Biblical References in Haydn Middleton's The Lie of the Land
"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: his mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1: 18)." Throughout The Lie of the Land, Haydn Middleton creates "David's Story" through a series of biblical references. These references allow for the speculation of David Nennius as the son of God. This speculation comes about as a result of the rape of his mother by a stranger, the figure of God. Through the use of these references, Middleton allows the reader to see the obvious correlation between the conception and birth of David Nennius, and that of Jesus Christ.
Mary is described as "bookish and dried-up," a virgin unscathed by the touch of another male (Middleton 71). Mary returns home one day to find an intruder. "She never worked out exactly how the intruder had got in. He took her arm from behind, quite gently (72)." Though the presence of an intruder, would certainly be enough to strike any woman with certain fear, Mary is seemingly unafraid, almost as if there is something about the presence of this man which comforts her in a way in which words could not express. Throughout his presence, Mary remains unafraid, "it was as if the hideous fact of his presence was shedding its own brilliant light (72)." The use of "brilliant light" suggests the presence of a divine being, almost as if a halo of light is surrounding him as that which surrounds God.
Though the actual conception of Jesus did not occur on a physical level in the story set forth by the Bible, Middleton insists on displaying the creation of Jesus through the actual sexual acts of two people. This is interesting from the standpoint that the intruder, though depicted as a powerful and gentle being, is never seen through the eyes of Mary as particularly strong. She speaks of the "weakness" behind his smile; a weakness which overcomes any male when faced with the prospect of sexually satisfying a woman (74). God is, in a sense depicted as having the weaknesses of a normal, immortal male. Like any man, he too has yearned for what only a woman could give him. This becomes the weakness which is so apparent to Mary at the time of conception.
“Parker’s Back” by Flannery O’Conner, has many biblical allusions. The story of “Parker’s Back” describes a man’s unsatisfied life. At the age of fourteen Park inspired by a tattooed man at the fair. “Parker has never before felt the least motion of wonder in himself” when he saw the man with “breast and flower” tattoo (O’Connor 572). The “breast and flower,” “a single intricate design of brilliant color” represents the Garden of Eden (572). Parker assumed tattoos will make him happy, however, he never satisfies with his tattoos. The story of Adam and Eve symbolize the Biblical allusion of dissatisfaction. Adam and Eve’s dissatisfaction lead them to commit sin, as a result “he drove the man out” of the Garden of Eden (Gen.3). Parker also discontents
1. In the book, the father tries to help the son in the beginning but then throughout the book he stops trying to help and listens to the mother. If I had been in this same situation, I would have helped get the child away from his mother because nobody should have to live like that. The father was tired of having to watch his son get abused so eventually he just left and didn’t do anything. David thought that his father would help him but he did not.
Specifically, at 10 pm the author uses consonances along with an apostrophe and some irony to divulge how Mary’s feelings towards God have evolved. During this point in time, Mary addresses God with anguish because she is confused how He offers free will, yet she hangs from a tree without any will. She says to God, she will casually kill time while people do the daily fingerwork, legwork, work. She places emphasises on how much work people are doing to make a mockery of the amount of work she is not doing, despite the fact she hangs from a tree clutching to her life. By the end of the hour she has lost her faith, charity, and hope in
In the double-blind study, half the volunteers were given 40 milligrams of ginkgo biloba extract three times daily, while the other half remained on a placebo(62). Psychometric tests were evaluated at the beginning of the study and after 12 and 24 we...
This description creates a conflicting idea of her, on one hand there is this fascinating, beautiful and innocent woman, yet on the other hand there is this figure with gothic qualities and frightening “wild” eyes referring to nature. This is comparable to Catherine, “A wild, wick slip she was—but she had the bonniest eye, the sweetest smile, and the lightest foot in the parish.” (Chapter V, page42)
"That is why God gave them up to disgraceful sexual appetites, for both their females changed the natural use of themselves into one contrary nature and likewise even the males left the natural use of the female and became violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males, working what is obscene and receiving in themselves the full recompense, which was due for their error." (Romans 1:26-27)
“Maturity is when your world opens up and you realize that you are not the center of it.” –M.J. Croan. Maturity comes in steps, where we are always progressing and learning further about ourselves and how others perceive us. Scout gradually becomes more mature throughout the novel, leaving behind her innocence while also reconstructing her empathy and tolerance for others. Similarly Scout and I were both naïve to the world around us, but because of witnessing first-hand the inhumanity around us blatantly displayed a lack of empathy people contain within them. This was a learning experience for myself because it brought home racial discrimination in an event that will forever impact the way I treat others of a different race, color or religion.
