Innate Evil and the Temptations of the Devil Essay -- American Literat

Early American literature is unique in that it is abundantly influenced by Biblical themes and ideas. Being that this country was founded by the strict, fundamentalist Puritans, it seems obvious that the literature would be pervaded by such things as the presence of evil and its impact on goodness and holiness. The â€Å"evil† that is found in Melville and Hawthorne is interesting because it reflects the Biblical idea of evil tempting good and attempting to convert it rather than simply destroy it. The stories of Poe reflect the turmoil and evil that is contained within a person and tempts him or her to commit evil acts. What is fascinating about this literature is that in Billy Budd, The Scarlet Letter, â€Å"The Imp of the Perverse,† and â€Å"William Wilson,† evil is always victorious. In today’s society, it is tempting to read stories and watch films in which good always prevails and the characters live happily ever after; however, at the time of these writings, there was still an air of Calvinism and the lasting idea that mankind is innately evil. Modern society is uncomfortable with the term â€Å"evil,† but at the time of this literature, it was a common term that was used freely and had clear definitions. Therefore, because of the strong Biblical influence, the aforementioned tales are centered on this presence of evil and its temptation and torturing of that which is holy until goodness is overcome. Melville’s Billy Budd is a tale in which the Biblical influence is quite obvious. There are many images of snakes and serpents, which is often symbolic of Satan. Many critics read the story as an allegory to the Christ story in which Billy and Claggart â€Å"play the roles of Jesus and Judas† (Wright 133). There is imagery throughout th... ...he adultery and temptations in The Scarlet Letter, and the murder in both â€Å"The Imp of the Perverse† and â€Å"William Wilson† all were easily classified as evil. Today, many of these actions would be subscribed to the doers’ childhoods or to other traumatic experiences and the people themselves would not necessarily be held responsible. It is difficult in today’s society to classify good and evil because those areas are no longer black and white; however, in early American times, evil was easy to identify and was seen as the influence of the devil. The aforementioned literature of Melville, Hawthorne, and Poe all contains tremendous influence from the Bible and therefore displays this evil temptation from the devil himself. Sadly, in each of the stories, evil always seems to triumph, and the characters are forced to realize their own wickedness and depravities.

Age of Imperialism

Imperialism (1850~1914) * Imperial refers to * Empire * Royalty * Extending powers * Age of Imperialism  (http://www. smplanet. com/teaching/imperialism/#SAW1) * Main Events * 1823 –  Monroe Doctrine reflected special U. S. interest in Americas * 1850 –  European trading with Africa becomes well established * 1852 –  Napoleon III (Louis Napoleon) proclaimed himself emperor of France * 1869  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  Suez Canal opens (Egypt) 1871  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  Bismark completed unification of German Empire * 1884~1885  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  Berlin Congress sets rules for African colonization * 1898 * United States acquired Philippines, annexed Hawaii * United States won Spanish-American War * 1899  Boer War began in South Africa * 1910 –  Mexican Revolution began * 1914 * Most of Africa is under European control * World War I began * 1918  World War I ended Industrialism  Imperialism  Nationalism Industrialism * Profit maximization England – Factory s ystem * Resources from colonies * Mass production goods = sell & export to the colonies * Profit maximization * Industrialization stirred ambitions in many European countries * Competed new markets for own goods * Saw Africa as a source for materials and a market * Colonial power seized lots of areas in Africa during the 19th and 20th centuries * Imperialism * Colonization * World market * England as the world power in the 1820s. * Power – World standing â€Å"the sun never sets on the England Empire† * Usually through military might and sometimes economics * Seizure of a territory by a stronger country * * Throughout out most Africa, stronger countries dominated in many areas * * Europeans ignored the claims of African ethnic groups, kingdoms, and city-states * * African nations continue to fell the effects of the colonial presence more than 100 years later * Europeans established colonies. * 1823  Monroe Doctrine A reaction to the independence Latin America+ Mexico +Central America    * * After 1823, only Bolivia is still under spanish control * It warned European nations that continuing to be in the Americas is going to be seen as an act of aggression    * Claimed to help the Latin Americas, but it actually restrained and threatened them to follow rules from the United States * The United States  had the right to intervene problems in the western hemisphere * White Man's Burden * Nationalism and social Darwinism Racist patronizing that preached that â€Å"superior† Westerners had an obligation to bring their culture to â€Å"uncivilized† people in other pars of the world   * Germany and Russia especially used imperialistic drives to divert popular attention from the class struggle at home and to create a false sense of national unity. Causes of Imperialism * Nationalism * British colonized Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland * Colonists wanted their freedom (1800s) * To