Beowulf And The Germanic Heroic Code Of Values,...

Beowulf And The Germanic Heroic Code Of Values,...
Every culture has its own set of values, beliefs, and customs. These values, beliefs and customs
create each unique culture, and these cultural constructions are directly and indirectly acquired
throughout the lifetime of the culture. A major part of culture is literature; the literature of the time
reflects upon daily life and society during the time that the story was composed. Beowulf, an epic
poem, is one of the most important and only works of Anglo–Saxon literature. Much like a fable, the
epic poem of Beowulf had lessons that taught the people within this society how to behave. This
essay will outline how the importance of Christianity and the Germanic Heroic Code in Beowulf are
revealed throughout the epic poem as important aspects of the Anglo–Saxon culture as a whole. The
Germanic warrior society had an unspoken code – a list of rules that warriors and kings alike must
uphold. The main aspects of this code for warriors were strength, courage, loyalty and honour; and
for kings were loyalty to his warriors, generosity and a sense of responsibility. The character of
Beowulf represents both sides of this Code very well. Hrothgar, King of Denmark, represents the
nobility's side of the code: Then Halfdane's son presented Beowulf with a gold standard as a victory
gift... that was both precious object and token of honor...
And so their leader, the lord and guard of coffer and strongroom, with customary grace bestowed
upon Beowulf both sets of gifts.
A fair
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

Analysis Of ' Grendel 's ' The Elegy / Epic Of Beowulf '
In England during 700 and 1000 A.D., religion play a key factor in the composition of various
literature. The narrator of the elegy/epic of Beowulf hints at biblical references consistently. The
protagonist that starts of the epic, Grendel, refers to as a descendant of Cain. His "monstrous"
actions are often a direct reflection of the story of Cain and his brother found in Genesis chapter
four. Although Grendel is known as a heinous monster, he is an embodiment of the faults of humans
and a victim that has fallen prey to the power of jealousy, and the need to be known within a
community. In other words, Grendel is a symbol of the possible evils that may arise through the
faults of humans.
As the readers are first introduced to Grendel, the narrator emphasizes the separation between the
creature and the humans. The narrator explains the reason as to why Grendel is an outcast among the
other banished monsters through the description of Cain's sin:
Grendel was the name of this grim demon haunting the marches, marauding round the heath and the
desolate fens; he had dwelt for a time in misery among the banished monsters, Cain's clan, whom
the Creator had outlawed and condemned as outcasts. For the killing of Abel the Eternal Lord had
exacted a price: Cain got no good from committing that murder because the Almighty made him
anathema and out of the curse of his exile there sprang ogres and elves and evil phantoms and the
giants too who strove with God time and again

Blooming Of Progress : Worldview
Blooming in Progress: Worldview in my Vocation As a believer, I believe in Creationism and that
the universe was created by God ex–nihilo, or from nothing. Moreover, when God created man, he
gifted him with vocation. He was given wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to replenish,
subdue, and rule over the other living things. (Genesis 1:28, King James Version) It is important to
note that even in all that man was ordained to do, that God also blessed him with rest. It is
reassuring to know that God wants us to be diligent and faithful in our work and that he desires to
bless us with rest. For some that is a difficult concept, many employees work six days a week or
overtime in excess of twelve hours a day for financial gain. Not every ... Show more content on
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Jesus paid the price that we could not pay for our sins to redeem us from death and being eternally
separated from him. No matter our shortcomings and our stubbornness, God still chooses to work in
us and through us despite ourselves. (Veith G. E., 2002) This is exemplified by God allowing us to
serve and be served by people from all walks of life. I think it is to remind us of our dependence on
Him. Just as we realize that we cannot make it in life without God's help, we cannot make it in life
without the people around us, the everyday ordinary people. "God, who pours out his generosity on
the just and the unjust, believer and unbeliever alike, hides himself in the ordinary social functions
and stations of life, even the most humble". (Veith G. , 1999) Our service would not be possible if
Christ had not done for us what we could not do for ourselves. As a matter of vocations, I serve
many roles. I am a mother, a daughter, a sister, a cousin, a friend, a niece, a granddaughter, a
neighbor, an aunt, a wife, a student, and an employee. My calling in each of these areas is different,
yet they share something in common. My duty to serve remains constant. I do not often think of
myself as a citizen, yet, I am. Usually, unless I am traveling, it is not something that I give a second
thought. Yet, I am a Tennessee native, a Texas resident, a member of the Tomball community. My
list keeps getting longer. It is

Evil, By Robert M. Adams, James Cain And Richard Hauser On...
Evil is in the eye of the beholder, sometimes a daily reality. To present the problem of evil you must
first know that evil exists. Since God reveals himself as the all–powerful, all knowing and all good,
how can the same God allow evil to exist and for bad things to happen to good people? Our
suffering, as well as the suffering of others, vividly marks the presence of evil in our world. The
majority of us struggle at one time or another in life with why evil happens to our family, friends,
nation and ourselves. In recent news we also hear about particularly disturbing instances–a child
raped, a school shooting, genocide in another country, a terrorist bombing. In this paper, I will
review the literature from authors Robert M. Adams, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Love does not automatically assume the worst about other people when they wrong us. It is not
resentful, as it reveals that it does not quickly reach conclusions about the hearts of others. As a
believer of God, real love makes us assume that people have the best intentions when they have not
repeatedly demonstrated otherwise. If we fail to assume the best of each other, we can input evil
motives where they are absent and grow resentful. In the article by Robert Merrihew Adams, the
author states "If personal substances are the most important objects of love, regret over a merely
abstract badness of events of a war would not provide enough reason to wish away the existence of
all or most of the individual human persons we know and love". I agree with this passage because I
believe the author is trying to explain that despite all the wrongful events that have happened and
will continue to happen in the world, love is confident in the victory of good and is ready to do
everything so that good may conquer. God doesn't want us to be puppets, he wants us to obey him
freely, and voluntarily choose to love him and each other. Love is not genuine if there is no option.
Growing up, I watched my mom suffer through mental, emotional, and physical abuse from her
relationship with my father. But in the end, I believe their love outweighed evil and conquered all.
Love and evil are real, they stand in the closest relationship to each

Analysis Of Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin
James Baldwin, the author of Sonny's Blues, had a strong religious background that was reflected in
his works through retellings of biblical stories in the modern age. Sonny's Blues is primarily a
retelling of the biblical parable of The Prodigal Son, but throughout the story we can see similarities
with other stories found in the bible. The forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge becomes the
drug heroin. Cain and Able, along with the two boys in The Prodigal Son, become Sony and his
brother the Narrator. In the end the cup of trembling is mentioned, symbolizing an end to
troublesome times and a fresh start in life. It is through the combination of these stories that we see
the fall from grace and redemption of both Sonny and the Narrator. James Baldwin was, in his own
words, "Born in the church." (Tackach) His step–father was a Pentecostal preacher, and at the age of
14 Baldwin became a junior Minister. However, he left the church at age seventeen after becoming
disillusioned with Christianity. Baldwin was gay, and though homosexuality was heavily frowned
upon by society as a whole at that time, the church was absolutely against it. "Baldwin's youth was a
time of great confusion, he admits, in no small part because of his Church's teachings about
sexuality" (Joseph). As a black man being raised in Harlem, he felt that teaching the children of the
church to quietly accept their fates instead of rioting and fighting for a better and more equal life
was akin to committing

