This paper will review the article, ‘Engendering Sacrifice: Blood, Lineage, and Infanticide in Old French Literature’ by Peggy McCracken, an associate professor of French and Women’s Studies at the University of Michigan. The review will firstly summarize the article. Secondly, it will give more insight into the author’s main points. Thirdly, it will evaluate the evidence, investigating the nature of the sources used and how it is relevant to students studying medieval history. Overall the article was well-organized, clear, and had efficient sources.
The purpose of the article was to come to a explanation for the difference between maternal murder and paternal sacrifice in narrative logic. The article uses classical literature and Christian
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The article emphasizes that the narratives suggest that the sacrificing of his child is a paternal right because of the blood of lineage and that a father’s sacrifice is religious, a divine act, for it is God’s will and God’s gift to a father. McCracken uses a biblical example and a medieval legend in order to show that fathers do murder their children. However, a father’s murder is seen as a sacrifice due to religious reasons, paternal right and patriarchal order. In the article, the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac is discussed in order to show that Abraham, the father, is willing to sacrifice his son in the service of some divine purpose. Supporting the point that a father’s murder can be seen as a sacrifice if it is God’s will or sanctioned by God. The willingness of the father to murder his son and the son’s willingness to allow his father to sacrifice him is the most important aspect of the story that justifies paternal sacrifice. A father’s sacrifice being seen as a sacrifice instead of a murder because of shared blood, lineage and …show more content…
She uses the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac as an example of paternal sacrifice. The story is about God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on a mountain to show his obedience. This paternal sacrifice being one that is for some higher purpose or higher good because it is sanctioned by God. However, she talks more about the willingness of the father to sacrifice his son and the son’s willingness to be sacrificed. Father is willing, perhaps because Isaac is his son and he can take his life or sustain it. She states that a possible reason for why Abraham decides not to tell Sarah, his wife, about their son being sacrificed is that he is the primary parent which allows him the right to kill his son. After the story of Abraham and Isaac, she begins to talk about the legend of Amicus and Amelius, which is about two men who form a strong friendship and both serve the emperor, Charlemagne. She explains Amicus becomes sick with leprosy after he committed perjury by pretending to be Amelius in a battle which he won and saved his friend from death. Amicus had a vision that informed him that he could only be cured if he bathed in the blood of Amiles’s children. He told Amile of his vision and Amiles made the
I think that the main theme of A Father’s Promise, is that people are better than things. An example of
The work begins with Section I, ‘The Background’ which consists of a general overview in medieval women’s social and religious history. The first section delineates the basic societal framework for Western European women in the High Middle Ages and outlines the cultural forces at work in shaping their lives. The second part of this section reviews the changes in religious consciousness concerning sacramental practices and fasting, from the Church Fathers to the late medieval hagiographers. It should be noted here that although more careful attention is given to the practice of ‘fasting,’ especially in the latter portion of the work which I will be examining in more detail, the ‘feasting’ in question more generally denotes the ‘love feast’ of the Eucharist than the fe...
How much are you willing to sacrifice for another? Whether they are a family member or a complete stranger. In the novel The Kite Runner Baba was was willing to risk his life when he had stood up and was trying to stop the Russian soldier from rape the young woman as payment for letting them pass through one of the checkpoints. Then there had been Amir it was when he had suffered extreme injuries, nearly losing his life when he had fought Assef, so that he could save Sohrab for the abuse he was suffering from the Taliban. Both Character Baba and Amir were willing to sacrifice themselves for another person, regardless of who they were. Khaled Hosseini’s novel, The Kite Runner, teaches the reader sacrificing your life can lead to another person’s happiness through Baba saving the woman from the Russian soldier and Amir fighting Assef.
from ther faith and there meekness(pg.71). He says that fathers are to watch over the
Froissart’s Chronicles, simply known as the Chroniques, is considered by historians as the one of the important entities that recounts the events which happened during the Hundred Years’ War period. It was an extensive literary work with approximately 1.5 million words in length, written in Middle French prose by Jean Froissart. The Chronicles start by narrating the deposition of King Edward II in year 1326 and covering events from this time onward up to year 1400, hence can be significant in the study of the first part of the Hundred Years’ War. This source is also of vital importance in the study as well as the understanding of the chivalric culture of the 14th century England and French as chivalry and knighthood are the central ideal of
A father’s story by Andre Dubus is a powerful piece of literature. The two lessons that Andre Dubus taught me are the questions people have with their faith and the church, and Fathers special kind of love for their daughters. Luke decided to not rat out his daughter because he did not want her to go to jail. Could you imagine being in Luke’s situation in the story? Luke knows the right thing to do is to turn in his daughter but his unconditional love for her changes his mind. Lastly the author had doubts about the Church and faith. You can tell by his writings that he did not agree with everything that the church presented. The author believes in God but it sounds as if he thinks it is ok to sin sometimes. Jesus never had a daughter so the author thinks that God could not understand this.