gain power, European nations compete for coloni es and trade * European Migration Between 1815 and 1932 more than 60 million people left Europe * Migrants went primarily to European inhabited areas * North and South America * Australia * New Zealand * Siberia * European migration provided further impetus for Western expansion (Westernization) * More were poor from rural areas, though seldom from the poorest classes (due to oppressive land policies) * Economic Competition * Search for new markets and raw materials * Missionary works * more successful in African and Asian areas Europeans believe they must spread their Christian teachings to the world * New military and naval bases to protect one's interests against other European powers * British concerned by French and German land grabs in 1880s * might seal off their empires with high tariffs and restrictions * future economic opportunities might be lost * Increases tensions between the â€Å"haves† (British Empire) and the â€Å"have nots† (Germany & Italy) who cam e in latte to the Imperialist * Dr. David Livingston 1st white man to do humanitarian and religious work in south and central Africa Old & New Imperialism * Europe's influence continued to expand in the 19th century, and for all the same old reasons * European imperialism became global in nature, with Britain the world leader (â€Å"The sun never sets on the British Empire†) * Contradictory: Many European nations explored nationalism, liberalism†¦Ã‚   * Old Imperialism * 15th ~ 16th century * Didn't penetrate into Africa or Asia * No substantial influences on lives of people European powers did not usually acquire territory except for Spain in Americas and Portugal in Brazil, but rather built a series of trading stations * Respected and frequently cooperated with local rulers in India, china, Japan, Indonesia, another areas where trade flourished between locals and european coastal trading centers * New Imperialism * A policy in which one country seeks to extend its auth ority by conquering other countries or by establishing economic and political dominance over other countries. European nations conquers with armies * New military and naval bases to protect their interest * Raising taxes to restrain land grab * 18th ~ 19th century * Influences over economic, political and socials lives of people * People were used to benefit the European   economies * Forms of Imperialism * Colony * A country or territory governed internally by a foreign power * Protectorate * A country of territory with its own internal government but under the control of an outside power * Sphere of Influence An area in which an outside power claims exclusive investment or trading privileges * Economic Imperialism * An independent but less-developed country controlled by private business interest tauter than other governments   Imperial Management Methods * Indirect Control * Local government officials used * Limited self-rule * Develop future leaders * Government institutions are based on European styles but may have local rules * Direct Control * Foreign officials brought in to rule * No self-rule Paternalism – Europeans governed people in a parietal way by providing for their needs but not giving them rights * Assimilation – based on the idea that in time, the local populations would adopt French culture and become like the French * Government institutions are based only on European style * Legacy of Colonial Rule * Positive * Colonization * Europeans control lands and people in areas of Africa, Asia, and Latin America * Reduced local warfare (variety in ethnic groups) * Humanitarians provided schools and hospitals (better living conditions) * Colonial Economics Europeans control trade in the colonies and set up dependent cash-crop economies * African products came to be valued on international market * Christianization * Christianity spreads to Africa, India and Asia * Negative * Africa lost its independence and its land * Contempt for the traditional culture and admiration of European life undermined stable societies and caused identity problems for Africans * Division of African continent * created problems that plagued African colonies during European occupation Africa 1880  Europeans controlled 10% of Africa (mainly on the coast) * Scramble for African Territory because of the discoveries of diamonds in South Africa * By 1914  Europeans controlled all Africa  except Liberia and Ethiopia * late 1860s  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Congo Sparks Interest * David Livingstone traveled with a group of Africans to central Africa to promote Christianity * 1871  Henry Stanley  found Livingston (whom westerners thought to be dead) * his newspaper reports created European interest in Africa * Stanley sought aid of king of Belgium to dominate the Congo region. 1879 ~ 1882  Ã‚  Stanley signed treaties with local chief of the Congo River Valley * Gave King Leopold II of Belgium the control of these lands * He claimed that his moti ve in establishing colony was to abolish the slavery and promote Christianity * But he exploited Africans brutally (collect sap from rubber plants) * At least 10 million Congolese died due to his abuses * 1908  Belgian Government took over power of the colony * Belgian Congo (80 times larger than Belgium) This action alarmed France * Soon Britain, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain claimed parts of Africa * Berlin Conference * 1884~1885 * 14 European Nations established the â€Å"rules† for conquest of Africa * PAPER PARTITION * Sponsored by Bismarck & Jules Ferry * Sought to precent conflict over imperialism * Coincided with German's rise as an imperial power * Agreed to stop slavery