The Book Of Genesis Is Submerged With Revelation
Introduction
The Book of Genesis is submerged with revelation(s) which shows similarities between the first
Adam(s) and the last Adam(s). Revelation is the knowledge which the owner of the land gives unto
his subjects to execute his purpose in the land, in his place, see John 16:7–16; As the first Adam is
the son of God, see Luke 3:38. The last Adam is God the Son, see Hebrews 1:8. Adam was given the
knowledge to execute the Father's purpose in the garden, this is a type of revelation, see Genesis
2:15–19. Adam is the prince of this word, he owns the land by inheritance, and obeys the will of the
Father, by operating in the spirit of revelation, see Genesis 2:17. When is, the inheritance given to
Adam, Genesis 1:26; says, "let them have dominion over ALL the earth." The only thing that was
greater than Adam was God's word. God himself has now made himself subject to Adam decisions.
In Genesis 2:17, Death here refers to dominion over principalities and powers, see Ephesians 1:19–
23. When Adam disobeyed, "SIN" entered the world, and DEATH gained dominion over the 'laws'
of Adam. Since God was in Adam, DEATH separated Adam from the Father because of the new law
in his spirit, see Genesis 3:7 & 22. Adam was now "born again, but to death." Thus, death entered
the world and became "the new schoolmaster," see Romans 5:12. Subsequently, God removes
himself from the body of man, began his redemptive work, by reducing mans' life to 120 years, see
Genesis 6:3; and permitting the

East Of Eden By John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck's novel, "East of Eden", discloses the answer of right and wrong, good versus evil
and overcoming sin with a simple Hebrew word "Timshel", meaning thou mayest, allowing us the
freedom to make our individual decisions or choose our path in life; it's actually God's perfect gift to
everyone. In the beginning, God grants us free will so that we have the ability to love and accept
him or not. However, had God not chosen to grant us free will, we would not be human as we know
it today, for the original sin would never have occurred. Likewise, people's inability to experience
emotions of any kind, whatsoever, would turn us into mere mundane robots, forced to listen and
answer to an authoritarian God. Lee plays an instrumental part in "East of Eden", by not only
bringing into focus "Timshel" and its meaning to the Trask family but through his strength and
character as a whole, for without Lee "East of Eden" and the concept of "Timshel" is non–existent.
Lee's character in "East of Eden" commences when Adam and Cathy move to California and Adam
purchases land or his "Garden in Eden" as Adam refers to it. Lee described in the beginning as a
Chinaman sporting a queue and only speaking in pidgin. However, the more one discovers about
Lee in the book; the more one finds this is not the case at all. Lee is Chinese–American, who is
extremely knowledgeable, well–spoken, well–read, insightful and thought provoking. He was born
in a railroad camp, where his mother disguised

The Significance of Sibling Rivalry in Steinbeck's East of...
East of Eden
The struggle of sibling rivalry over ability and temperament has taken East of Eden in a whole new
perspective. Steinbeck's portrait on sibling rivalry shows the good vs. evil of each character in the
story. The nature of good vs. evil as natural selection is also seen in siblings, as a compete for
something physical, mental, or something emotional. The sibling rivalry from the biblical characters
embraced Steinbeck's characters throughout every concept in the novel, the good vs. evil confines
the characters personality in every idea of Steinbeck's novel. From the biblical story of Cain and
Abel to Adam and Charles to Cal and Aaron the story continues through out every ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
When God proclaims that he favors Abel's gift over Cain's, Cain becomes angry and jealous towards
Abel and he eventually kills him. Although God is fully aware of what has transpired, He asks Cain
where Abel is, and Cain answers Him untruthfully saying, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis
4:2–5). After God reveals to Cain that he knows of Abel's murder, God banishes Cain to another part
of the land and places a mark on him so that no man will kill him.
Sibling rivalry is a crushing reoccurrence in East of Eden. First Adam and his brother Charles, then
Adam's sons Cal and Aron, act out a drama of jealousy and competition that seems fated Lee calls
the story of Cain and Abel the "symbol story of the human soul." Steinbeck illustrates the central
theme of good versus evil through two of his primary characters Samuel Hamilton, who represents
goodness, and Cathy Ames, who represents pure evil. Both characters play crucial roles in the
spiritual development of the protagonist, Adam Trasks and influence of on his sons and how it
effects them.
Samuel Hamilton, the positive patriarch, mentors Adam with support and guidance, unlike Adam's
own father, Cyrus, who lies about his military record to gain a mass of fortune. Samuel,
Irish immigrant himself, views books as treasures, and father of nine children.

Mourning Becomes Electra Analysis
"([I]n a burst of murderous rage) I'll kill that bastard! You say Brant is her lover! If that's true, I'll
hate her! I'll know she murdered Father then! I'll help you punish her!" (The Hunted Act 3). There
has been but one emotion enslaving humans under it's curse since the dawn of time; anger. Anger is
accountable for revolutions, shedding of blood, wars and any upheaval which wreaks havoc,
destruction and chaos anywhere and to anyone. Anger can be defined as "an emotional state that
consists of feelings of irritation, annoyance, fury or rage and heightened activation or arousal of the
auto–nomic nervous system" (Spielberger, et al. 16). Pain usually accompanies anger and angry
human beings tend to set their minds on harming others. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Ezra is so angry at what he had to witness Hand do at the war. he explains in the third act of
Homecoming: "But in this war I've seen too many white walls splattered with blood that counted no
more than dirty water. I've seen dead men scattered about, no more important than rubbish to be got
rid of". The anger and hatred of Christina Mannon to her husband was initiated by the war, in the
second act of Homecoming she confesses that to her daughter Lavinia: "When [Ezra] had gone [to
the war] there was nothing left but hate and a desire to be revenged and a longing for love! And it
was then I met Adam". Ezra's Anger is further steered by the fact that he decided to turn a new leaf,
come back from war and shower his wife with love, only to find out that while he was away his wife
took on a lover and committed adultery, she also tells him bluntly that she wishes he would have
died at war. His hurt turns into anger as he admits to her: "I told you my secret feelings. I tore my
insides out for you, thinking you'd understand! By God, I'm an old fool!" (Homecoming 3). Ezra's
fury only reaches the part where in frenzy, he tries to kill her: "You – you whore – I'll kill you!"
(Homecoming 3). He fails in killing her though,which results only in his

The Noir Anti Hero : How Walter Huff Reflects Depression...
The Noir Anti–Hero:
How Walter Huff Reflects Depression–Era Society The anti–hero of Double Indemnity, Walter Huff,
is a reflection of the greed, lust, and corruption of the evils of society during the Great Depression.
The anti–hero must navigate his way through the external landscape of depression–era Los Angeles
in an attempt to survive the urban wilderness in perhaps some very non–conventional ways. Despite
this, the anti–hero is relatable to the reader since he is not seen as a typical hero but rather a flawed
moral character. Ambiguity is a key characteristic of noir and surrounds the love triangle of the anti–
hero, femme fatale, and the crime committed. Noir is a genre of hard–boiled crime dramas, which
originated in America in the 1930s and 1940s, during and post WWII. The films and novels that
were associated with this genre reflected how the world was viewed during and after the war⎯cold,
heartless and cruel. A noir anti–hero is the main character of a story that lacks the characteristics of a
typical hero, but is relatable to the audience. He usually functions outside social norms and
challenges the system. Hardboiled detective is a tough, cynical style of writing that brought an
aspect of realism to the genre of detective fiction. It is often a gritty detective story set in a world
overrun with violence and corruption. The way that Cain describes depression–era Los Angeles is a
reflection of society during that time period. The anti–hero is morally compelling

