine's life will lead one to understand why he is still important to post-modern public discourse and relevant to everything that is happening now. Thomas Paine does still matter; in fact, he is probably more important 200 years after his death than he ever was in life.
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