Themes In Humanity: Potential Heroes Forsaken By The Gods?

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Humanity: Potential Heroes Forsaken by the Gods
Society desperately needs gods who rule over the earth: without guidance, humanity will fall. Many argue that this generation, the generation of technology, has lost all connections with heavenly figures. Should humans be abandoned by these figures, the world will end in peril. Themes like these are what inspire books such as American Gods by Neil Gaiman. The novel features Shadow—a quiet, street-smart man—who has just been released from jail after his involvement in a robbery. His wife and best friend die in a car crash days before his release. He has no family, no friends, and no job to go home to. His fate changes, however, once he meets a con named Mr. Wednesday, who conspires with gods and mythical creatures. Shadow becomes Mr. Wednesday’s protector, and sets off to prepare for an upcoming war between the ancient gods, who have existed since the beginning of time, and the modern gods created from technology, gluttony, addiction, and sex. Mr. Wednesday and his team prepare to fight these modern gods, but Shadow soon realizes that the only way to benefit …show more content…

The rivalry between ancient and modern gods in Gaiman’s American Gods proves humans cause their own spiritual and physical destruction, but the role of a shaman shows …show more content…

The modern gods are added to cause the physical destruction of humanity. But Shadow’s introduction as a shaman illustrates the underlying power in humans that they are both the cause and cure for their ruin. Gaiman uses these characters to bend reality in order to show that people are both disgusting and extraordinary—they lack morals, but they are courageous heroes. Society has stepped away from faith and religion but has started walking on a path of independence and strength. In a world without gods, humanity will fall— but people have the power to be their own

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