Forgiveness, Consequences, and Punishment The novel “Shepherd of the Hills” by Harold Bell Wright is a beautiful story about life in the Ozark Mountains. The story opens with an old man, later called Dad Howitt, entering the Ozarks from the city and stumbles across the Matthews family. The Matthews family grew fond of the new traveler quickly. Dad Howitt became a shepherd and roamed the hills. Within the first week of the newcomer’s appearance, Mrs. Matthews discussed her children she had. Tragically, all of them passed away, except for young Matt, the youngest in the family. Mrs. Matthews told Dad Howitt that the death of their daughter was too hard for the family, and they do not talk about her. After a couple of days, Mr. Matthews expressed …show more content…
Mr. Howitt recognized the painting as his son’s greatest work and became terrified due to Mr. Matthews anger. The novel goes on to tell different iniquities that ensued. Even though some were forgiven, there were still consequences. The story also demonstrates there is punishment for unrepentant sin as well. Throughout the novel, there are multiple occasions where sins were committed. There are two characters who are unrepentant of their actions, and there are two that are repentant. The first duo is Jim Lane and Wash Gibbs. These two characters are literally partners in crime. They are associates of a bald knobber gang. The gang would travel the countryside just to terrorize the people of the mountain. Wash Gibbs is a large man which makes him more intimidating. Jim Lane is the only one able to regulate Gibbs’ outbursts for most of the story. Towards the end of the story, however, Jim Lane does not appreciate Gibbs plans aimed at Young Matt. At a gang meeting, Lane expresses that he doesn’t want any part of their shenanigans anymore. The gang turns on him and executes Lane in his living room. While the conference is happening, officers of the law weaseled their way to the Lane’s …show more content…
We can and should still hold others accountable for their actions or lack of actions” (Sweet). Mr. Matthews forgave Dad and Howard, but they were not free from consequences. When Mr. Matthews Forgave Dad and Howard, the punishment for their sin disappeared but the consequence remained. So that brings up a question: what is forgiveness? The Greater Good Science Center discovered that “… Forgiveness brings the forgiver peace of mind and frees him or her from corrosive anger.” (Forgiveness). Forgiveness is not meant to be for the offender, it is for the person distressed. It brings them to a place of humility and growth. God commands his children to forgive. Having a corrosive anger means that the anger will continue to eat away at a person, much like when metal is left in water. When someone is unforgiving, the anger inside of them culminates like rust on a piece of metal. What are the consequences of the Howitt men? Howard’s consequence was him losing the love of his life and dwelling in exile for the remainder of his life. Dad Howitt’s consequence was losing a relationship with his son because of
Guilt is a powerful force in humans. It can be the factor that alters someone's life. On the other hand, forgiveness can be just as powerful. In The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, her characters-the Price family-travel to Africa on a religious mission. Throughout the novel, the concept of guilt and forgiveness is reflected on multiple occasions. Each character has a different experience with guilt and how it affects them in the end. By structuring The Poisonwood Bible to include five different narrators, Kingsolver highlights the unique guilt and forgiveness to each individual experiences as well expresses the similarities that all humans face with these complex emotions.
Forgiveness is a process. You can still feel the pain, see the events behind your eyes, and feel the loss of the people around you but you have to find a way to forgive. People think that if you forgive someone you are forgetting or saying hey I would hang out with this person now because we’re cool but thats not at all what forgiveness is. Forgiveness is righting the wrong for yourself because you want the injustice you feel to leave. It’s acknowledging to that there a wrong that was done to you and you decide how you want to think about it not anyone
Guilt is a powerful emotion that can affect the path of a person’s life. Dunstan’s character in Robertson Davies’s “Fifth Business” experienced guilt at an early age and stayed with Dunstan throughout his life, and continually affected his relationships with Mrs.Dempster, Boy and Paul into an unhealthy one. Dunstan took the blame for the snow ball entirely without acknowledging boy was at fault. “I was contrite and guilty, for I knew that the snowball had been meant for me” (Davies, 11). From that point in his life, his guilt had the dynamo effect. He took blame for every tragedy that happened to the Dempster family since. Dunstan’s battled guilt ultimately controlled his action and relationships.
We all feel guilt at some point in our lives. The narrator in “The Scarlet Ibis” has felt guilt for quite a while. In the story “The Scarlet Ibis”, we learn about the narrator’s perspective on what happened to the character Doodle, the narrator’s younger brother.
