Gilead: A Theoretical Analysis

The central theme of both John Winthrop’s “City Upon a Hill” and Jonathan Edward’s “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, is the prospect of religion in one’s everyday life influencing their future. In order to build up their ideas about acting in a way that pleases the Lord, both these authors use repetition, diction, allusions, and metaphors as a way to build momentum in their speech as they allude to teachings of the bible and their diction install a notion of uncertainty. However, while Winthrop uses his notion of uncertainty to give the audience a sense of security, in their endeavors to the Americas, with the prospect of religion, Edwards does the opposite and makes the audience fear God even more as he talks about his

There are various depictions of opposite ideas in Barbra Kingsolver’s “The Poisonwood Bible”. Symbols of good and evil, lights and darks, sick and healthy, and social and natural balances are reoccurring images throughout Kingsolver’s work. Among these images is the one shown of Nathan Price and his counterpart Brother Fowles.

Throughout Southern literature, the authors of Southern text use religion to convey emotion through grotesque-life changing events and concepts. An article titled “Flannery O’Connor’s Rage of Vision”, by Claire Katz discusses how O’Connor’s literature feature religion and Christianity to throughout the literature. The author states, “Since O’Connor had identified her theme as Christian, it is no surprise to find critics discussing this prototypical pattern in religious terms; the protagonist is humiliated in order to recognize his state of sin, and is thus open to grace and redemption.”(55) Therefore, this essay will examine and explain the abstract Christian components illustrated among multiple texts written by Flannery O’Connor and provide textual evidence to support the abstract findings from within the texts.

Stapleford presents a strong analysis of economic issues with a Christian perception that aligns with Biblical truths. He urges his audience to avoid the temptation of idolatry and materialism but to live a selfless life of sacrifice. Stapleford claims that “there is sanctity in all of labor, and without God’s involvement human labor is futile. In whatever we do, Christians are to do it heartily as unto the Lord, for we do not labor for the food that perishes but for the food that endures to everlasting life” (Stapleford, 2009).

But our Everyman starts as a truly “fake” Christian and whether or not she deserves any redemption is questionable. Though she perishes like a martyr, as the Misfit confesses when he tuned to perpetrating evil deeds, the Grandmother responds that he should have started praying and that “Jesus would help”. Again, O’Connor’s attempt here is to present, by means of religious motifs, how superficial the faith of Southerners is. Grandmother’s advice comes out of convenience, not of genuine worship of God and is a commentary on how people turn to religion in the event of sickness, deathbed or

In her book, “Good Country People,” Flannery O’Connor shows first hand how one cannot judge a book by its cover… not even a Bible. Even though a façade is put on, one realizes how vulnerable Hulga Hopewell actually is. Her encounter with a Bible salesman, Manley Pointer, shows how one cannot trust even “good country people” (2). Symbolism in this story transforms what one perceives the character of Hulga and Manley to be and allows the reader to make deeper connections about their physical and mental flaws.

Edwards, Jonathan. “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. In Literature of America, complied by Jan Anderson and Laurel Hicks, 19-25. Pensacola: A Beka Book, 2010.

In life, the unspeakable and unmentionable needs to be uncovered. During his “Evil Empire” speech at the Annual Convention of the National Association of the Evangelicals, Ronald Reagan addresses that it is essential for America to convey and cherish the name of God. From freedom only prospering through blessings, to God giving us life and liberty, “political prosperity, religion, and morality are indispensable supports” in this nation. (American Rhetoric: Ronald Reagan). In addition to the goal of reintroducing the crucial values this country was built upon, he questions the morality of the citizens. By using strong logos to support his claim, effective pathos to impact the audience, and convincing ethos to build trust, he knew the goal could

Control dominates all aspects of Gileadian society, from minor, seemingly petty normalities such as the clothes allowed, all the way up to how and who to have sexual relations with. Unimaginable in this day, Atwood represents modern society gone sour, something which is chillingly

Amidst the civil unrest that occurred prior to the beginning of The Handmaid’s Tale, the “Sons of Jacob“ were able to establish their theocratic society by executing insidious machinations calculated to control the United States, and thereafter successfully turning it into Gilead. The Sons of Jacob employed several schemes in carrying out their theocracy over Gilead, a substantial part of which shall be discussed in this paper.

I think Gilead is thought of as a theocracy it is a government in which there is no separation between state and religion. Its official vocabulary incorporates religious terminology and references to the bible. House servants are Marthas in reference to the woman who helped Jesus in the New Testament; the local police are “Guardians of the

But if we shall neglect…shall fall to embrace this present world and prosecute our carnal intentions, seeking great things for ourselves and our posterity, the Lord will surely break out in wrath against us” (Winthrop, 20). This idea that the Christian deity is somehow connected to America’s greatness can be found in Conwell’s work, albeit used in a different manner.

John Edwards and John Winthrop were two Puritan writers who tried to take on the new world, with only the rudimentary tools of the unfinished society from which they came. While both authors are renowned for their sermons during this time, Edwards is known for his drastic and dramatic, “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God”, and Winthrop for his vision of society in, “A Modell of Christian Charity”. Edwards appeals to all sinners in his sermon, where he warns them that God will be the judge of their actions, and that their consequences may be severe. While Winthrop on the other hand, carefully laid out the religious and social principles that would be the Puritan foundation of their beliefs, stemming from his understanding of the Holy Bible. In Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God”and Winthrop’s, “A Modell of Christian Charity”, we see that both writers had similar beliefs that stemmed from their Puritan background, yet their interpretations of the bible differed in the way that they expressed these ideologies to the public.

My PGEs have had direct and indirect impacts on student learning. As a Transition Coordinator, I was able to have a direct impact on my students through relationship and confidence building. These activities built a positive attendance pattern and created a love for learning, helping them immediately when the school year started. I had an indirect impact of (on) their future learning by educating their parents and sharing community resources with them. With my M.Ed. in TESOL and Bilingual Education, I had a direct impact on student learning using sheltered instruction strategies that allow my students to learn content as they build language. Through my participation on the Early Childhood Task Force, I have a huge indirect impact on student learning for every early childhood student in my district by establishing developmentally appropriate best practices for all classrooms. As a Title I Reading and Math Coach, I have an indirect impact on every student in my building (almost 1,000 students)! I am able to help teachers realize their full potential, which increases student engagement and learning in all areas.

The first significant character in the beginning of Gilead, Edward, who is John Ame’s older brother who was ten years older than him, studied abroad by himself at the age of sixteen in Gottingen, Germany for college and became a remarkable intelligent person with personality and knowledge in John Ames’ eyes. As we know, Edward spent his early years in Europe, published a book in German, and returned back home embracing as an atheist. Yet, this is quite surprising and weird to see how Edward grew up in a family who is very religious and his father and their family happened to be all preaching and believing in God as Christians. Still, the book Edward published was a monograph on Ludwig Feuerbach, who is a German philosopher that supported the