Maturity levels increase and decrease in characters in works of literature and also throughout one's real life. It's hard for the maturity level of the person to stay the same. Ron Jones' The Acorn People, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh clearly show the degree of maturity in characters in a work of literature. Ron Jones in The Acorn People shows a low maturity level when first arriving at the summer camp, but later his maturity level increased into a higher level. Laura Wingfield's character in The Glass Menagerie was extremely shy throughout most of the play. By the end of the play, Laura was able to hold a conversation with her old crush, Jim O'Connor. Sydney Carton of A Tale of Two Cities showed a rise is his maturity level when he took the place of Charles Darnay in the prison cell so that Lucie (Sydney's true love) would be able to be with her husband. Aimee Thanatogenos of The Loved One…. A person can be described as "mature" when he or she has grown physically and mentally, and has demonstrated the ability to be responsible for his/her actions. Whether it's an increase or decrease of maturity level, a change in it always shows a change in character and attitude.
"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."(New Revised Standard Version, John 1:14) As the only son of God in the Christian theology, Jesus Christ was tasked with a multitude of trials, and horrors the common man would have rebuked and refused to undertake. However, as a demi-god born of the divine Christian deity and the mortal, virgin Mary, Jesus was not the average mortal man.
“It was a large, beautiful room, rich and picturesque in the soft, dim light which the maid had turned low. She went and stood at an open window and looked out upon the deep tangle of the garden below. All the mystery and witchery of the night seemed to have gathered there amid the perfumes and the dusky and tortuous outlines of flowers and foliage. She was seeking herself and finding herself in just such sweet half-darkness which met her moods. But the voices were not soothing that came to her from the darkness and the sky above and the stars. They jeered and sounded mourning notes without promise, devoid even of hope. She turned back into the room and began to walk to and fro, down its whole length, without stopping, without resting. She carried in her hands a thin handkerchief, which she tore into ribbons, rolled into a ball, and flung from her. Once she stopped, and taking off her wedding ring, flung it upon the carpet. When she saw it lying there she stamped her heel upon it, striving to crush it. But her small boot heel did not make an indenture, not a mark upon the glittering circlet.
... call to be His servant. Embedded in Mary’s decision was the full awareness that she would suffer ridicule, contempt, and loneliness.
The immediate background consists of natural mounds of dirt and a brick wall that enclose the Virgin, Child, and St. John, amplifying the protective effect that Mary’s figure has. The dirt mounds roll inward with a brick wall bordering them on the right, drawing the viewer’s attention towards the three figures. The background is painted in broad terms, with a simple, uniform depiction of tree leaves and smooth rock faces on the horizon. This contrasts with the fine-lined detail and texture of Mary’s hair, facial features, and veil, which further contribute to her elegance and highlight her
Almost everyone develops osteoarthrits as they age, some get it while in their fifties and in others it does not appear until their eighties. Osteoarthritis is the most common form that affects older people; this form of the disease wears down the cartilage mostly through overuse and injury but there are other causes. This specific form of the disease causes the cartilage to break down and the bones to rub against each other. Deformity and swelling occurs because knobs of hardened bits of cartilage develop in the joint. It forms especially if a joint has been injured many times.
David's life. Later on in life David became king of all Israel. One day David
Health claims are booming in today’s world. Many of these consumers are being misled by advertising and believe that their choice will benefit their health. Although herbal medicines have been in existence throughout human evolution, I have chosen to take a deeper look into these health practices. I’m curious if this is just another health claim or if there are actual benefits to taking these medicines.