James M. Cain 's Double Indemnity Essay
James M. Cain's Double Indemnity is a typically literary work of roman noir genre, adapted for a
film later. The story itself is about a premeditated murder planned by the married femme fatale
Phyllis Nirdlinger and her secret lover Walter Huff, specifically consistent with roman noir genre.
Phyllis Nirdlinger is a typical femme fatale in this novel. She seduces the insurance agent Huff
regardless of her own husband. For example, "She pulled me to her and kissed back" (Cain ch2), "I
liked you all the time" (Cain ch2) and many other flirty words in the novel. What's worse, in order to
capture the money from her husband, she manages to kill him with Huff. Sex and money, as the
main themes of roman noir genre, are the two main motifs of this novel as well. The story happens
in Glendale of California (Cain ch1), which is explained in the very beginning of the novel. This
kind of setting implies its specific roman noir genre convention. "A dark railroad track in the middle
of the night... a dirty road...vacant lots" (Cain ch7). The description of the surrounding environment
of the railroad track has the clarified mark of roman noir genre. The ending of Double Indemnity is a
huge misery. Huff could not get rid of the nightmare after cruelly killing Mr. Nirdlinger,
psychologically ill. In the same time, he has large divergence with his lover Mrs. Nirdlinger. Their
intimate relationship breaks up. Finally Huff commits a suicide with his lover after his crime being
discovered. The

James M. Cain 's ' Mildred Pierce And The Movie Version ``
There is a common belief, in modern and traditional film industry, that almost every adaptation
(loose, faithful and strict) from novel to film is considered a backslide or a disloyalty to the original
author and readers. However, in 1945 Warner Bros. produced the movie Mildred Pierce based on the
same name novel written by James M. Cain. This film not only became an exception in this general
view, but also amazed the audience and even Cain himself by extraordinary performances and
unique edit technique and literary point of view.
There are a few distinctions between Cain's Mildred Pierce and the movie version, mostly with the
ingenious use of different point of views in several specific film scenes. In this paper, I want to
discuss more about on that subject which are listed as follows.
Literary point of view is the perspective through which a story is communicated to our audience in
order to influence the way we interpret, examine and analysis the film. In the novel version, Cane
generally takes a 3rd person point of view to objectively present the struggle life Mildred
experiences in order to reflect the bigger picture of contemporary American social and domestic
conflicts after World War I. Also a few 1st person (inside) point of view was added in the form of
Mildred's emotional status and moral activity to emphasize her resolution to give Veda a more
elegant live. On the other hand, the movie takes a completely different approach to narrate the story
by partly

The Kingdom of God: The Old Testament Hebrew God as...
Regarded by his people as a merciful god, Yahweh, the Hebrew god, historically existed as a lawless
entity before evolving into the merciful being, which Jews, Christians, and Catholics alike worship
to this day. In Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament in the Holy Bible, Yahweh (heretofore
referred to as "God") first creates humankind, and later establishes guidelines that his people must
follow in order to avoid chastisement. It is arguable, however, that these guidelines are largely
arbitrary, and that this supposed omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresence is merely a temperamental
puppeteer throughout the earliest durations of his reign. Rather than initially questioning the
righteousness of human nature, God expects his creation to ... Show more content on
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God cannot allow all beings the knowledge that he has, because though created in his image, the
finite cannot comprehend the infinite. Therefore, in this instance, punishments issued were
justifiable, though primarily cautionary; if God had not punished Adam and Eve in some way, then
no foundation would have been set for humanity's necessity to adhere to God's word. Aside from the
rule Adam and Eve were to follow, the law forbidding murder was the only other real justifiable
guideline established in the book of Genesis. This arose following Cain's jealousy–fueled slaying of
his brother Abel; interestingly enough, it occurred retrospectively. God favored Abel over Cain, who
became discouraged and did away with his competition. Later, after lying to God about Abel's
whereabouts, Cain was punished and sentenced to life as a wanderer. Three chapters later, after God
killed the majority of Adam's descendants, he explained that "whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man
shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man" (Genesis 9:6).
The distinction between good and evil does not provide sufficient justification for punishment
following committing an "evil" deed, especially since God never defines "good" or "evil"
exclusively. Mortals should not be expected to fully understand

Analysis Of James Baldwin 's ' The Blues '
Sonny's Blues, a short story by famed African–American author James Baldwin, is the story of two
bothers. Other famous stories of two brothers include both The Prodigal Son parable and the story of
Cain and Abel, both from which Baldwin clearly draws inspiration from. Baldwin grew up with
many religious teachings, as his adoptive father, David Baldwin, was a preacher. Though the
relationship between father and son was not enviable, Baldwin still grew up active in his religion
(James Baldwin– Biography). Baldwin, despite growing up in the Baptist church with a preacher for
a father began to convert to Pentecostalism began in his early teenage years when he accompanied
friends to a Pentecostal church, where, at the age of fourteen, he became 'street preacher' (James
Baldwin– Biography). Of those years as a preacher, Baldwin recalled, "Those three years in the
pulpit – I didn't realize it then – that is what turned me into a writer, really, dealing with all that
anguish and that despair and that beauty." Many of his works prominently feature religion, and
mimic the bible in language and tone (James Baldwin– About the Author). In Sonny's Blues, and
many other of Baldwin's writings, the figure of the musician represents a move towards an anti–
institutional spirituality and suggests the ways in which Baldwin was becoming, not less secular, but
move aware of the need to distinguish between the structured religion of the church and the
authenticity of a self– spirituality, a

Analysis Of East Of Eden By John Steinbeck
Steinbeck's own family and their dreams was a great inspiration for his multi–generational novel
East of Eden. His maternal grandfather Samuel Hamilton emigrated from Ireland in the 19th century
to buy land, build a ranch and raise his family in Salinas Valley. From an online article "John
Steinbeck's Derry Roots" we find out that "Samuel Hamilton was born at Ballykelly on 7 October
1830... Samuel emigrated at the age of 17, at the height of the Great Famine, to New York where he
married a young Irish girl, Elizabeth Fagan in the summer of 1849. They came to California and set
up a ranch in the foothills of the Salinas Valley." When Samuel came to California, all the fertile
land was taken. As Steinbeck writes in the first chapter of East of ... Show more content on
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While the book progressed, the focus switched from the Hamiltons to the Trasks. As the title of the
book suggests, East of Eden was an allegory to a book of Genesis, namely the story of Cain and
Abel. The siblings' rivalry for a love of their father transcends through generations. Adam vs.
Charles, Aron vs. Cal. Many of critics attacked Steinbeck for having showed all the symbols too
obviously and therefore the novel is not convincing. As Warren French points out, "The theological
disputation is interesting as an exposition of Steinbeck's ideas, but these lack consistency and might
be more appropriately discussed in an essay than a novel" (156). Owens argues that "East of Eden
may be a much more subtle and complex construction than we are at first prepared to believe, one
deserving of more careful scrutiny than we have yet brought to bear" (74). The most memorable
character is Aron and Cal's mother, the amoral Cathy/Kate. She represents everything evil. Kate is
manipulative and is not afraid to kill anyone who stands in her way. It has been said that Steinbeck's
second wife Gwyn was in a way an "inspiration" for Kate's character. Kate was a contrast to
Samuel's character. Steinbeck's grandfather is here portrayed as a wise and kind family man, a
dreamer, always willing to help. "Samuel Hamilton becomes a force for good, a kind of savior,
water–witch, grail knight, and non–teleological visionary all rolled into one" (Owens 66).
The East of Eden story circles around the Hebrew word: "Timshel", loosely translated by a servant
Lee as "Thou mayest." It was Samuel, who had a meaningful conversation with Lee, when he
realized what the word meant to

