...something considered wicked, or evil? Even then, is what society considers to be evil always actually evil? These are all questions that have plagued humanity for millennia. In Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked, these questions are explored through the life of the protagonist, Elphaba. This novel uses the life of the Wicked Witch of the West to examine these questions and to convey to the audience that evil is not always black and white, and often, what society considers good could potentially be the straw that breaks the system’s back. Maguire develops his theme throughout the book by exploring the roots of evil through the development of a dynamic protagonist....
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...Throughout much of the novel Grendel, Grendel faces a defining struggle- that between good and evil. He spends much of his years attempting to discover, and even fight his destiny. Grendel starts out the same as all humans, innocent and curious. He spent his childhood alone, his mother being the only creature that would keep him company. Grendel repeatedly tries to communicate with the humans. As he becomes older and wiser, he starts to realize that he won’t ever be able to get the Scyldings to see eye to eye with him. They would always see him as a disgusting, terrible monster. Eventually, Grendel is able to embrace this and fulfill his destiny as the Destroyer and Wrecker of Kings. At first, Grendel is a young, naïve creature, exploring the world around him just as young things do. He is not yet aware of his evil destiny; he is just lonely. During his first interaction with the Scyldings, Grendel is stuck in a tree, dying. The men discover him, and decide that he is hungry for pig. They are unsure if he is friendly or not: “‘Pig!’ I tried to yell. It scared them… the king snatched an ax from the man beside him and, without any warning, he hurled it at me” (27). The humans attacked until Grendel’s mother saved him, and Grendel came to a horrible realization “‘The world resists me and I resist the world… That’s all there is…I exist, nothing else’” (28). At this point, Grendel is starting to view the world very differently, and is discovering how the other creatures on Earth...
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...Throughout much of the novel Grendel faces a defining struggle- one between good and evil. He spends much of his years attempting to discover, and even fight his destiny. Grendel starts out the same as all humans, innocent and curious. He spent his childhood alone, his mother being the only creature that would keep him company. Grendel repeatedly tries to communicate with the humans, but consistently failed. As he becomes older and wiser, he starts to realize that he will not ever be able to get the Shieldings to see eye to eye with him. They will always see him as a disgusting, terrible monster. Eventually, Grendel is able to embrace this and fulfill his destiny as the Destroyer and Wrecker of Kings. At first, Grendel is a young, naïve creature, exploring the world around him just as young creatures do. He is not yet aware of his evil destiny; he is just lonely. Upon his first interaction with the Shieldings, Grendel is stuck in a tree, dying. The men discover him, and decide that he is hungry for pig. They are unsure if he is friendly or not: “‘Pig!’ I tried to yell. It scared them… the king snatched an ax from the man beside him and, without any warning, he hurled it at me” (113). The humans attacked until Grendel’s mother saved him, and Grendel came to a horrible realization ”The world resists me and I resist the world… That’s all there is…I exist, nothing else” (115). At this point, Grendel is starting to view the world very differently, and is discovering...
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...the country, and has even done a nearly sold-out tour to Europe. Although the band doesn’t display itself to the public as a Christian band, many of its songs pertain to giving hope to people. An attempt is seen through its third most popular song titled, “Demons.” In this, the band portrays hope to society in the darkness and evil of this world clouded by sin and greed. The lyrics from verse one and two resonates this current battle our world is in against evil, in how it says when everything we see is cold, with failing dreams and out of luck (cards all fold). The message of these two first verses also speaks of “all the saints we see are all made of gold”. From these lines, the lyrics tell that society focuses too much on money and the temporary pleasures of this world, which is seen in how society views celebrities and wealthier class. In the world today, people think that what governs our lives is money and power, though this is not the truth. In verse three, the character in the story says, “I want to hide the truth… shelter you…” This verse is similar in appearance to the innocence of a child and a father who attempts to shield all evil from the child through their relationship. Being an identifiable theme of this song, it closely parallels how God views his relationship with us, his children. In Matthew 18:3, it is written: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” As the pre-chorus begins...