and slave trade in Africa * No African rulers were invited to attend these meetings * Factors promoting Imperialism in Africa European technical superiority * 1884  Maxim Gun (world's 1st auto machine gun) * Invention of steam-boat, made it easy to travel (for Europeans) * Susceptible to mal aria (disease carries by dense swarms of mosquitoes in Africa's interior * 1829  perfection of drug protected Europeans from malaria * Various languages and cultures in Africa * Discouraged the unity in Africa * Africans, Dutch and British  Clashed over South Africa for resources and lands * Zulus & British * 1816  Shaka, a Zulu chief created a large centralized state by isciplined warriors and good military organization * 1879  Zulu king Cetshwayo refused to dismiss the Zulu army * Not accepting British Rules * British invaded Zulu nation * July 1879  Battle of Ulundi * The Zulus lost the Battle and their Kingdom * 1887  Under British control * Boers & British in Cape * 1st Europeans settle in South Africa were the Dutch * 1625  Dutch came to the Cape of Good Hope * established way station for sailing between Dutch East Indies and the Netherlands * Those Dutch settlers were known as the  Boers 1880s  British took over the Cape Colony PERMANENTLY   * Boers clashe d over British policy (land & slaves) * 1830s  Great Trek * Boers moved to North in order to escape the British African Colonization & Independence * 1884  Western leaders met to divide Africa into colonial holdings * 1914  nearly all of Africa is under European controls * European imperial powers set national borders in Afirca without regard for local ethnic or political divisions 1898 Fashoda Incident * France & Britain nearly went to war over Sudan France backed down in the face of the Dreyfus Affair * Wanted to connect Cape to Cairo by railroads 1899 ~ 1902 The Boer War (South Africa War) * Boers blamed British bringing the â€Å"outsiders† into Africa (for minerals†¦ diamonds and gold) * 1st modern â€Å"total† war * British countered by burning Boer lands and imprisoning women and children * Black South Africans were involved in the war * British won * 1910  Boer republics joined Union of South Africa, which was controlled by the British * Cecil Rhod es * Prime Minister of Cape Colony Principal sponsor of the Cape-to-Cairo (British wanted to control over the continent) * Rhodes wanted to extend his influence there after the diamonds and gold were discovered in the Transvaal but rein controlled by Boers (Dutch settlers) * Kruger Telegram (1902) * Kaiser Wilhelm II (starter of WWI) * Congratulated Boers on defeating British invaders without need of German assistance * Anger swept through Britain and targeted at Germany Asia 1898 Spanish-American War * Mid-1890s  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ the United States had developed substantial business holdings in Cuba. It had an economic stake in the fate of the country. * Objected to the Spanish brutality. * Helped Cuban war for independence. * Lasted about four months. * U. S. forces launched their first attack not on Cuba but on the Philippine Islands   * Unprepared for a war on two fronts, the Spanish military quickly collapsed. * U. S. defeated Spain (took Philippines, Guam, Hawaii & Cuba) * 1901   – Cuba became an independent nation * BUT United States installed a military government and continued to exert control over Cuban affairs. -; caused tensions * American had become the dominate imperial power in Latin America 1898 ~ 1901 Boxer Rebellion * Anti-foreign pro to nationalist movement by the Righteous Harmony in China * Took place against a background of serious drought and economic disruption in response to foreign influence * Opposing Imperialism and Christianity from the foreigners * June 20th  A German minister stationed in China (Klemens Freiferr von Kettler) represented various countries' going zongli yamen and demanded protection, is ambushed by the clear soldier on the way * Led to war 904 ~ 1905 Russo-Japanese War * Sino-Japanese War * Japanese Victory, China lost Manchuria * 1903  They had a war over Manchuria * Japan claimed they will recognize the right of Russian in Manchuria if Russian stayed out of Korea. Russian refused * Japan launched a surpris e attaching on Russian ships at Manchuria, which this action resulted in Russo-Japanese War

Oia Bible Paper Mark 2:23-28

New Testament Survey O-I-A Gospels/Acts Throughout the book of Mark, several themes are found to be present which address the legitimacy of Jesus. Multiple times Jesus’ actions prove He is who He says He is, although through His attempts to hide His identity from the public, people still are in disbelief about His identity. The periscope of the Sabbath helps to explain this. The periscope on the Sabbath according to Mark is found in Mark chapter 2 verses 23 through 28: 23  One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 4  The Pharisees said to him, â€Å"Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath? † 25  He answered, â€Å"Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26  In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave s ome to his companions. †27  Then he said to them, â€Å"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28  So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. †My own understanding of this periscope is reworded like this: 23 One day on the Sabbath, Jesus was walking amongst His disciples through a field of gain. As they made their way, the disciples began to pick the heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees confronted Jesus and questioned Him as to why the disciples were breaking the law of Sabbath rest. 25 Jesus replied, â€Å"Do you know what David and his friends did when they were hungry? 