Abel My Brother Quotes With Page Numbers
"The Lord said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?' And he [Cain] said, 'I do not know. Am I my
brother's keeper?" This quote is expressing how this particular sibling, Cain does not feel as if his
brother is his problem or priority in any way. Why should he be involved in the monitoring of his
brother twenty four seven, this is not his responsibly. He has his own life to live and does not bother
with his sibling. The background information involving this quote is that, Cain had actually
murdered his own brother, and God came to confront him, hence him asking the question "Where is
Abel your brother"? Even though the lord knows the answer to this question, he wants to test Cain to
see if he would obey the willingness of God and confess to the truth. A confession never happened,
instead he lied to the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In addition, he even drove him to his residents, where he was welcomed to stay. This shows that the
older brother truly cares for Sonny. Sibling are the ones to help each other no matter what,
especially in a time where they have no where else to go and that person is their only hope. Siblings
are suppose to build each other up in any way possible. They care, love, and look out for each other.
No one ever takes that responsibility like a siblings. Taking a trip to the past, in the short story it is
said that Sonny's mother told his brother if anything were to happen to her, to look after his sibling.
She told him the story of his father and how his only brother died, from a car accident. A white man
who was driving the vehicle ran him over, in front of his father's face. This incident traumatized him
to a point where, he thought every white man he came across was the culprit of his brother's death.
She shares this story with him because she wanted to get a point across, which was "you are all he

Christianinty in Beowulf
Beowulf is an epic poem that is highly revered by scholars. The poem focalizes on the hero Beowulf
– a Geat belonging to Sweden – and his journey to capturing immortality through his achievements
and legacy: Beowulf secures victories in vicious fights with baneful creatures. A religious presence
– of both Christian and Pagan beliefs – seems to be steadfast, all through Beowulf's battles; on the
account of these battles, readers can infer that even the strongest heroes need spiritual assistance or
motivation to succeed. During the period of Beowulf's conception, pagan practices were prominent.
The pagan society believed in the idea of fame: the society did not believe in the concept of the
afterlife, so the only way people saw to transcend their lives – 'life on after death'– was to achieve a
legacy that was brimful of fame, or glory. Beowulf is no exception to this practice. Beowulf's
victories sprung from the motivation of attaining glory. In the midst of the battle against Grendel's
mother, "Hygelac's Kinsman [Beowulf] kept thinking about / his name and fame: he never lost heart.
/ "(107). Beowulf is egged on, by his name and glory, to achieve victory over Grendel's mother,
whilst he was struggling: his sword "refused to bite" (105), and Grendel's mother was beginning to
lead during the battle. Being egged on by pagan beliefs, Beowulf is able to secure victory, and "his
glory was secure[d]/" (113).Beowulf motivation, of fame and glory, is also ascertained in his

Essay about Tobias Wolff's; "The Rich Brother"
Tobias Wolff's short story, "The Rich Brother", is a parallel story to the biblical fable of Able and
Cain. The biblical story of Able and Cain is that of the first story that puts man against man. Cain
and Able are children of Adam and Eve, where Cain is the eldest and Able the younger of the two. In
the biblical story Cain and Able end up giving gifts (sacrifices) to appease to their God. This in turn,
creates tension between the two because Able's sacrifice of the lamb is much favored by God than is
Cain's offering of his crops. Cain becomes outraged because he believes that Able has purposely
tried to embarrass him, ultimately, leading Cain to become so enraged that he ends up murdering his
only brother in cold blood. Throughout, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Wolff portrays Peter and Donald as rivals throughout "The Rich Brother" as were Cain and Able
were in the Bible. Cain and Abel's rival rivalry came to when god had favored Abel's gift of the
lamb. With favor came God's overwhelming love which Cain had exclusively desired. Peter, much
like Cain, came to a bitter rivalry with his brother Donald in that Peter wanted all the love that him
mother gave that he felt Donald was eating up. For example, when Donald had his surgery his
mother protested him even to climb trees and so on because she loved and cared for her son this
enraged his brother Pete because he didn't receive as much attention as his little brother did. Pete
later states his jealousy when he replies to Donald's accusation of trying to kill him and says "mom
was in a state every time you burped" (812). While it be Pete or Cain their bitterness towards their
brothers are only fueled by their own jealousies.
Mostly, throughout "The Rich Brother" Peter is viewed as the most selfish individual. Most
important, was that he wanted his mothers love so badly that he attempted to kill his own brother
(812), which is a reference to Cain killing his brother and leaving him in the fields. Donald says to
Pete "You're basically a very frightened individual. Very threatened" (811) this in turn shows that
how jealous Pete was and how he was willing to kill simply over jealousy. Moreover, Pete could not
stand the fact that he

John Steinbeck's East of Eden
Biblical Symbolism in East of Eden
Throughout the novel East of Eden, Steinbeck uses many biblical references to illustrate clearly the
conflict between the opposing forces of good and evil. Much of the plot of East of Eden is centered
upon the two sets of brothers representing Cain and Abel. Both pairs are similar to Cain and Abel in
the way they go about winning their fathers' favors. All four give gifts to their fathers, and the
fathers dismiss the gifts of Charles and Caleb, the Cain representations (Marks, Jay Lester. p.121).
Caleb and Charles Trask are obviously the more malignant brothers. They are also the more loving
towards their father. Steinbeck's purpose in this is to illustrate the need of the Cain character in ...
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Cathy–Kate combines many biblical figures as well. She is not only Eve, but she is Cain's wife and
the serpent of Eden as well (Fonterose, Joseph. p.3380). Thus she is the representation of evil too.
Cathy is evil to the point where she is not human. Her presence in the novel is meant to represent
evil and all of its cruel intentions. All of her deeds are intended to show how far from the real world
Cathy actually is (Howard, Levant. p. 245). Steinbeck compares Cathy to other prostitutes in Salinas
Valley, the setting of East of Eden. She is described as the only whore who is incapable of being a
good person. She is an inhuman being whose life revolves around cruelty and wrongdoing. She is
solely satanic and destroys the innocence of man (Marks, Jay Lester. p. 126–127).
John Steinbeck includes more of the tale of Genesis: 4 than is actually told in the bible. The basis of
this is a Jewish story involving twin sisters of both Cain and Abel. The two disputed over Abel's
twin whom Abel was to marry. Cain murdered Abel and wed the twin sister of his brother
(Fonterose, Joseph. p.3380). The story differs also in that it is Abel who leaves his home instead of
Cain. Abel found his Eden, represented by Salinas Valley, but lost it after fathering a second
generation very similar to the first, Caleb representing Cain and Aron representing Abel (Fonterose,
Joseph. p.3379). The story is changed by Steinbeck to illustrate