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...intelligent, and religious man, but over his lifetime the demons he allowed in to his life eventually caught up to him. The human conscience is always in an internal struggle to do the right thing, and when our conscience is neglected the evils from within us are freed, with no way of completely returning them back to where they came from. The choices we make throughout our life mold us; our internal struggle between right and wrong defines who we really are in the end. These choices build our outward appearance toward others and decides how you will be depicted, whether you are looked up to or shamed. Dick Prosser’s life was full of many experiences that helped build him to be a strong and righteous man, but many of the roads he took formed an evil inside him more dangerous than any obvious danger in the world. Dick is introduced to the reader as a loyal, dependable, and honest person; Wolfe even brings up Dick’s bible many times in a way that almost makes you pity him. “On that table there was always just one object: an old bible almost worn out by constant use, for Dick was a deeply religious man.” (25) Wolfe brings up Dick’s religious life to instill in the reader a sense of trust. The same way we would look at Dick before you knew his evil outcome, or look at any religious acquaintance. The family could never have seen the things Dick had planned coming, because of the integrity he appeared to have. There was always just one object on his table, his bible, Wolfe included this...
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...Does God really exist? Is a question that brings a lot of controversy, because some people believe that God does exist and some people believe that he doesn’t exist? Based on the way that I was raised and brought up in a Baptist church I believe that God does exist. McCloskey believes differently than I do; and feels that God is not real. I suggest that you use your own reason and judgment and decide what feels true to your heart. McCloskey refers to the arguments that Christians used to defend God as being above all and the creator a lie based on the fact that evil still exist in this cruel world. God is said to be a man of peace and love but yet evil still exist in this world. “God is supposed to be omnipotent and has the power to stop evil.”(The Problem of Evil) McCloskey believes that the world exist because of evolution and not because it was created by God. The world consist of objects that has no purpose of why it exist and seems to be non compatible with anything in the physical matter that could have caused it to exist, so therefore the only explanation is the existing of a contingent being which would make it necessary for the existence of a necessary being; which is God. Indisputable means undeniable true, valid, or accurate and examples of design and purpose are not needed for proof for the existence of God because we are humans who are not always correct, because we were created to make mistakes. “The natural bodies which lack knowledge but yet act for an end,...
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...sin against. King Lear proclaims that he is “I am a man more sinned against than sinning.” However it seems that does not only suit him, in the play. Many characters in “King Lear” have out done each other in sinning, because of people deceiving one another causing them to see the truth the result for this only ends in suffering. In relation to blindness, decisions and betrayal the result of being mores sinned against lies in the favour of one character Gloucester and Lear have very similar roles in the play, they reflect each other in many different ways. Mistakes were made by both, one more greatly than the other. Gloucester’s first mistake in the play was his trust in Edmund when he discovered the letter to what seems to be his “evil son” Edgar’s plot against him. .Without any further knowledge in this situation and the letter he right away believes that Edmund is being honest and believes the worst in his son Edgar who is actually legitimate, and this causes him to be sinned against. Lear’s mistake was because if his own pride, which is not the first, time his own flaws has come in the way. Lear is blinded from the truth and because of that he exclaims “Let it be so; thy truth then be thy dower; For by the sacred radiance of the sun. The mystery of Hectare and the night, by all the operations of the orbs / From whom we do exist and cease to be. Here I disclaim all my paternal care. Propinqurly and property of blood. (1.1. 107-119). Cordelia was only being honest to Lear...
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...GENERAL ETHICS ETHICS – derived from the Greek word EOWO (Ethos) which means customs. (Custom is the way of acting common to all men of all places of all times.) The English term moral is taken from the Latin mos or moris which also means customs. Thus, Ethics and Moral Science or Moral Philosophy are identical. Ethics is defined as the practical and philosophical science of the morality of the human act or human conduct. 1. Ethics is a science. A body of knowledge together with its explanations arranged systematically. 2. Ethics is a practical science. That which presents principles and rules to be acted upon. 3. Ethics is a philosophical science. That which seeks to explain its subject matter in the light of its deepest principle by means of human reason alone. HUMAN ACTS – refer only to those activities that are deliberate and free. 1. Human acts are deliberate. Human acts are done with the knowledge (consciousness or awareness) of the agent of what he is doing or of what he is about to do. 2. Human acts are free. Human acts are those acts that may be done or may not be done by the agent. The agent can choose between doing or not doing the act. His choice is his free decision. 3. Human acts are voluntary. Human act is an act that is determined by the will of the agent. It is the intention of the agent. Human act is when and only when three elements are present: knowledge, freedom and will. ACTS OF MAN – activities...
