There are many social factors, ranging from morals and ethics to wealth and status. Knowing how to act in life today with so many factors is tricky. The study of literature can help the audience learn more about what societal factors can affect one’s life and gives them knowledge on how to act today.
As seen in The Odyssey, by Homer, the breaking of a promise results in harsh consequences. In one part of this epic poem, Odysseus makes a promise to the gods that he and his crew would not kill and eat any sacred animals from Helios’ island. He tells his crew, “...the cattle here are not for our provision, or we pay dearly for it.” (12.409-410). Despite their captain’s warnings, a crew member, Eurýlokhos, told the crew, “...famine is the most pitiful, the worst end a man can come to...we’ll cut the noblest of cattle for sacrifice to the gods”(12.439-442). Angry at …show more content…
For example, when Cassie Logan, an African American girl, went to a town called Strawberry to buy items from the grocery store run by Mr. Barnett, a white man, she was ignored in favor of some white customers. After politely reminding the cashier, only to be ignored, Cassie, “...went to the other side of [the counter] and tugged on his shirt sleeve to get his attention...”(9.129-9.220). This makes the cashier, “...recoiled as if [Cassie] had struck him.”, resulting in an argument between him and Cassie (9.201). When her brother, Stacy, came to get her, Mr. Barnett rudely told him to take her away and watch her behavior. This is one of the main events where Cassie realizes that Blacks were treated differently, as her brother did not fight when given no respect. Looking back, readers will realize that it was horrible how Americans treated blacks as a lesser race because of how they looked like and will learn to not treat anyone differently because of the color of their
As seen in The Odyssey, by Homer, the breaking of a promise results in harsh consequences. In one part of this epic poem, Odysseus makes a promise to the gods that he and his crew would not kill and eat any sacred animals from Helios’ island. He tells his crew, “...the cattle here are not for our provision, or we pay dearly for it.” (12.409-410). Despite their captain’s warnings, a crew member, Eurýlokhos, told the crew, “...famine is the most pitiful, the worst end a man can come to...we’ll cut the noblest of cattle for sacrifice to the gods”(12.439-442). Angry at …show more content…
For example, when Cassie Logan, an African American girl, went to a town called Strawberry to buy items from the grocery store run by Mr. Barnett, a white man, she was ignored in favor of some white customers. After politely reminding the cashier, only to be ignored, Cassie, “...went to the other side of [the counter] and tugged on his shirt sleeve to get his attention...”(9.129-9.220). This makes the cashier, “...recoiled as if [Cassie] had struck him.”, resulting in an argument between him and Cassie (9.201). When her brother, Stacy, came to get her, Mr. Barnett rudely told him to take her away and watch her behavior. This is one of the main events where Cassie realizes that Blacks were treated differently, as her brother did not fight when given no respect. Looking back, readers will realize that it was horrible how Americans treated blacks as a lesser race because of how they looked like and will learn to not treat anyone differently because of the color of their