"The darkness that had come in from the Mediterranean covered the city so detested by the procurator" (188). This "darkness," or the thunderstorms which are conjured throughout Bulgakov's mysterious and controversial novel The Master and Margarita seem to come with a reason. Each time, they bring a revelation of the capacity of certain characters and a vision of some higher power, one which may be above Woland and his multiple identities, one that may be connected with the peace-loving Yeshua and his philosophy of goodness, and more powerful than the power-hungry Pilate. They swallow everything, erase the boundaries between good and evil, rational and irrational-overall, they are a manifestation of that higher power, whatever it may be.
During the first thunderstorm of the novel, two important events occur: first, Varenukha gets attacked and beaten to a bloody pulp and receives a kiss from the beautiful witch, Hella, which we later find out has turned him into a vampire-all after he had disobeyed the commands of one of Woland's lackeys; second, Bezdomny gives up on his futile and crazed attempts to track the foreign consultant and succumbs to the insanity of his story and accepts that Woland is indeed, Satan. Neither of these men expected the outcome of these events.
There is at least one similarity between these two odd experiences. Both men were convinced that they had control over themselves and their misshapen fate, and when these supernatural events begin happening, they cannot believe the irrational, superstitious ideas and try to get to the bottom of what was going on. Inevitably, both face a power unarguably beyond their understanding of control. It was a humbling experience ...
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...ide, for those who are weak or frightened-as another reminder of their weakness and mortality, for those who are powerful-as a humbling reminder that there is always a higher power. It is a brute, blind force which knows no reason, which is impartial and fair to everyone. Everyone survives it the best they can. Of all the characters, Master survives his storms most successfully. While Woland remains banned to a life of eternal darkness, while Yeshua remains what he is, while Ivan and Nikanor Ivanovich continue to go mad during every full moon, Master earns his right to eternal peace with his lover. Certainly he earned it by creating Woland and his cohorts, Yeshua and his suite, the materialist writers from the Griboyedov, the noseless killer of Gestas and of course, "the cruel fifth procurator of Judea, the knight Pontius Pilate" (335).
In the book Storming Heaven by Denise Giardina, education, and the lack there of, plays one of the largest roles in the character's lives. At this time in West Virginia, where the book is set, many children had to leave school and actually go into the coalmines, as Rondal Lloyd did, or work on the family farm. Racial ignorance is also a key element Giardina confronts in the novel. The characters, chief and secondary, equally cultural and racially bland, pass on their beliefs and therefore help to maintain the continuous circle of inequality that carries on even today. Political knowledge, at least on the national and state level, is also lacking within the little town of Annadel. With this knowledge coupled with her own experiences from growing up as an immigrants daughter in the same coalfields as her novels characters, Denise Giardina tries to explain the function of education and ignorance in not only the coalfields of West Virginia, but throughout the entire world.
In conclusion, both of the stories where quite griping as they were so uniquely strange. Flannery O’Connor compared to other authors by using her unique writing style. Also, from judging from these two stories we can know that she uses the same style in most of her works. We can also know that her stories usually have a pattern in which her main characters lives are going all well and normal until some outside force usually some kind of a human being enters their life and completely disrupts it. Another remarkable writing style of her included, that her stories always had a tragic ending. The result of which was death for most part. Moreover, O’Connor made a heave use of foreshadowing and irony, which concluded to a mishap.
Throughout the duration of not only the circus, but other public demonstrations as well, such as Prospero’s theatrical performances, the most questioned of the senses, was that of vision and perception. Even the most basic of parlor tricks performed by the two main characters was done through the use of magic, and the supernatural. Highly similar comparisons can be drawn from the short story “The Devil and Tom Walker”. Much alike Night Circus, supernatural occurrences happen also in “The Devil and Tom Walker”, in regards to the devil and his work. The work done by the devil is no short of being supernatural, and in league with that done in The Night Circus. Tom Walker, in order to attain wealth beyond any previous measure, made dealings with the devil. Tom Walker, being a greedy and sinful man, “Struck a bargain. A few day’s time saw Tom Walker seated behind his desk in a countinghouse in Boston” (Irving 324). A key difference in the two works is the realization that the supernatural is occurring in the first place. In The Night Circus, the bystanders and onlookers of the illusions and tricks, have not the faintest idea that magic and the supernatural is what’s perpetuating those illusions. Whereas
It is important that everyone lives their lives according to God’s purpose for them. Many people in today’s society fear death. Those who fear death have little to no knowledge about what God has planned for all of his children. On the other hand, some people fear death because they feel as though they have not fully completed their life’s purpose; or lived accordingly. This work brings about many real-life situations. There will always be people who use others to advance their own lives. Then there will be people who want the best for others. Continuing a study of this work will allow readers to make a connection to his or her current society. The Death of Ivan Ilyich is an easy read, that will automatically catch the reader’s
Warriors of God by James Reston Jr. is a non-fictional view of the third crusade. This particular crusade spanned from 1187-1192, containing many gruesome battles and a lot of intense moments between Islam and Christianity. Reston supplies the reader with a little background to the third Crusade when he talks about the first Crusades happening since 1095. Reston gives a fairly impartial view of this holy war. He discusses the battles, politics, and emotions of the Crusade as an outside party and if he takes any side at all it is with the Muslims. He often speaks badly of King Richard and he speaks well of Saladin, the sultan. He portrays Richard as a greedy, anti-Semite, who is intolerable of other religions, while he shows Saladin as tolerant to the Jews, reasonable, and an overall good leader. Reston wrote this book mostly to inform readers about the third Crusade but also to add some of his own insights. His thesis was a little unclear but he stated that the Crusades were the most violent event in history all the way up to Hitler’s rein. Reston did a good job in proving this when he told of battles and then analyzed them. He told of a time when King Richard had twenty thousand Muslims executed and when Saladin had Reginald of Chatillon beheaded along with many other Christian prisoners.
