...My Analysis for who is Arnold Friend Since the beginning of time, stories have been told about the forces of good and evil. Some say the devil is the personification of evil, the enemy of God and humankind, and the evil force that never seems to prevail. In a biblical interpretation of Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” one can see how Oates portrays one character, Arnold Friend, as the devil. The story is about a 15-year old girl, Connie, caught up in the insecurities and fantasies of puberty. After Connie sneaks to the movies with her friends one evening, the wicked eye of the devil spots her and decides to take her for his prey. Friend decides to go to Connies’ home one Sunday afternoon, when he knows her parents aren’t home, and, through the evil he is capable of, change her life for the worse. Oates demonstrates that Friend is the devil by giving him devilish characteristics such as a deceiving appearance of friendship, preying on the weak, and a persistence to do evil. Most evil things appear to be good at first, the later deceive, for who would want to take part in something that seemed evil to begin with? Just as the devil is dressed in a deceiving way, so is Arnold Friend, something more then a mere coincidence. Sex before marriage may seem like a fantastic, satisfying experience, yet “over half of all teens that had sex at least once reported that they wish they had waited (till marriage).” People are drawn into the evil...
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...Doctor Faustus Christopher Marlowe Prologue * Chorus comes on and tells audience that the play isn’t going to be about war, valiant deeds, or love, but all about the fortunes of some guy named Faustus * Faustus was born in a town called Roda in Germany and was raised by relatives in Wittenberg * He excels at his studies of Theology, so much that he’s very quickly given the title of doctor of divinity and can out debate anyone * Faustus’s pride is a serious problem * Because Faustus is so proud he’s not happy being a mere theologian, so he opts instead to study magic Act 1 Scene 1 * Meet Faustus, he’s busy figuring out what he wants to do with his life – he mulls over the options: philosophy, medicine, law – he rejects them all for being too boring and too pointless * Every time he reads the Bible Faustus can’t help but conclude that man’s sins give him no hope of heaven anyways * Faustus decides to study magic because a magician is almost like a god * He tells his servant Wagner to fetch Valdes and Cornelius, his friends, who happen to be a couple of magicians * Before they stop by the Good Angel enters and tells Faustus to lay the books of magic aside and to read the scriptures instead * Bad Angel disagrees & thinks Faust should go ahead with his plan because he’ll be godlike * Faustus is convinced and begins to wax poetic about all the thing he’ll do once he masters magic – especially excited about the whole...
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...be jointed twice and have one foot, and each foot five toes,” (13) In contemporary Christian religion, the Bible sets out certain expectations as well. For example, God expects his people to obey the Ten Commandments, to be good Samaritans, to show kindness to the poor, and to accept and love those who are different. In both societies the bible has been around for thousands of years. “And only the Bible has survived from the time of the Old People themselves.” (39) The Old People were those who lived before Waknuk’s God sent the Tribulation and those are the ones who had the Bible. Secondly, Waknuk’s religion and contemporary Christianity warns us about the devil and to avoid him. The Waknukians believe that “the devil is the father of deviation.” (18) In contemporary society, Christians believe that the devil is the father of lies. In both...
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...married. They have been married for three months now and they seem to be in love. Faith is Goodman Brown’s soul –mate. She is getting used to being married and enjoying life. Her life seems to be going her way most of the time and she is just getting her life stated. Goodman Brown treats her like she is his world. He adores her and loves her innocence, purity, and young side of her. Young Goodman Brown is not exactly a hero. I believe he is trying to find himself in the story but I would not consider him to be a hero. Why you may ask? Well he sided with evil. He took the chance of disobeying the people he cared about and went against his religion. But, in some ways the way he found out who the people around him (his loved ones and his close friends) were. The truth was unveiled but only he could see it and by doing this he was a hero. He was a hero because he saw the truth and kept it as a burden in his life. He was forever changed. He was a hero for accepting the truth and moving on. One symbol in the story was the ‘traveler’s staff’. It was in some ways a serpent coming to tempt Young Goodman Brown. It showed that he was not strong enough to refuse the temptations of the devil. The serpent is used in many other stories to symbolize evil, such as Adam and Eve or even the Disney story of Aladdin. As you can see the serpent is used as a symbol of evil or the devil. Also the serpent is used as a symbol of temptation and greediness. Another symbol in the story was Faith’s pink...
