In the poem, Bradstreet writes, “I, starting up, the light did spy/ And to my God my heart did cry,” (L 7-8) in order to show the disorganization of her life as the fire consumed her house. Bradstreet also writes, “It was His own, it was not mine,/ Far be it that I should repine,” (L 17-18) in order to show that she acknowledges that God has taken these things away from her as a test. Since God is always testing our faith with these many items that will not last. Thus, Anne
Philip Yancey, author of “Exploring a Parallel Universe” feels offended when many acquaintances of his make negative comments about Evangelicals. Truthfully, there is enough evidence to respond to his offense. The sheer use of terror alone is an attribute to this stigma given to Evangelicals. I could turn on the TV. any Sunday and find many preachers screaming through the microphones.
He is so frustrated that he breaks his stick on the ice because he thinks he got the penalty for wearing the Toronto Maple Leafs jersey. He exclaimed that “It was unfair! It was persecution! It was because of my blue sweater!’’ (Carrier, 59) The final area where he shows loyalty is when he is sent to church to pray to god to forgive him for what he did. When he goes to the church he prays that “Moths would eat up my Toronto Maple Leafs sweater.”(Carrier, 59).
One of the themes in “The Minister's Black Veil”, readers is likely to recognize the reaction of the townspeople to change, especially when a change is associated with their religion or religious figures. This is clearly not an accepting community and it is worth thinking critically about the way the whole community comes together to shun him. The veil makes the Reverend look dark and gloomy and instantly, even before one day is through the people in town are witnessing supernatural events. It seems there is something to be said about the group mentality of Puritans and their quick tendencies toward superstition. Elizabeth is the only exception
“There is either obedience or the church will burn like Hell is burning!” (pg 30) Parris tried to defend himself with such passionate and heartfelt comments but Proctor would have none of it. To him Parris was not in his society. Also, his relationship with Abigail Williams was a strained one, plagued with affair, scandal, and betrayal. He did love her, but soon after seeing what she truly was he resented his connection to her and, like what his old true nature told him, he confessed, causing a resent to appear within the town that never gave him his old trust
This story is about committing a sin against the Puritan culture that is all about holiness and living right before God. Their culture really took ‘living by the Bible” seriously and condemned those who didn’t obey God’s laws. It became a widely-known scandal all around the town and many people condemned and had hateful feeling for Hester. But the real effects of the hurtful sin actually affected the minister. The first character who
Hooper” was wearing a black veil. The veil had two folds of crape, which entirely concealed his features except the mouth and chin, but did not intercept his sight; farther than to give a darkened aspect to all living and inanimate objects (Hawthorne 472). As Mr. Hooper entered the church the congregation was as fearful a sight to the minister as his black veil was to them (Hawthorne 472). The Sermon Mr. Hooper gave was the most powerful effort they heard from the pastor. A subtle power was breathed into his words.
We see a variety of responses but it is the inability of the majority to understand the roots of the plague that prevents them from undergoing personal transformation. The religious dogma that is directed towards them leaves them ignorant and inflexible their own ideas about God and their place within society for themselves. This causes many to direct their devastation and fear to misunderstood characters that disagree with societal conventions. The crazed mob that accuses the Gowdies of witchcraft exemplifies the notion that faith blinds people to reality in ‘Year of Wonder’. Faith in God is easily converted into superstition amongst the ignorance of the uneducated.
In “Go tell it on the mountain” James Baldwin works with themes of hatred, separation, religion. He does this through John, Elizabeth and the church. The author is saying that John hated his father and Elizabeth was detached from her family in the end they both came to church to seek spiritual guidance. John disliked his father. He was upset about his father “John watched and listened, hating him.”(43) He was disgusted about Gabriel for his hypocrisy “No one, none of the saints….
He states that Sunday mornings are reserved for church masses and people should attend them. This suggests the strict rules of religion which people should obey, as well as the everyday routines along with the established rules and principles. The poet mentions the church bells, compared to scull’s mouths, which drag people in repetition of actions, because they are heard every Sunday, when it’s time for church. The church does not exist any longer, but still summons people to come. It’s the sound of the bells which reminds people of their own mortality and the day’s religious meaning.