Both stories feature a very intelligent person trying to play God through the creation of life. Both of the creatures were subsequently mistreated by their maker and society as a whole. In both stories, the audience is left feeling greater sympathy for the monster than for the creator.
Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a reminder that books can provide answers to questions we never asked, but yearned to know. For that reason alone, The Death of Ivan Ilyich should be considered a work of art. However due to the many subtle hints and clues pointing at the underlying Christian nature of the book, it deserves to be added to the list of great modern Christian literature.
Kate Chopin's "The Storm", is a short story about a brief love affair that takes place during a storm that has separated Calixta with her husband and son. The title "The Storm" is an obvious reference to the storm outside, but more importantly to the love affair that takes place. The title refers to nature, which is symbolically used again and again in the story. Chopin uses words like "somber clouds", "threatening roar", and "sinister intentions" to describe the approaching storm. Later in the story those same words in reference to the storm outside, will also be represented symbolically to the storm brewing inside with the love affair. In the beginning of the story Bobinot and his son Bibi stay at a store to let the storm pass by. Calixta, the wife , is at home by herself doing some chores around the house. As the storm starts to approach, Alcee rides in and asks Calixta if he could come in until the storm passes. It starts to rain immediately after he arrives. It's important to know that Alcee and Calixta had past together which he brings up to her later in the story. It is also stated that she has never seen him alone. The storm starts to increase outside, reflecting the sexual tension inside. The storm's sinister intention appears when "The rain beat upon the shingled roof that threatened to break an entrance...". It seems that the storm knows what is going on between the two and is threatening to break in and ruin their chances. They move through out the house and end up in the bedroom "with its white, monumental bed, its closed shutters, looked dim and mysterious. The bed being white symbolizes purity. The two then make their way to the window to watch the storm outside when lightning strikes nearby, falling back into his arms. The storm in a sense seems to be forcing them together now. They then embrace each other in the peek of the storm where things really start to get stormy in the love affair. The two then start making out yahda, yahda, yahda. The thunder is now distant and passing away. The storm outside turns into a soft, lighter rain, being symbolic that the storm is ending.
...’s disbelief in God, indeed justifies Smerdyakov for murdering Fyodor, and when Ivan realizes it, he loses his mind. It is certain that Ivan’s philosophy may represent Dostoevsky’s thoughts and feelings at times but ultimately, his faith in God remains stronger than ever.
Ivan was telling the story about the return of Christ on Earth. Around the sixteenth century, Christ was reborn and appeared in the streets and start doing miracles by healing people and wake the dead. While Christ was performing his miracle, the Grand Inquisitor walked in and was threaten because he thought he was the only powerful that the people listen to.
Master and Margarita “ is a complex narrative which was wren from three standards. In the present write up I would take up the role of the tricksters in the novel. I will give a reading of each of the trickster’s role The in the novel. Sometimes the brutal romp of Woland and his entourage ( behemoth the talking cat, Fagot/ Korovyer. Hella the maid with a purple scar on her neck and Azazello – walteyed member) have supernatural powers such as transformations of people and objects, transporting the people instantly to faraway places, and changing people’s own appearance and that of others. This tricks tours gang will be sometimes violent, sometimes strangle sympathetic, they direct their punishments and mischief against Muscovites who
The storm is the main metaphor in this story; it is seen as the lust that stomps through their lives like the storm rages through a single d...
William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" is an ominous tale that illustrates the danger in violating the Great Chain of Being, the hierarchy of things in God's ordered universe. The Chain ranked all of creation and human society as well. It ranked kings above nobles and nobles above the poor. When Macbeth murdered King Duncan and assumed the throne, the Chain was violated... chaos resulted. The atmosphere of the play symbolized this resulting turmoil. Specifically, light and shadow were used to exemplify the unnatural chaos and ominous tone of the work. This essay will explore the role of light and the role of darkness as it relates to the chaos resulting from the violation of the Great Chain of Being.
Soaked in the supernatural, Shakespeare’s The Tempest possesses an impenetrable veil of eeriness. It opens with the tempestuous roaring of thunder and lightning, setting the stage for panic and confusion amongst the mariners. The mariners scatter and hide, while Ferdinand’s hair stands on end. This wild and surreal atmosphere prepares the characters and the audience for future encounters with supernatural beings. When the spirit Ariel wakes Gonzalo and the others, Gonzalo says, “’Tis best we stand upon our guard, or that we quit this place. Let’s draw our weapons” (II.i.317-318). The mortals are on guard against the supernatural, and this suspenseful atmosphere often returns when Ariel and the other spirits approach these unknowing men. When Prospero remembers ...
The biggest similarity between the two stories is the notion of moral decline; the beings start off as peaceful things that don’t need homes, food or anything. As time goes on they need those things and more. After a while they start stealing from each other and eventually hurt each other.