Analysis of Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin Essay
Mollie Colon
Comp 111 B04
Mrs. Canella
In Class Essay 1 "Sonny's Blues" by author James Baldwin tells the tale of two brothers; one good
and one evil. The narrator paints the two brothers as "light" and "dark". The author James Baldwin
writes about his relationship with his brother Sonny whom was the "dark" brother. In essence, this
story is about the struggle of two black brothers growing up in Harlem. This essay incorporates the
struggles that Black men and women go through on a daily basis. Though both brothers were from
the ghetto, the narrator seems to have assimilated into the larger society/culture; he was a school
teacher doing generally well in what we call life. Sonny on the other hand turned to drugs (heroin)
to escape from ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
All of these stories are brothers fighting with one another and each brother in all of three stories has
the "good" and the "bad" qualities about them. Like previously stated, Sonny was the good brother;
so were the Prodigal son and Cain. Tackach also talked about the "cup of trembling" which was a
Biblical term that symbolizes sinners that were now redeemed. When the narrator sends Sonny a
drink at the end of the story, he claims that it is like the "cup of trembling". This is another term
taken from the Bible to symbolize the relationship between the two brothers. Tackach seems to use
biographical and historical criticism when breaking down the story of "Sonny's Blues". Like
Tackachs, Michael Clark's criticism 'Light and Darkness in "Sonny's Blues"' also uses the "light"
and "darkness" to describe the story. The "light" being the 'good' and the "dark" being the 'bad'
qualities. Unlike Tackachs, Clark uses these terms to refer to the emotions felt by Sonny when he
was on drugs, thinking about his life or when playing his piano; his jazz music. In "Sonny's Blues",
the narrator writes "I feel like a man who's been trying to climb up out of some deep, real deep and
funky hole and just saw the sun up there, outside. I got to get outside." Clark uses the "funky hole"
to describe the darkness and "the sun" to describe the light. To Clark, the whole story is about how
Sonny feels and how his music portrays his emotions, his despair and finally his joy.
I agree with

Instrumental Music In The New Testament Essay
When addressing the issue of the use of instrumental music today in the light of New Testament
doctrine, the first thing that needs to be addressed is the fact that God has never left His worship up
to the faulty decision–making of His creation. From the time of Adam and Eve to the present, man's
decision making has been questionable. If man is left to himself and his own devices with a question
that must be answered correctly, it is possible he will make the wrong decision. Jesus said in John
4:24, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." So, if we are left
with a question as to whether instrumental music is acceptable in worship to God in the light of New
Testament doctrine, the answer must come from ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
4:4b–5a). In Romans 4:15, Paul recorded, "Where there is no law there is no transgression."
Therefore, if God had not made the law available to Cain, there could have been no transgression of
the law. Obviously, there was a transgression of the law, because of what God would tell Cain next.
"Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be
accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should
rule over it." This shows irrefutably that Cain knew the law of God, because God points out his sin.
Therefore, God did not leave His worship up to sinful man, because He told Cain that he had
worshiped Him in the wrong manner. God must have made the law available to Cain for there to be
transgression. In the wording of Genesis 4:7 is the implication that Cain knew the law concerning
sacrifices; "if you do well, will you not be accepted?" implies that he knew how to do well, thus also
showing that God did not leave His worship up to the decision of man. Another example of God
never leaving His worship up to the decision of fallible man is found in the Mosaical Age in the
story of Nadab and Abihu. Leviticus 10:1 reads: "Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each
took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which
He had not commanded them." The fire was profane, since God

Lying Is Morally Wrong?
Lying is morally wrong. Lying is wrong because it could lead to reputations being ruined,intense
guilt,hurting innocent people, and so much more. In excerpts from The Bible and from the play
"Hippolytus" by Euripides, the consequences of lying are center stage. Lying leaves the person with
guilt that will never leave them. In Genesis 4:13 Cain tells God,"My punishment is heavier than I
can bear; now you are driving me off the land, and I must hide myself from your presence"
(Keystone Giant Print Presentation Edition, Gen. 4:13). Cain knows God will punish him because he
knows he's guilty of killing his brother. God is angry at Cain not only because he killed Abel but the
fact that he hid from God and could not bare to show himself. He doesn't wish to show himself to
God because he knows his crime and he knows when he committed the crime he knew it was wrong
but continued anyway. Emotional distress sparked up by lying is dangerous. In Genesis 37 it states
"Joseph's brothers took the long robe with sleeves, and dipped it in the blood of a goat... they
brought it to their father and said "Do you recognize it? Is this your son's robe or not?" " (Genesis
37). After hearing about his son's "death", Joseph's father broke down. He couldn't take his son's
death because his own son died, so sudden. His other sons knowingly lied knowing that it would
hurt their father. If they told the truth about selling Joseph then their father wouldn't have been so
broken inside and could've been

Biblical and Religious Themes in "Sonny's Blues" Essay
James Baldwin's short story, "Sonny's Blues," is the authors most studied and critically analyzed
piece of literature. The majority of these analyses focus on the obvious themes of the book such as
jazz music, the unnamed narrator, or the rift that divides Sonny and his brother. Little critique has
ever gone into the biblical and religious themes that run throughout the story of "Sonny's Blues."
Furthermore, it is even more astonishing that there is little critique given Baldwin has such a strong
history with the world of Christianity. James Tackach wrote that it should not come as a surprise that
Baldwin would use stories or references from the Bible as a foundation for his literature (109).
Baldwin was practically raised in the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The cup of trembling comes from the Book of Isaiah. "Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which
hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of
trembling, and wrung them out," the passage of scripture reads (Isaiah 51:17). This passage from the
Bible is God telling His people that He knows they have suffered and are terrified of His fury. God
promises they that will no longer drink from the cup of trembling and instead will put it into the
hands of their enemies. This passage implies hope that those, like Sonny and his brother, who have
been affected with fear and misery, will no longer be plagued. There are four great fears when
drinking from the "cup of trembling." Those fears are devastation, destruction, famine, and death.
Sonny and his brother have both experienced each of these in some form. Keith Byerman states that
if the cup of trembling is given, then Sonny will continue to suffer and feel guilt; if they cup is taken
away, then Sonny returns to a state of grace (371). Byerman also states that the drink itself, scotch
and milk, is a symbol of destruction and nourishment to the body, the scotch being the destruction
and the milk being the nourishment. Sonny's acceptance of the drink indicates that his life will
continue on the edge between the poison of his addiction and the nourishment of

Anti Hero By James M. Cain
Sporting a fedora, suit and a cigarette in hand, leaning against a wall, the captivating anti–hero
stands double crossed in the stereotypical L.A. noir genre. Right in the heat of World War II noir
started to rise to the top and become a popular source of entertainment and instant distraction from
reality. Many people were drawn to the anti–hero; they were drawn to the flawed characters who
were the "heroes" despite their flaws. A hero embodies what people want to be, most consider noir
anti–hero's the same. You can idolize them in a story, but they all have specific characteristics that
make the "hero," themselves, just as vulnerable as everyone else. An anti–hero needs to be layered,
complicated, and flawed that pushes the boundaries of what is right and what is wrong. They need
an illustrated struggle that builds through growth so as the audience reads they can keep showing
optimism for the anti–hero as they try to seek redemption. A novel by James M. Cain, Double
Indemnity's anti–hero Walter Neff has many flaws; flaws that are egotistical and murderous, but also
manipulative and powerful. Just like Walter Neff, a recent character that is the epitome of an anti–
hero is, Frank Underwood in the show House of Cards. Frank started at the bottom and with his
anti–hero characteristics powered his way to presidency putting many morals aside and doing what
he thought was the only option to achieve what he wanted. With complex motives, a driven mindset,
and no boundaries, the

