Felicitas And Perpetua Summary

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The Value of the Body According To Felicitas and Perpetua In an attempt to deliver on the value of the body, this paper settles on the text Felicitas and Perpetua. It seeks to answer the question as to whether the narrative of Felicitas and Perpetua merely focuses on their struggles, or it essentially concerns a reinforcement of the ideas of abandoning the family for the church. In the book the writer of the story Felicitas and Perpetua, presents faithful Christians who show their devotion to Christ in several ways. Felicitas and Perpetua deny themselves the best that the daily life has to offer; the joys, duties, and the intimate family love and family life (Martydon of Perpetua and Felicitas 50). In an era that nearly everybody easily …show more content…

This relationship is demonstrated by Perpetua’s assertion, “we were still with the persecutors, and my father, for the sake of his affection for me, was persisting in seeking to turn me away,” (Martydon of Perpetua and Felicitas 49). Personally, Perpetua may have considered this relationship a most important one, considering how significant it is in the roman society where it is expected that daughters should care for their parents, honor them, and improve their family reputation by getting married. However, having believed that her body is the temple of Christ, Perpetua opted not to conform to the expectations of the society. Together with felicity, they defer their duties as mothers to remain devoted to Christ, and leave behind young children during their death (Martydon of Perpetua and Felicitas …show more content…

Much as we later learn that she is a mother, she purposefully abandoned all that makes her a mother and assumes the position of a girl (Martydon of Perpetua and Felicitas 50). This further demonstrates that all she wants to invest her energy on, is Christ. Upon being baptized, Perpetua is sent to prison together with other several Christian companions and her infant so (Martydon of Perpetua and Felicitas 49). Here, we are able to infer that her relationship with the family is ambiguous and complex. This strained relationship is evident in the way Perpetua presents her own father, whom she views as a devil (Martydon of Perpetua and Felicitas 50). However, by receiving comfort from the brother and mother, she distinguishes herself as a lady who is up to embrace only those who grant her support to serve Christ. By being tormented even by taking care of her son, Perpetua gives the image of a devoted Christian who is ready to devote her whole time, life, and body to Christ (Martydon of Perpetua and Felicitas 51). This implies that she is not ready to take the naturally ties lightly. Also, based on the first half of her story that builds up to the vivid public break with her family roles as a mother and a daughter, Perpetua stands out as a real martyr ready to sacrifice anything for the sake of serving

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