The choice readings that the category has discussed this semester have covered a assortment of literature that has made an impact on how I now view life and the universe around me. The narratives of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. Virgil’s The Aeneid. Jonathan Kirsch’s God against the Gods and Elaine Pagels’ Origin of Satan have affected my personal beliefs to the extent that I have started to believe more critically approximately certain moral issues in life. Impact of Literature Personal Growth In Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. I have eventually realized several points and issues about contending for something and protecting it.
I besides learned how much hazards and forfeits that these characters of Achilles. Hector. and Odysseus can put down for the interest of maintaining what is truly theirs. Each character possesses courage and award that enable them to go stronger in their chases and conflicts. The function of adult females is besides noteworthy in these heroic narratives as their position supports the development of the male characters.
Rage—Goddess. sing the fury of Peleus’ boy Achilles. homicidal. doomed. that cost the Achaeans infinite losingss. hurtling down to the House of Death so many hardy psyches. reat fighters’ psyches. but made their organic structures carrion. banquets for the Canis familiariss and birds. ( Iliad. lines 1-5 ) Achilles. a adept warrior is introduced in the gap of Homer’s The Iliad. He represents a stereotyped maleness which is frequently known as bold. make bolding. brave. and narcissistic. I realized that work forces of Homer’s clip are likely to go more constituted based on the conflict skills that they possessed. When he defeated Hector in public in a individual conflict. he earns farther regard from his co-workers and enemies.
Odysseus. on the other manus. is merely like any other existent adult male who has a defining character of what a leader should be ; aristocracy. bravery. mind. thirst for glorification and authorization. He has a loving married woman Penelope who absolutely fulfills domestic functions back place. Though she has non seen Odysseus in twenty old ages. she ne’er loses religion that her hubby will come back and that they will populate happy once more. Her fidelity and trueness illustrates a perfect representation of a married woman who is genuinely in love and a adult female who is duteous to her hubby. Aenas in The Aeneid. is one of the heroes of classical literature.
At some point his character can be associated with that of Jesus Christ. To to the full hold on and understand the context of their characters as heroes. one must understand their societal and cultural background. A hero should non be distant and removed to their present world. They should conform and set but should do a difference. Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Mark and Aenas in the verse form of Virgil are epic characters that illustrate credence of the workings and Providence of the Gods as destiny. They both represent the virtuousness of accepting and executing one’s responsibility.
Though Aenas is a boy of the goddess Venus and who receives particular Providence from the Gods. Aenas is still considered mortal while Jesus is both God and adult male. Aenas is sometimes driven by his unhappiness and emotional urges to accept his bound way but he chooses obey and follow still. Aenas is for the glorification of Rome but Jesus Christ is for the glorification of God. the Father. Meanwhile. Kirsch’s God against the Gods made me believe twice about the nature of monotheism and polytheism in our state.
Kirsch points out in this book that monotheism is the 1 responsible for the universe war jobs today. monotheism turned out to animate a fierceness and even a fanatism that are largely absent from polytheism” ( Kirsch 2 ) . I support his claim that monotheism is truly a job if this universe needs peace. Peoples have different beliefs and to state the other that his or her belief is incorrect is really important to a relationship. With the illustrations that he pointed out in his book about Jews. Muslims and Christians. I realized that these faiths are really merely idolizing a God that has common characteristics. I came to a decision that faith is non every bit of import to a person’s spiritualty as one’s personal relationship with God.
No affair what a person’s faith is. it does non truly count every bit long as people believe in something and they respect other people’s beliefs every bit good. Pagels’ Origin of Satan made me recognize that amidst the promises of narratives about love in The New Testament. the power of Satan is present amongst its narratives particularly in the crucifixion narrative. I came to a realisation that scriptural narratives tell more than what meets the oculus. With an in-depth analysis. it got me into believing that to be able to to the full understand and grok what the Bible truly has to offer. I have to complete the book and consult scholarly beginnings.
Conclusion These narratives enable me to believe and analyse the universe around me and its history in a much critical manner. History is written in these books and their still attesting significance in our society today. Personally. as a Christian I still believe in the instructions of Jesus Christ. I finally conform to the thought of Eden and snake pit. of the Second Coming. of the organic structure of Sacred Hagiographas but I was restricted to the bounds of what my faith Teachs me and state me what to make. However. upon reading these literary plants. I realized that as an person. I must believe for myself and conform to the thoughts which I think is right as a human being.