John Steinbeck's East of Eden: Modern Biblical Story of...
John Steinbeck's East of Eden: Modern Biblical Story of Cain and Abel
" And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain
rose up against Abel his brother and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, ' Where is Abel thy
brother?' And he said, ' I know not. Am I my brother's keeper?' And he said, ' What hast thou done?
The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now thou art cursed from the
earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. When thou tillest
the ground it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and vagabond shalt thou be
in the earth.' And Cain said unto the Lord, ' My punishment is greater ... Show more content on
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Charles never kills his brother, but his jealousy and hatred remains with him throughout the book.
Adam joins the army and leaves the farm, but after serving his time and wandering for many months
he finally returns to the farm. It is at the farm where Adam first encounters Cathy Ames. The
narrator calls Cathy a monster, a person with no morals, as a young girl burned her parents alive in
their house and stole their money. Cathy ends up at the Trask farm after being beaten and left for
dead by her lover. Adam nurses her back to health and finds himself falling in love with her. He
marries her and they move to California. Cathy becomes pregnant and gives birth to twin boys:
Caleb and Aaron. After giving birth to the twins, she shoots Adam in the shoulder and escapes to
Salinas to become a madam of a whorehouse after murdering her predecessor. Caleb and Aaron
(Aron) enact the second generation of Cain and Abel in the Trask family. Caleb, called Cal, is dark
and conniving and Aron is handsome and liked by everyone. Just as it was with their father and
Charles, Caleb yearns for his father's love and attention, but it is Aron who receives his father's love.
Adam never tells his sons about their mother but Cal finds out. When Cal is rejected by his father,
he seeks revenge against his brother by taking him to see their mother at the whorehouse.
This seems to be the simple retelling again of the tragedy

Essay on Good vs. Evil in Steinbeck's "East of Eden"
A theme is a unifying or dominant idea in a literary work. Steinbeck described the competition of
good versus evil as the story of mankind itself. He believes that every generation to come since
Adam and Eve will now be immersed with the struggle of good and evil due to Eve's curiosity that
led to sin, eventually banning both her and Adam from the Garden of Eden. In East of Eden,
Steinbeck makes the contest of good versus evil apparent through his contrasting description of the
setting, the characters' opposing personalities, and society's changing morals. To show that man is
surrounded by good and evil no matter where they are, Steinbeck describes the setting in a
contrasting way to represent the good side and the bad side of nature. He ... Show more content on
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In describing the land, Steinbeck is showing humanity is continuously immersed in a struggle of
good versus evil; he suggests "the way in which this sense of opposed absolutes rises from deep
within man, representing something profound and inevitable in human consciousness" (Owens). The
main way in which Steinbeck shows the theme of good versus evil is the character's divergent
personalities. The main good character of the novel is Samuel Hamilton, a poor farmer who raised
nine children on little to no income. Despite the fact that his customers do not pay him money for
his labor – blacksmithing, well digging – he is still gracious and kind to everyone he meets. He sees
through Cathy's façade to the true core of her evilness. Cathy Ames is the evil character who has no
conscious as she uses Adam Trask (protagonist) to move to Salinas after sleeping with his brother,
trying to abort her babies, shooting Adam in the shoulder and leaving him alone with their twin
sons, and secretly killing a brothel owner so she can take control. She is described as being "as close
to pure evil as one is likely to get this side of hell" (Aubrey). Adam is always struggling between
these two characters in the novel, representing his personal struggle with good versus evil. He is
enamored with Cathy, or who he thinks Cathy is, and is left in an extreme state of depression upon

Essay on Apostolic church visit
Apostolic Field Visit
Elizabeth
REL 100 University of Indianapolis
Abstract
This paper is a discussion of a non–religious persons encounter during a site visit to an Apostolic
Church, which takes a very literal interpretation to the Christian Bible. Many topics are discussed
within this paper such as materials present in the church, the ritualistic practices, socioeconomic
status of members present, and the subjective reaction to the service.
Apostolic Field Visit
Introduction: The name of this church was Apostolic Christian Church. I selected this church
because a friend of mine went to this church during his youth. I was completely unaware of doctrine
or specific beliefs ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The speaker was discussing acceptance/fear of rejection. He said these things are what cause us all
to sin, in all the various ways. They also emphasized that the King James Version of the Bible is the
only true version, and all others are sacrilegious. He read from 1 Corinthians 8. He warned
Christians to not "be a stumbling block unto others." This includes dinning out on a Sunday, as this
is the Lord's Day for rest. He also spoke of weakness in the Bible. It is prevalent throughout, but it is
never justified. The speaker the continued further reading into 1 Corinthians 9 which reveals advice
from Paul, where he says "rights are not important. Give them up for God and others. Surrender to
Him," (Bro. Joe Reinhard, personal communication, January 26, 2014). A closing prayer was
completed and then a closing hymnal. The hymnals contained old fashioned hymns.
Experimental/Emotional: The congregation was staunch. Everyone was very quiet and attentive.
Crying babies were hushed and removed from the room. Minimal distractions were present.
Everyone gave the speaker the utmost respect. Fear appeared to be the most prevalent emotion.
Perhaps it was fear and not respect that kept the congregation attentive. The speakers all emphasized
human insignificance on more than one occasion. At one point Bro John Reinhard stated we have
"no intrinsic worth of our own." He then went on to say we are nothing without God (2014).
Narrative/Mythic: During the opening

Life Is Like A Beach And Its Sand
"If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up? and if thou doest not well, sin croucheth at the door: and
unto thee shall be its desire, but do thou rule over it." Genesis 4:7 American Standard Version––––
"If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And
unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." Genesis 4:7 King James Version Life is
like a beach and its sand teaches many lessons. Almost anything can be crafted. Holes can be dug.
Stumbling upon either of these can cause one to question them. Did somebody make that beautiful
sandcastle with their own hands or was it carefully crafted by professionals? Was that hole created
by some little kids trying to dig to China? These questions are all centered around one thing, the
truth. Man has sought after this one thing for all of its existence. But truths about or concerning
ourselves have always sparked curiosity. The questions of reality and illusion, freedom and fate have
enthralled us throughout history and will continue to do so until our race is extinct.
The passages above show two translations of the same verse.They are from the story of Cain and
Abel. Speaking to Cain after he has murdered his brother, God explains Cain's punishment. In the
American Standard Version, God commands Cain to rule over sin, while in the King James Version,
God promises Cain that he will surely triumph over sin. These are two very different quotes from
the same verse. To

What Is Genesis 1-11
Genesis 1:1–11, are very important scriptures that demand that we take a look back at our history
when we begin to discuss human origin, relationships and civilization. It is here that we find
answers to what has been a debate for many. Author, Lim (2013) states that, "In Genesis the days of
creation begin with sunset because God is not bound by and does not emanate from natural forces
such as the sun". This is shown true in the verses simply explaining the creation of everything
including the land the water the heavens, the moon, the stars, air and sea. Amazingly, he also created
the separation of darkness and light and every living creature of the earth, including man, and he
saw that it was good. This further proves that God is the ruler and judge of everything. In (Genesis
1:11) we understand that God worked and created the world in six days and after seeing that his
work was satisfactory he rested on the seventh day. Right off hand God gives us an example to go
by, he rested after completion of all his work and made that day sacred. "And God blessed the
seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created
and made" (Genesis 2: 2–3, King James Version (KJV)). These are instructions we should follow in
our daily lives. In today's world, the western culture doesn't honor these instructions, as we tend to
work on the days our employer suggests unless you work independently. God also hath destined it to
be that

