- The questions of moral and religion -- I know that so many people have tried to study this aspect of the novel, and I haven't found a specific part of it myself. However, it's a very open space to study.
- A psychoanalytical approach to the female protagonist Marcia Gaylord who seems to have a kind of neurosis that deals with her jealousy. Kermit Vanderbilt says that she looks pretty similar to the woman that Freud analyzed in his book "The Analysis of the Case of Dora".
- Question about capitalism and the practice of press in the capitalist era -- the way Bartley Hubbard treats his "future" newspaper as he explains it to Mr. Ricker and the way Mr. Witherby runs his newspaper ('from the counting room'). Besides, there's also a matter of branding here. Bartley doesn't use the word 'Tivoli beer', but 'Tivoli' to refer to the beer that he's crazy about.
- Stylistic study on a minor element of the novel, such as, "peer-characterization" by several of the novel characters, especially Mr. Atherton. I think this weakens the novel. It even dictates readers about how to read the characters. Our interpretation is somewhat confined to what Mr. Atherton says. I should say that this has reduced my reverence to the Dean. I know people have taken for granted that Howells is a somewhat infallible author, but to me the way he 'runs' his novel makes it a bit weak.
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