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...Romans 16:17-20 HOW TO HANDLE TROUBLEMAKERS IN THE CHURCH Introduction: Ever since the church was formed, it has been plagued by troublemakers. These people have desired to either see the church destroyed, or to see it shaped to their own will. This should not have been a surprise. After all, Jesus Himself predicted the rise of troublemakers in the church, Matt. 7:15, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Even in the early days of the fledgling church, the Apostle Paul said this, "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.", Acts 20:29-30. After 2,000 years, the troublemakers are still with us. There are still those within and without the church who work against the plan of God and seek to mold the church to their likeness. I. THE DEEDS OF THE TROUBLEMAKERS Paul tells us that there are some tale tell signs associated with those who would cause trouble in the church. Their deeds prove them to be just what they are. Remember what Jesus said, "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matt. 7:20. A. They Are Divisive - Paul uses two words here that describe what the troublemakers so in the house of God. The first is the word "divisions". It means "to splinter of cause dissensions." The other word is "offences", it means "to lay a trap...
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...Abstract Young Goodman Brown portrays a common disaster a young Christian experiences when he/she allows him/her self to stray from the familiar paths prescribed by the Bible and other mature Christians. The journey of Goodman Brown parallels many who have attempted to walk the Christian path and somehow strayed into dangerous territory. The story is about a young man named Goodman Brown who goes on an errand of evil intent taken place in the darkness of a forest. Upon arriving, brown encounters another traveler who is revealed to be the devil. The devil employs cunning tactics that compel the young Christian to abandon his faith and returns to live out the rest of his life without hope and in despair. Being aware of some of the tactics the devil uses to deceive young believers would help others to stick to the familiar paths. The story contains elements of some tactics the devil uses to deceive young, and sometimes even old, Christians. It does not help that the character in the story, Brown, is somewhat enticed by the devil’s suggestions or illusions (the text does not disclose whether or not the people that where encountered on the journey were the actually people themselves). Browns curiosity of evil is likened to any person’s sinful curiosities and each person must choose to either take the advice from others that some sinful behavior leads to destruction or there are some who find that they must experience sin for themselves. Two factors indicate...
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...Dilemma at Devils Den Allan R Cohen Abstract This paper explores the case study Dilemma at Devils Den, which was created by Allan R. Cohen from Babson College (2004), and focuses on a fictional student named Susan and an experience with a few problems that she has at her college’s campus snack bar, the Devil’s Den. This paper aims to discuss Susan’s problems that she has identified with the night operations at the Devil’s Den, and whether or not the night shift managerial team performs strategy execution processes adequately. Introduction Susan identifies that the main problem mainly has to do with the night shift operations at the Devil’s Den. She points out that she had been noticing the fact that many of the employees at the snack bar were simply allowing their friends to take snacks without having to pay for them at all. Susan also points out those employees were also taking the snacks for free themselves. While ordinarily this is not a problem, the employees are only allowed to take snacks when they are on duty, and it has become a common situation where the employees simply leave with food. According to Susan, it has gotten so bad that employees will take food in front of the customers, who then think it would be okay to take food without paying as well, leading to this becoming a problem as well. Another problem that Susan identifies is the fact that the employees were not doing anything to stop or challenge the customers from taking the snacks from the Den. Susan...