Forgiving someone is a way to release us from the pain they have brought us. Justice can just be
In both “Roger Malvin's Burial” and “The Minister's Black Veil,” Nathaniel Hawthorne centralizes the themes of sin, guilt, and repentance. Both are very much set in terms of what defines sin and, in turn, what would constitute action leaving an opening for forgiveness, and both leave many a question unanswered in the story being told. The main question for us becomes, then, one of applicability. Does either story hold a message, if so, what? In considering the two, it may be that they do indeed hold a message, but maybe that message is not one that Hawthorne himself could ever have intended. In this paper I will deal with the themes of guilt, sin, repentance and how Hawthorne developed them in both stories.
...he theme of guilt that builds within Briony character and writing. The structure of limitations provided by McEwan’s highlights the emotions of Briony herself. As the critic Finney addresses the narrative form, McEwan presents the corruption of the negative appearance displayed in the writing of the narrator her self. Briony uses the novel to atone for her sins, in a way to make up for the foolish acts she as committed, giving the readers sympathy to forgiver for her actions. The inability to achieve atonement is demonstrated within the novel continuously highlights the element of guilt. The attempt at atonement helped Briony, which alludes the over all theme that the ability to achieve atonement is in the hands of the beholder. Untimely, the consequences amplified the writing style that conveyed the understanding of the selfish actions that tore apart two lovers.
Guilt and shame can tear a person's soul away. The inevitable consequence of sin is the immediate reaction of guilt, shame, and remorse. For example: John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, and Reverend Dimmesdale have all committed a sin or sins and are feeling extremely guilty about it. They want to be forgiven, but they have no strength and are cowards. Forgiveness can only be obtained when these characters find the strength within themselves to speak the truth.
Christian views on forgiveness Roberto Assagioli’s famous forgiveness quote is ‘Without forgiveness, life is governed by an endless cycle of resettlement and retaliation’. Christian’s perspectives on forgiveness as stated by (McCullough, Pargament, & Thoresen , 2000) , Forgiveness is generally understood as an act of from an injury offense, or debt.
John-Baptiste, the interlocutor of the novel, exposes people’s tendency to sin without feeling guilty by judging other people’s shortcomings when he states, “I sometimes think of what future historians will say of us. A single sentence will suffice for modern man: he fornicated and read the papers” (Camus 6-7). Jean-Baptiste notices that people sin regularly, but what bothers him even more than the sin itself is the inability to confront one's self about the flaw. People mindlessly sin, but when a different person messes up, they recognize the flaw and judge them for it. This judgement diminishes the guilt of the first sinner.
Whatever sins man commits in his lifetime, he is punished for them. If only he repents for his sins, can he be forgiven and at least he can die in peace. God forgives them only when they repent for their sins. The story also presents another example of the Christian belief in sin and punishment, which is based on the strict principles of repentance and forgiveness. In the story, Karen is a poor but beautiful girl.
The script incorporates several powerful themes about faith, redemption, regret, and forgiveness. The story also explores and poses intriguing moral choices and questions. The script offers an ensemble cast of distinctive, dysfunctional, and morally corrupt characters. Each one is dealing with emotional damage and a crisis of faith. The dialogue is sharp and interspersed with meaningful subtext.
A strong Christian lesson on the true nature of forgiveness can be found in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount:
The themes and conflict of consequences from actions, a character’s change, repentance to relieve guilt, and guilt v.s. Self-interest is carried through the entire book. For example, the main character struggles with turning himself in or staying out of jail throughout the entire story. (Pg. 505) Not to mention the beautiful interpretation of the feelings one would have after committing a crime like murder. This book does an excellent job of getting inside the head of the murder, who is usually a mysterious figure, or someone close who has the obvious motive.
Forgiveness is the act of releasing an offender of any wrong or hurt they may have caused you whether they deserve it or not. It is a decision to let go of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group of people. When we choose to forgive, we’re wiping the slate clean, cancelling a debt, or as I love to say, “Letting it go.” In the Bible, the Greek word for forgiveness literally means to “let it go.” This concept, “forgiveness,” is easier said than done. Majority of people find it very difficult to let go of offenses and hurts caused by others. I really do believe that most people desire to let it go, but we lack the knowledge of how to do it. As believers, we are instructed by God maintain an attitude of forgiveness.