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...The argument which I am focusing on is titled “No One Knowingly Does Evil” and is written by Socrates. This argument concludes that those who do evil things do them involuntarily. According to Socrates it is not in human nature to choose to act in a way what one believes to be harmful, instead of a way that is good. He claimed that all wrong, or evil, is only done out of ignorance and not from the intention to do evil. This view appears controversial because people are known to occasionally commit deeds that are apparently evil either out of self-interest or acting on impulse, against their better judgment. It is at this point that we come to an important clarification. Socrates did not state that doing wrong to others is ever right, but that the motivation for such actions determines the character of the will involve. Socrates maintained that people are never motivated to bring harm to themselves. Since Socrates believed that wrongdoing always harmed the wrongdoer, he saw all wrongdoing as a mistake in judgment or an expression of ignorance. This is especially true in cases where a life full of wrongdoing never physically harms the wrongdoer. Socrates believed that the most pitiable of humans were those who lived under the delusion that their wrongdoing benefited them. Socrates saw no conflict between self-interest and morality. On the contrary, he saw virtue as the greatest benefit and maintained that immoral actions actually harmed the agent and could therefore only be committed...
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...of recruiting more soldiers. In this case I have used my poster to go mainly against the Nazi’s, but I added a little bit against the Japanese as well. Within the poster itself you are able to see a nasty green hand with a swastika on top of it. I also included four hands breaking apart the swastika, and lastly I have portrayed the Japanese and their evils within a sort of scythe. This is what is mainly seen, apart from the slogan itself and the evil eyes in the background. As you can see, I used Demonization in this poster. This can be seen in the way Hitler’s hand was drawn. It is a nasty green color, with long yellow nails in which way giving it the looks of, perhaps, being a zombie or simply un-human. When it comes to the Japanese, I have represented them within the scythe. This was supposed to be a scythe just like the one of the grim reaper, but I decided in the end to make it look more like a skeleton hand as opposed to just having a long rod as is typically seen. The last factors used were the evil-looking eyes. I added Hitler’s mustache and comb-over so that he could be identified. In this way effectively showing how evil he is. The next tool I was able to use was name-calling. By saying, “Help get rid of those filthy Huns!” I am, in a sense, degrading the German army. I also used “Eliminate the yellows from the rainbow.” By doing so, I am not only making fun of them, but even adding a little humor to the situation. I think this is somewhat funny because I can imagine...
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...! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Jacob Grimes! Rushdie & Rauch v. Storck: Censorship! Salman Rushdie is one of the many opponents of censorship. Born to an Indian family in Britian, his books contain magical realism, historical fiction, and Eastern-Western connections. His works are often controversial, and in 1989 Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for his death. Rushdie tells us that we are living in a censorious age where our voices are being censored in the name of “respect”. This need for “respect” extends beyond its traditional definition, and also means that one must not overtly disagree with what others say or think. Rushdie thinks this censorship will bring an end to the radical disagreements that shape a free society. ! ! Jonathan Rauch is an American journalist who is also an avid proponent of same-sex marriage. He agrees with Rushdie that censorship should be fought because it is being used to censor simple disagreements; not only people are losing face over voicing negative views about blacks, but also for speaking against advantaged groups such as Christians and men. Rauch argues that censorship’s goal of purifying the world is a futile effort. People typically see the world in terms of in-groups and out-groups, so there will always be prejudice. This prejudice is hard to pin down because it may be confused with misinformation. For example, a protestor saying “God Hates Fags” may be expressing a subjective statement...