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...does, because he represents a devil figure for the main reason of tricking Connie to ride off with him. Arnold is portrayed of having shaggy black hair and drives a convertible jalopy painted gold. Arnold is not a teenager when Connie realizes the features, such as the painted eyelashes, wig structure, and his stuffed boots. Those features led to her thinking that he wasn’t a teenager, who he isn’t and he’s way much older actually. Oates portrays Arnold to be a psychopathic stalker, but never states the value of his role. She asks him how does he knows her name, and his response was he knows a lot about her. He begins to tell Connie all her friends’ names and tells her where her parents are. The passage below paints a picture of Arnold’s character. But I know what it is. I know your name and all about you, lots of things, Arnold Friend said. He had not moved yet but stood still leaning back against the side of his jalopy. I took a special interest in you, such a pretty girl, and found out all about you—like I know your parents and sister are gone somewhere and I know where and how long they're going to be gone, and I know who you were with last night, and your best girl...
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... In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Theology 350 __________________ by Tirsa Woodson July 3, 2015 The Hell Debate The debate over the nature of hell is one that can bring out the best and the worst in biblical exegesis. Everyone nowadays is concerned about the enemy (Satan) and delete hell existence. The beginning signs that Jesus is coming soon, frightens the human race. We were taught when God returns, it will be judgment day. John reveals this judgement will take pace during the last days, when God will conquer all who have and would defy him and to rescue the righteous. Judgment meant the outcome of an individual, will they go to heaven with God or to hell with the devil. There are many misconceptions about Hell, rather the lost will burn forever or annihilated. Hell is real. Universalism believes everyone will eventually be saved, while Christian believe we all will be judged for the deeds we have done. First, the Annihilationist believe that the unrighteous will not suffer eternal torment, but that they will, after being justly punished according to their deeds, be annihilated and cease to exist. Also they believe that hell is eternal in consequence, not duration the wicked shall be no more (Boyd & Eddy). Secondly the classical view states that the wicked will be cast into hell that supports the traditional view they will suffer unending torment The Bible uses a number of expressions to identify...
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...One Dance The song “Dance with the Devil” was written by Immortal Technique. The genre is rap and if you listen to the whole song it’s sad and can also be disturbing in some ways. Its beat is steady with piano in the back round giving effect to the sadness in this song. Songs can teach you lessons, and in “Dance with the Devil” it has a very important lesson. This song is a true story telling you a very important lesson about reality; how these situations can happen in anyone’s life, so you should always be careful and make better decisions. If you make one very bad important decision in your life, then you might just ruin it. The lead rapper in Immortal Technique is Felipe Andrew Coronel, he talks about a kid he met and basically tells the kids whole life story on how he ruined his life. He says at the beginning of the song “I once knew a man who’s real name was William, his primary concern was making a million”. William, otherwise known as Billy, wanted to be a hardcore thug like all the other people he would hang out with and make a lot of money doing it. Through out the song he talks about how William started to sell drugs to make money and eventually dropped out of school to sell weed. Williams dream of making millions blinded him and he started to turn out like one of the dirty thugs he wanted to be. Eventually William got arrested, then the songwriter says, “He built a reputation ‘cause he could hustle and steal, but got locked once and didn’t hesitate to squeal”...
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...they do not have to exhibit any human characteristics at all. Cathy is used in the novel East of Eden by John Steinbeck to portray the evil and inhumanity in people. Her character shows greed, lust, and darkness and the novel, and she represents the majority of the corruption in the novel as a whole. East of Eden is most widely known for being a biblical allusion. Cathy’s role in the allusion can be argued as two biblical figures: The Devil and Lilith. One common similarity shared between the devil and Cathy is having multiple faces or forms. According to the Bible, the Devil started in Heaven and then was sent to Earth as a serpent. When the serpent deceived Eve, he was damned to Hell and became known as Satan. Cathy follows a...