East of Eden
James Bryce once said, "The worth of a book is to be measured by what you carry away from it."
Any good piece of literature should both challenge and enrich you, and John Steinbeck's East of
Eden is no exception. More than a mundane reiteration of a biblical tale, East of Eden explores the
enduring issue of man's battle with sin. Steinbeck wove the story of Cain and Abel into the fabric of
the Salinas Valley, giving it fresh perspective and proving the battle between good and evil remains
relevant today. While reading the novel, I had to juggle several different story lines following the
Trask and Hamilton families, as well as connect and relate to those of individual characters. The
complex characters and plot, while difficult to fully ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Through his use of imagery, Steinbeck not only creates a brilliant setting, but also ties man's
inherent good into an otherwise dark portrait of the human condition, reminding me of the good
within us all.
Through the Cain and Abel allegory, East of Eden gave me insight into human nature. Like the Cain
and Abel story, East of Eden follows two brothers; Aron, the "good" one and Cal, the "bad" one.
Like Abel, being good comes easily for Aron, while Cal, the Cain of the story, must grapple daily
with his innate inclination toward evil. Cal's struggle began as a baby when he was recognized as
the "smart one–the dark one" (Steinbeck 270). Cal shows his inherent evil characteristics, a darkness
in him that coexists with the good, even from the start. By the end of the novel, through maturity
and experience, Cal overcomes his intrinsic evil and chooses to a live a life of integrity and
meaning. Cal's internal conflict and ultimate triumph supports the idea that to prevail over evil, one
must experience it and choose to actively resist it. Through biblical allusions, East of Eden required
me to contemplate my own life and how Cal's long struggle related to my own issues, leading me to
gain a greater appreciation for the power of human good.
More than just an entertaining story, East of Eden comments on human nature and examines

James M. Cain 's Mildred Pierce
The process of converting a work of art from one medium to another often requires a significant
alteration of the content to fit the form and standards of the new medium. Adapted from 300–page
novel to a 2–hour movie, Michael Curtiz's Mildred Pierce is a prime example of a loose Hollywood
adaption that makes drastic changes in characters, narrative configurations, and framing structure to
conform to the standards and expectations of American cinema. Most ostensibly, the movie employs
murder as a framing device and a hook to draw the audience's attention to Mildred's story, therefore
transforming the linear, chronological plot of the novel into an episodic and achronological one. As
a result, in Curtiz's film adaptation of James M. Cain's Mildred Pierce, we see several plot points in
the story abbreviated and diminished, and many of the themes in the novel either lost or reduced.
Both versions of Mildred Pierce depict the struggle of a woman during the post–Depression era to
become independent after separating from her husband. In the book as well as the movie, Mildred's
actions and trials are a result of her desire to please Veda. She struggles to find a job and hustles to
keep her restaurant business together to become financially independent so she can afford Veda the
lavish lifestyle she craves. Near the beginning of the movie, we see a heartbroken Mildred who just
discovered that the dress she has worked so hard to buy for Veda is nothing more to her than just a
rag.

A Family Affair In The King James Bible
A Family Affair
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath
of life; and man became a living soul. ... And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man,
made he a woman, and brought her unto the man" (King James Bible. Genesis. 2. 7–22). And so,
God created the first family of many. While Adam and Eve had an idyllic relationship in the Garden
of Eden, not all families can boast of a two–parent household with a loving family dynamic. Both
within the King James Bible, within other novels, and even within real life, each family has a
different way of living and dealing with the situations that arise to try to tear them apart. Quite often,
connections can be found between the everyday life of characters in novels, and the lives of those
that are written into the Bible, to be forever remembered. Sibling arguments, not respecting thy
father and mother, and transiency are a few of many ways the Bible can be used to understand what
is occurring in the lives and families of the characters.
"And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain and said, I have gotten a man
from the Lord. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a
tiller of the ground" (Genesis. 4. 1–2). Cain and Abel were the first siblings in the story of Genesis,
as Ruthie and Lucille are the first siblings to live in the house their grandfather built for a very long
time. Ruthie and Lucille, from

Essay on East of Eden With Cain and Abel
Gandhi once said, "I have also seen children successfully surmounting the effects of an evil
inheritance. That is due to purity being an inherent attribute of the soul".
The novel East of Eden by John Steinbeck is an allegory to the biblical story of Cain and Abel, and
many of its characters become embodiments of both good and evil. As they struggle to overcome
what has been decided for them they are taught they hold the power to overcome and rise above
their destiny's. When the Hebrew idea of "timshel" is introduced to the allegory of Cain and Abel, it
become apparent that whether life is predestined or not; mankind holds the ultimate ability of
deciding what will become of himself. Adam's choice to move on from Cathy, Cal's decision to ...
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Adam's goodness may be the preferred trait one would prefer to inherit, however it ends up being
the downfall of him because it prevents him from seeing a person for who they really are. His kind
nature ultimately is the reason he is able to be tricked by Cathy's manipulative ways. However, after
believing he is left with nothing and letting himself wallow in self pity, the honorable and wise
Samuel Hamilton reminds him of an important story. Mr. Hamilton reminds Adam that King James
of the bible once said, "thou salt prevail over sin", however it is up to the man to rise above his pain
and mistakes. Adam, still feeling sorry for himself, is hesitant to believe Samuel's advice. However,
after making a visit to his wife Cathy in her new life as a whore, he finally realizes he can be okay
with out her. He realizes that his children deserve a father better than one who is in love with a
whore. He sees through Cathy's manipulation and decides that he can live happily with what he has.
Adam confirms his choice to overcome Cathy saying, "I seemed to come out of a sleep, in some
strange way my eyes have been cleared. A weight is off me"(Steinbeck 328). Adam rises above the
Cathy he once idolized and allows himself to see who she really is. In result not only does he realize
the improved Eden he can build with his sons, he proves that the power to overcome his destiny lays
within one self. Adam, however is not the only Trask who proves this possible, Cal

The Biblical Foundation Of James Baldwin 's Sonny 's Blues
"Sonny's Blues" is one of James Baldwin's most famous short stories, and probably his most
noteworthy one. Countless people have analyzed the several obvious themes and concepts that are
within "Sonny's Blues," like jazz music and the unnamed narrator. However, surprisingly, I have not
found many articles regarding the several religious and biblical references in my search, despite this
themes playing a major role in the short story. There are a few mentions of those references in some
articles, as James Tackach points out in his article "The Biblical Foundation of James Baldwin's
'Sonny's Blues'," but no in depth analysis of it or its significance to the story. It's not surprising that
Baldwin would incorporate his religion as a major part of his story. Many African–American writers
allude to the Bible in their works. Much like most African–American Christians, Baldwin was
intimately acquainted with the Bible. In fact, he became a member and preacher at his local Harlem
church by the age of fourteen. In his autobiography, he ventures to say that the King James Bible
"have something to do with [him] today." Given the vital role of religion in African–American
writing, Baldwin's history with the church, and even his own comments on the topic, it is puzzling
that such few people have made mention of the religious aspects of "Sonny's Blues." "Sonny's
Blues" is a modern–day rewrite of the parable of the Prodigal Son. That story from Saint Luke's
gospel was told by Jesus in

Essay on Hamlet Act III Sc iii
Hamlet Act III Sc iii This scene is a dramatic peak in which both Claudius and Hamlet acknowledge
their respective dilemmas. The King faces the question of how to repent and so save himself, at
least, from spiritual damnation. Hamlet's theological problem with killing Claudius becomes yet
another hurdle and he becomes increasingly trapped by his own indecision.
Claudius makes his first admission of regicide in this soliloquy. He uses disease imagery, continuing
the motif, heightening our awareness of the terrible thing he has done. The King refers to the 'primal
eldest curse', an allusion to the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. This parallel is apt, not only because
they were brothers, it represents a terrible sin against God –– in ... Show more content on
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However it seems unlikely he is as calculating as this and he may well be sincere.
The King's apparently acute sense of guilt helps him to realise that it is impossible to 'be pardoned
and [still] retain th'offence'. He is aware that in worldly terms he can survive, using his power to
'shove by justice'. His inability to pray troubles him deeply and he is, at first, unable even to kneel.
His cries to heaven allude to the Biblical idea of sin causing a separation between man and God.
Both Hamlet and the King are involved with acting rôles. The former pretends to be insane and the
latter lives the lie of his brother's death. Claudius seems to have absorbed this pretence and has
become so conditioned to it that he is unable to feel anything for his dead brother. Hamlet is
similarly frustrated that his passionate desire for revenge has ebbed away, again this links the two
characters.
Hamlet also faces a theological dilemma. To his eyes the King is silent in prayer and to kill him at
that point would probably send him to heaven –– the last thing Hamlet wants. Hamlet is also only
too aware that his own father is in Purgatory because he wasn't prepared for death. The concept of
being in a state of Grace was very important to Shakespeare's audience and they would have been
familiar with Hamlet's logic in delaying the act.
This is the closest Hamlet has come to avenging his father's death. He presumably has his sword
drawn and this, combined with their

