Serpent

In his essay “The Bipartite System of Laws in Paradise Lost" Eric Dunnum argues that in John Milton’s Paradise Lost, man’s fall can be attributed to a system, set by God, that reflects that which is also used by historical kings and governments of the world. This system is a set of laws that is, as the title suggests, bipartite, which means that it is composed of two separate entities that come together to form a whole, and Dunnum’s argument often relies on the works of Louis Althusser to expand…

If I close my eyes and doubt that everything exists, all I can hear is the heater running in the room I’m in. I don’t really smell or taste anything. I would have to agree with Descartes in that I must exist because I am thinking. I must have a brain or I wouldn’t be able to think, so I am alive and a thinking thing. If I couldn’t think, then I wouldn’t be living. I know I have a body because I can move my extremities. I believe with certainty that I am alive and capable of thought and have a…

Lewis uses himself as a character in the first chapter “to break down the distinction between his fictional world and our ‘factual’ world.” Lewis grounds the story in real life and history; this makes the story feel tangible. As an author, he draws on people whom he knows to create realistic characters. He knows himself and knows what he would do when presented with a specific task, making himself a ‘player character’ that impresses the sense of authenticity into the story. Creating a story…

Both stories start off with a sacred tree, but the trees in both stories are sacred for two different reasons. In Skyworld, the tree is the bearer of the land, everyone can eat it fruits that it gives but they absolutely cannot touch the trees roots otherwise it may hurt it, since the tree is the main resource for food on Skyworld; everyone respects this great privilege except for one. In the Bible the Garden of Eden contained two different trees, one was the Tree of Knowledge, if one was to eat…

Therefore, everything even reason gets regarded as a lesser importance to the command of God, according to Milton. Reason is choice once again. While free will remains a fitting and not a real ideal in terms of where the only imaginary being to be exercising it are seen as Satanic. Many acclaim the innocent and unspoiled Eden as home to complete freedom of will. However, the very example of the punishment and removal of Satan to Hell contradicts the belief. Not only is Adam considered more…

Logical solutions may often lead to dire consequences. In “Book IX” of Paradise Lost, Milton describes Eve as logical and sinful through his dark descriptions; nonetheless, her obliviousness and naivety are constantly referenced even after eating the apple. Knowledge and logic can most often guide people towards danger and harm. Eve’s sin, while fully understood with knowledge, is first depicted when she eats the fruit. Milton expresses Eve’s sin through her eating the apple extremely…

In Adam, Eve, and the Serpent, Elaine Pagels discusses sexual relationships, and gender roles and to how they have been influenced by the bible passage of Adam and Eve. Pagels uses historical information to justify her argument. She argues that the Christian views on sexuality have been strongly influenced as the Christians want from being persecuted to the official religion of emperors. These views changed as people interpreted the story of Adam and Eve and used their interpretations as grounds…

The Serpent Aiden jumped into the shallow water and grabbed the rope. He pulled long and hard as the small boat scraped against the shore. “McLaughlin! Watch the rocks!” His father, Tadgh yelled down to him from where he stood on the bow. The shore was littered with jagged stones, even though Ireland was mainly grassy. The sky was grey, and it was starting to rain more heavily than the drizzle that took up most of the voyage. Aiden's red-brown hair was sopping and falling into his eyes, making…

Writing Assignment #11: Rebecca Wilson Dr. Wade Davis is a noted Harvard ethnobotanist and is author of the book “The Serpent and the Rainbow.” In this book he writes about the special ingredients that bokor’s use to make “zombie powder”. All of these ingredients can be found anywhere in Haiti, but it takes a special magic, spell to conjure the ingredients into a potion. These ingredients only work during a ritual Vodoun ceremony and will only work if the person truly believes in the ritual,…

charge. Their lives were easy and they lived without pain and suffering. In addition, the people were to worship and pray every night or consequences would come upon them. After a while, the men and women became greedy. Quetzacoatl the Feathered Serpent normally calm and pleasant slowly changed and his face contorted in an all-consuming anger; his nostrils flaring, his eyes flashing and closing into slits, his mouth quivering and drooling, slurring words that unintentionally came spewing into…