All DCM (Discovering a Christian Mind) classes at Calvin read Cornelius Plantinga Jr.’s Engaging God’s World, which discusses why it is valuable to aim to live Christ-like in today’s world. In his book Plantinga explains basic Christian beliefs and Reformed doctrines by highlighting God’s creation, the fall, and human redemption by Jesus’ death on a cross. The ideas of creation, fall, and redemption are displayed by the actions of male protagonists in three major plays: The Tempest by William Shakespeare, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, and Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller.
The Tempest begins with a raging storm (a tempest, as the play is so adequately named) that causes a boatload of royals to end up on a seemingly deserted island. But this is not just any storm: it is one orchestrated by Prospero, the ruler of the island. This island that Prospero rules has few inhabitants; his beloved daughter, Miranda, his slave, Caliban, and his spirit-slave, Ariel. This island is Prospero’s creation, after he was forced to it from Milan, where he once was a duke. From the backstory the audience learns that Prospero possesses considerable magic power, and upon his arrival to the island freed Ariel from a witch’s curse and took her son Caliban as his slave. Twelve years later “by accident most strange, bountiful Fortune” the King of Naples, his son, the usurping duke Antonio, and other men sailed near the island (I.II.178). Prospero used Ariel to create a tempest causing the royals to enter the island, which leads to Miranda falling in love with the prince as the play unfolds.
The relation between Creation as described by Plantinga and Prospero has to do with the power and motives of why make creation. Unlike Prospero...
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... himself (130). And while it difficult to find redemptive aspects for Willy, his death can be viewed as a sacrifice for his sons. Linda ends the play by repeating “We’re free… we’re free” which can be interpreted to mean that by Willy’s death the family is freed from Willy’s suffocating dreams (139). Willy has been likened to Jesus in various criticisms of the play because of this sacrifice for those he loved. Jesus’ death was the atonement that demonstrated God’s grace for us, and Willy’s death demonstrated his love for his sons, no matter how disillusioned Willy may have been.
Creation, Fall, and Redemption are heavily discussed in Plantinga’s book, but their presence can be found in a variety of other works. The Tempest, The Glass Menagerie, and Death of a Salesman are three plays in which these themes can be found, and can also be found elsewhere in life.
Within Death of a Salesman, there are many themes, motifs and symbolism shown to help readers and audiences alike understand the writing. Arthur Miller implemented these developmental characteristics through showing the theme of success and failure, features of a tragic hero and the germination within characters. Through Millers writing, it is shown that the American Dream does not always end in a happy
... of all time, with a protagonist that is plagued with indecision, but spurred by a desire to avenge his father’s death. At the time of the play’s writing, religion was by far the largest influence on the lives of ordinary people, and the protagonist’s defiance of God for most of the play could only end in tragedy.
One of the most misunderstood characters in Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea is Christophine. Christophine was a wedding present to Antoinette’s mother, and she was a slave in their family since then. The reason that she comes off as so misunderstood is because it is never revealed explicitly in the text whether she is “good” or “bad”. Her involvement in the practice of obeah adds to the mysterious air about her in the novel. Obeah is a practice that is not an official religion, but there is a community who are involved in the practice that has “a wide variety and range of beliefs and practices related to the control or channeling of supernatural/spiritual forces” (Bilby 153). The practices are done “by particular individuals or groups for their own needs, or on behalf of clients who come for help” (Bilby 154). The practice has gone from having an acceptable reputation to a negative one. As the years went on in times of slavery, and especially during post-emancipation times, obeah gained more of a reputation as witchcraft or sorcery and it was said that it was used to bring harm to people (Bilby 153). The positive aspects of obeah were soon paid minimal attention, and the negative aspects and disapproving stereotypes were on the rise. The negativity was so prevalent and contagious that some West Indians who were involved in the practice began to have a pessimistic view as well (Bilby 153). This negative view followed obeah into the novel Wide Sargasso Sea. The practice was shown in a very negative light in the novel, especially through Christophine. Christophine is a representation of obeah in the novel. Throughout many points in the story, the fact that Christophine is involved with obeah practices is portrayed as the m...
Strategic and Structural therapy is two forms of therapy that offer similarity as well as difference treatment to assist the family with communicating more effective with each other. The therapist goal is to find creative interventions to help stabilize the family to maintain an appropriate relationship in their environment. Within this paper, a brief description of the similarity and difference of structural and strategic therapy will demonstrate how two forms of behavior therapy can assist families by changing the behavior.
