Jane, however, changes to sympathize and shows love for the near-death Mrs. Reed. Her abiding by Christ’s example of blessing those who curse you, allows her to “[come] back to [Mrs. Reed] not with no other emotion than a sort of ruth for her great sufferings, and a strong yearning to forget and forgive all injuries” (243). God influence on Jane’s actions push her to do the right thing, rather than to satisfy her longings to retaliate. Her religious values keep her morality in check, for she forgives Mrs. Reed, rather than holding a grudge. She changes to love her enemies, as shown by her willingness to traverse a long way to tend to Mrs. Reed, for time had quelled her longings for vengeance and rage.
Although she no longer practices her faith openly after her public disgrace, she still has deep ties to her God and religion. She often prays for Pearl in hopes that her child's wild character will be calmed with time. Hester accepts her punishment readily, elaborately embroidering the scarlet "A" she is forced to wear on her breast and dressing Pearl in scarlet. She continues to wear the symbol of her sin long after the community declares her repented due to her commendable record of community service, showing everyone that she has nothing to hide. Indeed, Hester's salvation lies in the truth: "In all things else, I have striven to be true!
By remembering the values she held, she finds the strength to stand her ground. Her belief in God’s love supports her ability to resist Rochester. For Jane, love means everything to her. But by being connected to God, she is able live with being desperate for the love of others. Without Helen’s influence, Jane may have succumbed to the temptation of love and married Rochester, and thereby, commit a sin.
Irwin Shaw Short Stories: Five Decades. New York: Delacorte Press, 1978. 243-56. Print. - - -.
In her memoir Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, Immaculée Ilibagiza endures horrific tragedies as everyone around her is viciously killed by Hutus during Rwanda’s genocide. In the course of just three months she loses almost everyone that she loves except her oldest brother, Aimable. However, despite everything that she goes through, Immaculée forgives the Hutus that wronged her and changed her life forever. Immaculée did not forgive for the good of others but rather for herself. It would do her no good to hold on to her negative feelings for the rest of her life as they would continue to eat at her.
The Misfit once again recognizes the grandmother’s fruitless faith when he states, “She would have been a good woman…if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.” (O’Connor 140), which reinforces the fact that the grandmother only acknowledges her faith when faced with a monumental or traumatic event. In this way, the grandmother is representing all people, as O’Connor believes that everyone is guilty of disregarding God when they are not in a time of fear or despondency. Without the Misfit’s dialogue, the reader may not recognize their lack of appreciation for God and their need for
She was a true woman of God. She had a close and personal relationship with God; so much so that she found that admitting pain or weakness was disrespecting God. Though she had many weaknesses and her character wasn’t perfect, she had given her all to the Lord. She left her home and turned down two proposals of marriage. She saved hundreds of children and some of them have returned to Dohnavur to honor Amy’s memory.
Being the self respecting woman that she was she answered, "I am hemmed in on every side. For if I do this thing, it is death for me; and if I do not, I shall not escape your hands. I choose not to do it and to fall into your hands, rather than to sin in the sight of the Lord." When the servants hear about this they are very surprised because nothing like this has ever been said of her before however they trust their elders and listen to them. As Susanna is being carried to her death God hears her prayers and aroused the hold spirit of a young lad named Daniel.
“Parker’s Back” is filled with biblical allusions as one man’s journey towards God and pleasing his wife ends unsuccessfully. Parker has always been a rebel; however, his wife is a devout, plain woman who has an indescribable control on him, possibly due to his subconscious wish to be saved. Parker wishes to leave her, but finds he never can do so. Not only is he unable to please his wife, but also he is unable to experience spiritual satisfaction, and in the brief moment at the end where he does have a connection to God, his wife rids him of it. Biblical allusions are spread throughout “Parker’s Back,” and they serve to emphasize O.E.