Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” attempts to justify the need for nonviolent direct action, and how both King and the Clergymen should work together to find a solution. King wanted to find common ground with the clergymen. King tried to convince the clergymen to see his point of view, and realized and attempt the problem as a problem, not just a disturbance. He found common ground through beliefs in which they all believed and feelings that they all felt. King used a very strong quote that stated, “ An unjust law is no law at all.” This quote was from a great Christian philosopher and king knew the clergymen couldn’t ignore the words of such a wise man.
Throughout the story, Eastman challenges racism by comparing the values of white middle- and upper-middle-class men, as well as stereotypes of Native men. From my perspective, despite the mistreatment of the Native people (Wounded Knee), the Christian faith is still looked to as a solution rather than the problem. to show the errors of colonization. “These children of nature once had faith in man as well as God. To-day they would have suspect even their best friend” (p. 183) Work Cited: Eastman, Charles Alexander.
Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is a timeless tragedy, depicting historical figures but concerning the modern world as well. John Proctor, the protagonist, though fitting several of the characteristics of the Aristotelian tragic hero, is actually a much more complex tragic hero. The primary differences between John Proctor and the classic tragic hero are obvious, such as the lack of noble birth, his not being in a position of leadership, and the inevitability of his fate. These differences are necessary, as Arthur Miller attempts to convince his audience that his protagonist is an everyman and is worth sympathizing for. In Arthur Miller’s more complex world, a more complex tragic hero is needed.
Elizabeth sees his inner goodness shine when he refuses to lie about being involved in witchcraft, and she realizes how unfair she has been. John Proctor saves the lives of the others who are accused when he unselfishly declines to save his own. He acts as a martyr when he places others before himself. He would rather die an honorable death than live a dishonorable life, which is what precedes him to be the tragic hero of the play. John Proctor, being a very complex character stuck in a world full mischief, madness, and chaos shows a major change as the play unfolds.
When he could just simply stand up for what he believes in like John does. Reverend Hale believes the girls are liars but never tries to prove it or put an end to the trials. That is why he isn’t this stories tragic hero. When at the same time John risks everything to tell the truth, yes what John did with Abigail was adultery, which is in the Ten Commandments. But God does believe in forgiveness of your sins and his truth was his forgiveness.
A tragic hero is one who falls from greatness which leads to his or her tragic downfall. To be a tragic hero he or she must fulfill all of the expectations that a tragic hero would follow. John Proctor is the tragic hero because he does fall from greatness. Proctor has many positive traits about him, such as his noble characteristics and his honorable and righteous qualities. He however also had a flaw, his affair with Abigail Williams.
For Edwards this included his view on religion. He believed that “There is nothing between you and Hell but the air; it is only the power and the mere pleasure of God that holds you up.” (41) He wanted to convince to repent, to be reborn in Christ. Last but not least, he wanted to save sinners from a decent into Hell’s fury. The moral of his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” was therefore that if sin is committed, a persons tie with God is broken and they will fall into the hands of Hell. Edward’s diction and tone gives his listeners and readers an eerie feeling, a fear for sin, and an awakening for the wrath of God about to come.
Some people, instead of still ostracizing her because of her sin, began to look upon the “A” as a sign of strength, standing for Able rather than its original purpose. Arthur Dimmesdale was the man with whom Hester had fallen in love. He was the minister of a church, yet told his followers not of his sin and instead kept his false face as the angelic priest of God. But instead of making things better for himself, he only made them worse. By sinning and keeping it secret, he was breaking two of God's most important laws: Do not commit adultery, and do not lie.
The Sermon on the Mount is one hundred percent anti retaliation. If someone even does anything evil to you, you’re supposed to turn the other cheek, forgive, and pray for the ones who did you wrong. As a people we have a hard time following this simple rule because we don’t want to let people walk all over us, but apparently that’s the ideal way to live one’s life. The main reasons for this rule of living a moral life is that everyone, righteous or evil, are children of the all mighty God above. “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthews 676).
Beowulf is a warrior, but at the same time, he is a Christian. His entire belief system as a warrior completely contradicts his Christian values. For example, the Bible instructs people to love thy neighbor and forgive those who transgress against us, but the heroic code endorses revenge and retaliation. This ongoing conflict between doing the right thing as a warrior and doing the right thing as a Christian is present throughout the text. In the epic, the speaker tells Beowulf to choose “The better part, eternal rewards” (lines 1759-1760).