26 Let me tell you, they entered the House of God during the days of Abiathar the high priest and ate the holy bread in front of Abiathar himself!You all know that the holy bread is only able to be eaten by the priests themselves! † 27 Jesus told the Pharisees, â€Å"I am the Son of Man. The Sabbath was made for man. † 28 Therefore the Son of Man is even Lord over the Sabbath. Multiple observations are obvious throughout the passage. To begin with, it is mentioned several times how the setting of the story is occurring on the Sabbath, which is a day of rest. It is mentioned how Jesus and the disciples are present in the grainfields and the Pharisees are there with them.The Pharisees end up questioning Jesus about the disciples’ actions. Jesus defends them with an allusion of David in the time of Abiathar. There are countless numbers of interpretations that can be made throughout this short passage. These deal with the actions of the disciples, Jesus’ confrontation by the Pharisees, Jesus’ allusion to David’s actions in the time frame noted and the meaning behind the consecrated bread. The disciples’ action of picking heads of grain was completely lawful, even though the Pharisees challenged it (Lane 114).In that time, people followed the Mosaic Law which stated, â€Å"when you come into your neighbor’s s tanding grain, then you may pluck it with your hands, but you shall not bring a sickle to you neighbors standing grain† which is found in Deuteronomy chapter 23 verse 25. The only grounds that the Pharisees had to challenge the disciples were because it occurred on the Sabbath (Lane 115). Their actions could be seen as reaping which was prohibited on the Sabbath by the Mosaic Law in Exodus chapter 34 verse 21. This violates the Sabbath because it is considered work.It was also noticed how the Pharisees question Jesus about the Disciples’ actions instead of question them personally. When someone was considered a â€Å"teacher† it meant that they were responsible for those under them, so Jesus was responsible for the disciples (Keener 142). This is the reasoning Pharisees specifically questioned Jesus directly. It was done in order to satisfy the legal requirement of a warning prior to the prosecution for Sabbath violation (Lane 115). It is also important to unders tand Jesus’ allusion to I Samuel chapter 21 verses 1 through 6. 1 David went to Nob, to Ahimelek the priest.Ahimelek trembled when he met him, and asked, â€Å"Why are you alone? Why is no one with you? † 2  David answered Ahimelek the priest, â€Å"The king sent me on a mission and said to me, ‘No one is to know anything about the mission I am sending you on. ’ As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. 3  Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find. † 4  But the priest answered David, â€Å"I don’t have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here—provided the men have kept themselves from women. 5  David replied, â€Å"Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men’s bodies are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today! † 6  So the priest gave him the consecrated br ead, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the Lord and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away. According to Cole, Abiathar was Ahimelek’s son who survived the priestly slaying at Nob in I Samuel chapter 22 (129).Abiathar served as high priest and was better known in association with David than his father, so this is known as a common error could have entered tradition before it became known to Mark (Lane 115). Another interesting thing about the David reference is Jesus’ summary of the consecrated bread. He mentions in Mark chapter 2 verse 26 how David and his men ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. It is interesting to compare both passages when is mentions the restrictions of who is eligible to eat the bread.In I Samuel chapter 21 verses 4 through 6, it is mention that the requirement is for men to have kept themselves from women. One interesting question that Lan e brings to light is the actual connection between what is happening in the grain fields and the reference that Jesus makes in light of the situation (116). The incident in the grain fields specifically deals with the Sabbath while the allusion that Jesus makes, highlights the fact that God does not condemn David for his actions. This shows how the Pharisees interpretation of the Law was not in accordance with the scripture (117).This can be applied to the biblical understanding of the Pharisees and others in that time period. Many people misinterpreted the text and often even twisted them to have a meaning that applied to their situation. The most important thing that I learned from this scripture is the importance of understanding the background information behind the scripture. I must admit that in this case, I would be no different that a Pharisee. Although I have read this passage and heard it referenced multiple times, I have never fully understood Jesus’ allusion withi n the text and how it applies to the situation at hand.I am constantly guilty of skimming over text or not reading it on a level deep enough to fully understand the message behind the words. This has been a lesson in itself. Works Cited Page Cole, R Alan. The Gospel According to Mark. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdman, 1989. Print. The Holy Bible New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984. Print Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1993. Print Lane, William L. The Gospel According to Mark. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdman, 1974. Print.