Everything was handed to her, but then it all got taken away. After marrying prominent general Nathanael Greene, and giving birth to his five children, Catharine Littlefield Greene thought her life was perfect. But after a few money mishaps, it all went downhill. She lost absolutely everything but her five children. But after giving birth to an idea for an invention, the cotton gin was born, and also finally Catharine’s new start.
It is very rare that a book can be so compelling that it changes the way you think. Daniel Kahneman achieved this in his groundbreaking book Thinking, Fast and Slow. In his work, Kahneman challenges common notions of human psychology by offering a unique perspective of why we make certain decisions. Based off his contributions throughout his career, Kahneman compiles his experimental findings on human behavior into a complete manual to the human mind. The book delves into human nature and cognition, how we process our decisions and in what frame of mind do we create our perception of the world. More specifically, Kahneman deals with the irrationality of the way we think that leads to biases, mental shortcuts and defense mechanisms. His findings not only acts as an informative self-help but questions the very nature of everyday life.
atsby, Bud and Warren all have a common desire: they love attractive women. Gatsby’s love for Daisy began when he was a young military officer in Louisville, but when he left to fight in World War I, she married Tom Buchanan. Then, when the wealthy Gatsby reappears in West Egg, she must choose who she loves more. Rather, Bud, a young cold caller who strikes a new job that earns him millions, meets the love of his life Darien who only cares about his money. Warren has passionate feelings for Bernice but when she bobs her hair, Warren’s love for her suddenly declines. Aristotle Onassis, a greek shipping magnate once said that “if women didn't exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning.” Through texts and motion pictures in America, women are seen as a luxury who only care about looks and money.
intended to help reinforce the importance of God and religion people's lives (Everyman). The play
Today’s society perceives the female gender as weaker than the male gender. Many Hollywood films portray women needing more guidance in the work place, more protection in social environments, and being not able to compete at the same level as men. Pitch Perfect destroys the stereotype that females are of the weaker sex than men through symbols, musical selections, and the characters through out the film.
"Never hang your head down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way. And don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines"(Richard Nixon). Nixon believes if you always look at the negative side of things, you'll quickly forget all the positives. Obesity is all around us and people are not doing much about it, mainly because the obese themselves give up trying. The rates of obesity are steadily increasing every year and the reasons are fast foods, advertising and lack of exercise.
“The Tempest” is a play written by William Shakespeare in early 1600s that has been previewed in different kinds of movies, such as the one made in 2010, directed by Julie Taymor. It is a play containing themes such as; revenge, allusion, retribution, forgiveness, power, love and hatred. When it is compared to the play, there are specific differences seen in the movie, such as; Prospero is reflected as a woman in the movie. The time differences between the play and the movie and how the spirit Ariel is shown as a white man in the movie. The play starts with the story of Prospero, the Duke of Milan. He gets banished from Italy and was cast to sea by his brother Antonio. He has perfected his skills during twelve years of exile on a lonely island. Prospero creates the tempest to make his enemies’ ship to wreck and lead them to the island. Meanwhile, Antonio takes Prospero’s place and starts to make everyone believe he is the duke and makes an agreement with the King of Naples, Alonso. Besides the drama happening in the island, Prospero forgives Alonso and the others.
"The Tempest", by William Shakespeare, is a very interesting and entertaining story when viewed by its face value. However, when one analyzes the characters, settings, and situations, one realizes the deeper meaning intended by Shakespeare in composing the drama. Through his creation of the island microcosm, which is ruled by Prospero and undermined by Caliban, the Bard creates a masterful work which glorifies a merciful God, who will forgive sins through repentance. In "The Tempest", Shakespeare creates a story that is valuable for more than just entertainment purposes--he creates a work of art.
The Tempest was written in 1611 as Shakespeare’s last romantic comedy. This play is focused mainly on the theme of power. Shakespeare portrays an aging magician who has been living in exile with his young daughter on a remote island for the past 12 years. Shakespeare presents forms of power in different ways, but mainly through the characters of Prospero. In The Tempest Shakespeare shows 3 different types of power, which are through love, power over his slave Caliban, and power of magic.
Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest is set on a mysterious island surrounded by the ocean. Here the magician Prospero is ruler of the isle with his two servants Caliban and Ariel. Caliban is the abrasive, foul-mouthed son of the evil witch Sycorax. When Prospero was shipwrecked on the island Prospero treated him kindly but their relationship changed when Caliban tried to rape Prospero's daughter, Miranda. Caliban then became Prospero's unwilling servant. Caliban serves his master out of fear Prospero's wrath. Prospero's other servant Ariel is a graceful spirit who has courtesy and charm. Ariel has put her services at Prospero's disposal out of gratitude for his kind actions towards her. Prospero saved Ariel from the confinement of Sycorax who held her prisoner.