Essay on Cain and Abel Timshel: Free Will
In East Of Eden, a main theme that is displayed is the freedom to overcome evil in the world. The
hebrew word that Lee uses to convince Cal to overcome sin is timshel, which is the freedom of
choice. The word timshel translates to "thou mayest" and is used by God in the Cain and Abel story
telling Cain that he has the opportunity to overcome sin. Free will does not just come easily, but it
will come if you have the will to fight for it.
The protagonist, Adam, is depicted as good in comparison to the other characters in both the book
and movie. In the story, Adam makes moral decisions when situations come to hand and he is
offered dishonest money from his son, Cal. Adam tells Cal that it is "evil money" and to return it. He
did not want ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Cathy surrenders herself to sin because she states that there is so much of it in the world it is nearly
impossible to fight. This shows that Cathy does not believe in timshel and how she is unwilling to
fight to be able to achieve free will. This can make her viewed as a pessimistic character and how
she views the world in a whole. Cathy embraces sin because she is so insecure and does not know
how to cope with the idea that she is not willing to overcome sin.
Cal is viewed as a evil character and he is looked down upon due to the fact that his brother, Aron,
lives a more successful lifestyle. Cal is the most complex character in the story and struggles with
timshel the most. Cal's jealously has him make evil decisions that lead to negative results including
leading his brother to his death. In a writing done by Yehuda bar Ami he states that when Cain and
Abel were in the field arguing it was about fighting over Eve. Cal shares this jealousy towards Aron
because he lacks attention from his father.
Adam asked, "Do you know where your brother is?" "No, I don't," said Cal. . . . "He hasn't been
home for two nights. Where is he?" "How do I know?" said Cal. "Am I supposed to look after him?"
(Steinbeck 562) In the same midrash, a Rabbi states that Cain blames God for creating him the evil
being that he is. Cal believes that he is evil and therefore is the reason why his father does not give
him as much attention as Aron. This

Sonny 's Blues : A Story Based On A Boy
Sonny's Blues is a story based on a boy by the name of Sonny, and his brother who is the narrator of
the story. In the story Sonny was addicted to heroin, sent to prison, and he and his brother didn't
have much of a relationship. On the other hand, Sonny's older brother had his life together. He was
well educated as he was a mathematics teacher with a family that he had to support. The short story
has a lot of connections and relations to some of the biblical stories. One being the prodigal's son,
and the other story being Cain and Abel. Sonny's Blues was also based on the sufferings of the
African American Community, as Sonny and his brother lived in Harlem, New York. Some
examples of their sufferings would be their childhood ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The celebration consisted of a fatted calf being requested to be killed. This celebration leaves the
older son upset, because he has worked very hard for all the years the younger son has been away
living in sin. One would say this message leaves knowledge to the meaning of one can be found in
their lost days.
In the article "The Biblical Foundation Of James Baldwin 's "Sonny 's Blues written by James
Tackach, Tackach writes about the biblical relations to the Prodigal's son. Tackach says that the
Prodigal's Son and Sonny's Blues are "sin and redemption" stories. (Tackach 113) The younger sons
"return to their families and are praised and saved", while the older sons lose grace, which results to
the older brother in Sonny's Blues actually losing Grace. (Tackach)
The other connection that was made to the bible was the story of Cain and Abel, found in the book
of Genesis. Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve. Cain was the eldest, and he was jealous
of Abel. The jealousy came into play as they gathered their fruits and soil to provide for the Lord.
The Lord was pleased with the amount of offering Abel had, but not so much with the amount of
offering Cain had. Cain was later angry, which lead him to take Abel in the field to kill him. One
may say Sonny and his brother's relationship was killing them both on the inside, by them not
speaking to each other. This accusation may be the reason Sonny's brother had to contact Sonny for

The American Dream, By James M. Cain, And The Unnamed...
The human objective has always been to survive and prosper. That ideology has manifested itself
into the modern day concept known as the American Dream. According to Miriam Webster, the
definition of the American Dream is "an American social ideal that stresses egalitarianism and
especially material prosperity." The United States of America has always been "The self–proclaimed
land of opportunity... where people can start over [and] pursue a new dream..." (Mc Adams 1). Many
though that through monetary gain you can completely reinvent yourself into a brand new person,
and thus leaving the imprint of your achievement into every aspect of your life. Most people tried to
attain this goal through hard work, however this was not always the case. This can be seen through
the efforts of protagonists Frank Chambers, from The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M.
Cain, and the unnamed Narrator, from Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. Both characters try to
reinvent themselves by using the mold of the American dream, however by taking unconventional
ways to succeed they ultimately fail. With their ideology of reinvention through destruction, the
nameless Narrator and Frank Chambers become the antithesis of the American Dream, and therefore
are unable to achieve their goals. Tim Kasser from Further Examining the American Dream:
Differential Correlates of Intrinsic and Extrinisc Goals states that "Results [supporting] the
hypothesis that the relative centrality of... success goals is

Analysis Of Sacrifice In The Bible Passage: Abel, Cain And...
Thomas S. Monson once said, "We are reminded that anger does not solve anything. It builds
nothing, but can destroy everything." In the Bible Passage, Cain and Abel, two brothers both
sacrifice their work to God. Abel, a shepherd, sacrifices his best lamb, and Cain, a farmer, only
sacrifices part of his left over straw. When God goes to accept their sacrifices he sees that Cain does
not sacrifice his best and therefore does not accept it, shown when the fire burns higher for Abel's
sacrifice. Cain was very angry that his sacrifice was not as good and asked Abel to go on a walk
with him, where he kills Abel. God sees this and asks Cain where his brother is. At this point God
explains to Cain that Abel was just trying to give his best. Cain is ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
It is just how they push through the anger that makes them stronger in the end. When Abel sacrifices
his very best lamb to God, Cain does not agree and thinks Abel does not need to give his best for
God. Therefore, Cain sacrifices straw, but in the fire it does not burn like Abel's lamb does. This
burning fire represents God's approval of the men's sacrifices. The King James Version says, "Cain
was very angry, and his face was downcast." God then talks to Cain about being angry and he
explains to him "...if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door..." Cain is
overwhelmed by anger when his sacrifice was not good enough for God, but God wants to show him
that the best comes for people who work hard. Cain's anger leads him to do unbelievable things.
After they sacrifice their works, Cain asks Able to go into the field with him. While in the field Cain
hits and kills his brother. The King James Version says, "thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the
ground." God hears Abel's cries for help from Cain killing him, and He is very angry. For how can a
man kill his own brother? After God talks to Cain, Cain is very upset with himself and can not
believe what he has done. Cain realizes that anger is common, but it drew him to make decisions he
will later

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