While reading the various recommended texts for this unit this semester, I realized that many of them portray characters altering their consciousness in one way or another through alcohol or drugs. These works demonstrate shifting cultural ideas about the dangers and possibilities of changing one's perceptions, or losing control of one's faculties. The purpose of this paper is to explore some of the scenes illustrating the above view, discussing the kinds of things these works have to say about the cultures that produced them. The texts selected in this case are Thomas Hardy's "The Mayor of Casterbridge" and Edith Wharton's "House of Mirth".

Write a literature review on "Portrayal of Characters Altering Their Consciousness through Alcohol or Drugs, Shifting Cultural Ideas about the Dangers and Possibilities of Changing One's Perceptions: Scenes from Selected Texts"

Discuss below mentioned points in your review

Scenes portraying characters altering their consciousness

What the texts say about the cultures that produced them

Conclusion

Your review should have 2500 Words excluding references. Provide 2-3 references.