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...He can see things from a distance that a human eye is incapable of seeing. “But I know what it is. I know your name and all about you…” (Oates 4). Just by gazing off into the distance Arnold knew everything about Connie, where she was from, all about her friend, and where her family is. Not only could he tell her all about herself he knew the exact conversations and details going on at the barbeque when that is going on across town. Being able to see what others are doing without being there is not possible for any human. The way he acts suggests a symbolic satan. “The knowing reader can easily identify him as the devil” (Coulthard). One can tell by the way Arnold Friend treats others and Connie that he always gets what he wants. He is rude, yells, and calls Eddie names. No good person would do any say what he does. Even Connie admits she does not know what came over her when she left the house, she just walked away with him. Arnold even changes the subject to the dead woman down the street. “Hey you know the woman down the road… dead?, you know her?” (Oates 8). Arnold does not realize the woman down the road is dead because she is also his. He is around the people he takes so they are alive to him. Once the devil takes you there is nothing you can do. Arnold knows and sees things that no one else can and the way he treats Connie and takes her proves he is a symbolic...
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...Faust Wendy S Piper World Literature 3 Faust shows successfully our want for power and knowledge. You basically get a spoiled kid with every advantage, seeks out the devil, signs away his soul without serious contemplation, harasses various kings and religious types, then gets hacked to death when his contract expires. He explores the territory of longing for lost youth (or maybe how youth is squandered on the young), public shaming of a fallen woman, a somewhat deeper look at the question of "why be a brilliant scholar if I do not have as much power as God?" and does so eloquently. As I read Faust, I was pondering what the purpose of the characters in this book was. All of the characters seem to appear in the writing and play their part and then they are gone. We follow Faust and Mephistopheles through their journey and as they meet people we become intrigued by them only to never find out what has happened to them. The one character that we follow to the end is Gretchen. We see her life when she meets Faust and follow her until her death. I felt like we had been left to ponder the other characters and their purpose in the book. This happens with Faust as well. We never find out what happens to him. I felt like this was a story almost centered on Gretchen. I believe Faust will triumph in the end because he realizes that Mephistopheles is only messing everything up for him, and realize that having a fulfilling life isn't the same as what he thought...
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...of women in New England in the 17th century. She discusses the views of women who claimed that their souls had been affected by evil. Reis argues that these perceptions made the women of Salem in Massachusetts and the regions that surrounded it to be targeted by the law as being practitioners of witchcraft. The law therefore, targeted women more than men, and women viewed themselves as evil. The evil they committed made them sin more than men who considered themselves stronger, thus, easy for them to resist any temptation brought by Satan. The magistrates on the other hand agreed with those sentiments and, thus convicted women for being evil and agents of Satan (Reis 12). Witches were considered as agents of Satan. Reis also observes the changing perception that people had of the devil. She gives the account of the 17th and 18th century where the clergy and the congregation had changed their opinion of evil. The author’s observation gives the importance of the Salem trials. It became the turning point for Christian’s views. The Salem trials as presented by Reis, however, raise the question on the reasons why women were convicted of witchcraft. Another question that arises is the reason why many women made the most confessions. However, one cannot overlook the significance of the book because it gives the accounts that led to the views of Christians today. The author tries to stay focused and true to her message throughout the book. She uses a first-hand account of the people who...
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...I Saw the Devil “Somehow our devils are never quite what we expect when we meet them face to face”. The priest’s words echoed loudly inside of the holy church. I looked at the people around me. “He could be here” I thought. “He could be everywhere. Those fools don’t have a clue about what they are against. The priest continued: “May the devil make a ladder your bones – While he is picking apples in the garden of Hell”. I looked at the priest with a feeling of relief. I already knew that. I found out a long time ago. I felt it and saw it – everyday. The church remained behind me and the light went out. The darkness embraced me and my breath became even heavier. My footsteps echoed loudly as the rain outside started to fall - slowly and soft in the beginning and suddenly, without a sign, heavy and merciless. I put my worn jacket tighter around my shoulders and started jogging. “Damn it. The devil is here. The rain must have been a sign from God to tell me about this. I knew it. I had to hurry, before the he has captured me as his next prey”. I began to run while my heart was beating in my chest. I looked feverish behind my back to make sure I was not followed. No one was there. But I couldn’t relax, because he could be everywhere, couldn’t he? The old man, sitting on the bench and reading his newspaper, the little boy riding his blue bicycle or the fine well dressed woman walking her dog with all her expensive jewelry hanging around her neck. I could not let myself be fooled...
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