In today’s society, sacrifices play a big role in our everyday lives. They range from small, such as sacrificing that piece of cake to keep you feeling healthier and a little better about yourself, to big sacrifices such as a firefighter sacrificing his life for a complete stranger. At the end of the day, they all all make a difference for better or for worse. In the play “The Crucible”, many various sacrifices were made during the process of exposing the possible witchcraft that was going on in Salem. These sacrifices were a result of fear. People were afraid that they would be accused of witchcraft and would do anything to avoid being pinned. A few of the sacrifices that were made were people 's lives, the happiness
Abstract: This essay written over the controversial issue of abortion, in order to shed some light on whether if it is a morally right decision for an individual to abort a child when there is no life threatening issue at any stage in a pregnancy. Thus, this essay is written in directly for the avocation against the killing of innocent and unborn child. First, this essay argues against the idea of a fetus being considered less than human are evaluated and criticized. The secondly, it presents strong support for why the life of a fetus moral rights has to be taking into consideration equally as a matured human .Thus, this essay focus on the reasoning behind the decision for abortion, then coming to the conclusion is that an abortion is only
The narrative Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario, tells the true story of a young boy’s dangerous path from Mexico to the United States, in hopes of reuniting with his mother. Along Enrique’s trek he sacrifices his safety, well-being, and even the possibility of his life to be with his mother once again. Lourdes, Enrique’s mother, gives up the ultimate sacrifice of missing her children grow up, causing their love and affection they once held for their dear mother to dwindle, all of which so she can provide money and security for her family. Sacrifice is a key theme in this narrative because without the difficult decisions made and the loss the characters so tragically endured, then they would not have been able to reap the reward of a reunited,
Benton, John F. ed “Introduction” Self and Society In Medieval France: The Memoirs of Abbot Guibert of Nogent. Edited and Translated By John F. Benton. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1984.
In this story the father of the two sons symbolizes "God" the father of all humanity. As Luke states, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son" ( Luke 15). This text represents and proves that the son was going to repent and ask his father for forgiveness, showing that his father was a symbol of God. Furthermore, this "assured" man dispenses for his two sons in which one son wants all his endowment that belongs to him so he can splurge as he pleases. Therefore, this son represents the sinner who doesn't want to have any answerability with God and wants to be on his own. Luke writes, " Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me"(Luke 15). This gives verification that this son really symbolizes the sinner. Lastly, the young son that left on his wandering, spends all his inheritance, therefore, he had to work feeding pigs to feed himself. He decides to go back home where his father receives him with a grand feast and accepts him with open hands. This symbolizes that the wrongdoer has reached out for his father, and his father represents God, likewise, he forgives him and loves him endlessly. This parable teaches us to repent, forgive and love. Similarity, the poem of Bishop uses this parable and rewrites it in her
Medieval literature is known for its use of allegory. In fact, while reading medieval texts such as Boccaccio’s The Decameron and Dante’s La Vita Nuova, it is important for readers to analyze the people, places, things, and pivotal events carefully—they have significance—a metaphorical meaning. In addition, allegory and long narratives serve as the building blocks for medieval texts; the primary purpose of the tales is to tell a story. The stories often revolve around life lessons, as well as religious virtues. Throughout the course of this paper, readers will get the opportunity to learn how Boccaccio and Dante use the image of the eaten heart as an allegorical representation of the body of Christ. The analysis of the texts will be completed
Edward Fairfax Rochester, the cynical and beastly master of Thornfield Manor, is a classic example of a Byronic hero in literature. Forced into a marriage by his family, burdened by a touched wife, and denied pleasure by the actions of others and himself, Rochester quickly becomes the arrogant, self-serving, horny, manipulative, real character that readers love to hate and love to enjoy in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. He has sinned for the majority of his life and wishes to reach his goal of self-transformation into a man of innocence, purity and harmony, but struggles to find success until he sees promise in the young governess, Jane Eyre. Although Rochester’s search for happiness and atonement has cost him both limb and vision, it has also
It is inferred that the parents should take care of their children and have their best interest at heart. This however, is not the case in Greek and Roman mythology. The killing of ones own children, or filicide, was not viewed as negative upon in their era. The contemporary times contrast with the ancient Greek and Roman’s because it was justified to use any means necessary to obtain a higher status. The Greeks and Romans valued keeping a high social reputation and having respect for those of great power. The motherly union between their children conflict with the reality that the father strives to retain or gain control. These circumstances cause a tense bond between the members of the family. The strained parent to child relationship in Greco-Roman myths is prevalent in the fact that the parents are fearful of being overtaken by their children, and endeavor to limit their upbringing.
characterization of the Son does not oppose this tradition; rather, it is simply different. By Milton’s portrayal, the Son has an acute craving for attention, a desire for gory revenge over Death, and an appetite for glory. Furthermore, while the Son, after accepting the task of becoming mortal and dying to save Adam’s descendants, receives plenty of specific praise from his father (“ ‘thou... hast been found by merit more than birthright Son of God’”(3.308-9)) and from the narrator (“[he] breathed immortal love to mortal men” (3.267-8)), he builds up the ramifications of his sacrifice even more in his own language. Such language from the Son comes across as not only grandiose, but even narcissistic at times. The Son of God’s speech betrays narcissism not only in its visual language (that is, the images depicted in the speech), but also in its emphasis on drawing the attention of the angels and future humans to himself.