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...shadow of one’s self. In the novel, Mahfouz uses the influence of evil genies to show that a man can be manipulated into corruption. He expresses this through multiple characters that all have the same influence and the same outcome. The result is an exploration of the dark side of identity focusing on the corrupt nature of all mankind. This is shown through characters such as Sanaan al- Gamali, Gamasa al- Bulti and Fadil Sanaan. Sanaan al- Gamali’s will is manipulated into corruption by the power of an evil genie names QumQam. The genie told al-Gamali that he must kill Ali al- Salouli, who is the governor of the quarter, or be killed himself. Al-Gamali agrees out of fear not knowing what he is getting himself into. By agreeing to commit such a crime he reveals his dark side in which cannot be handled. “He went deeper and deeper into a state that became difficult to control” (Mahfouz 17). The mind state that he remains in is almost unrecognizable because it is the opposite of what Sanaan’s usual persona is. “His nature deteriorated as though he were being created anew in a form that was at variance with his old deep-rooted gentleness” (Mahfouz 15). Mahfouz uses the work “anew” to express the extent of the change in Sanaan’s life and “his old deep rooted gentleness” to explain his transformation from his normal self. The new Sanaan is portrayed as the dark and evil side and to what extent his mind produces evil thoughts. “He felt desire to destroy everything that existed. Unable...
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...of Father Hooper symbolizes a society on Earth which is sinful and rejects the laws of the Creator. As Mr. Hooper is speaking with Elizabeth who discourages Mr. Hooper from wearing the veil, Mr. Hooper does not allow Elizabeth to take off his veil. Responding to Elizabeth, Father Hooper states, “ I perhaps,like most other mortals, have sorrows dark enough to be typified by a blackveil.” As Father Hooper states that the majority of world’s people has sorrows similar to him, Father Hooper is saying that despite being a clergyman, he is a mere mortal that will be judged by the Creator. As many mortals have sorrows typified by a black veil, Father Hooper is referring to the many evils and transgressions society has comitted As society has sinned against the creator, Father Hooper’s black veil showcases the evil that he has commited. As most people should be wearing a black veil, most people are sinful, yet reject this notion. Thus, Father Hooper showcases his sin through his black veil. As Father Hooper has become frail and weak, he is on the verge of his deathbed. Preparing to meet his creator, another Puritan clergyman tells Father Hooper that it is time for him to take off his black veil. However, Father Hooper responds, “My soul has a patient weariness until that veil be lifted.” As his soul is a patient, his soul can be fixed until this veil comes off. Thus, as his soul will be lifted up into heaven or into hell at death, this veil must be worn until death because he may commit...
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...Questions g-i G. The calaca is a skeleton, they are frequently seen with marigold flowers and foliage. The calacas are used in the “Day of the Dead” festival, They are on carved masks that are worn by the revealers. In Guatemala the calaca is known as death. The calaca is seen in various movies, a few examples are “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, “The Corpse Bride”, and “Coraline”. With the Mexican’s aztec background, the calaca has an aztec design on it.They are often shown wearing festive clothing, dancing, and playing musical instruments to indicate a happy afterlife. This draws on the Mexican belief that no dead soul likes to be thought of sadly, and that death should be a joyous occasion. This goes back to Aztec beliefs, one of the few traditions to remain after the Spanish conquest. H. An ofrenda (Spanish: "offering") is a collection of objects placed on a ritual altar during the annual and traditionally Mexican Dia de los Muertos celebration. An ofrenda, which may be quite large and elaborate, is usually created for an individual person who has died and is intended to welcome him/her to the altar setting. A common format for an ofrenda contains three levels or tiers. The topmost tier identifies the dead person who is being invited to the altar, frequently with photos of the deceased, along with, images of various saints, statuettes of the Virgin Mary, crucifixes, etc. which are positioned in a retablo which forms the back of the altar. On the second tier are things...
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...However, in a peculiar situation where one becomes anonymous, it can begin to manifest itself in anyone. Todd L. Belt’s The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil thoroughly discusses this ideology and how people react to deindividuation. “Those who establishes and maintain a system which encourages and allows situations predisposing individuals within them to commit evil acts are themselves responsible for structuring opportunities for sin to flourish.” (Belt 646) In an environment where heinous acts are allowed, an individual will not be targeted for any negative actions; therefore they will not feel personally responsible for said actions. In addition, Belt further comments, “He meticulously details the situational factors which can make good people engaged in evil acts in order to meet natural and normal human needs for safety, knowledge, and affection.” (Belt 646) When an individual needs anything that is required for their survival, they will engage in actions that are looked down upon by society. This inspires many criminals to commit their crimes; they may be in a poor financial state or have a direct family member in ailing health. Nonetheless, any kindhearted person can turn to a negative...
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