Songs of Holy Mary

Song #4
This is a story of great treachery, violence, and abuse. The son of a jew had a communion and was blessed the Holy Mary. His father asked him about his day and his son told him that he had just had his communion. Being that he is jewish, his father lost sanity and his right mind and threw his son in the furnace. However because he was baptized and had a great deal of appreciation for the Holy Mary and Christianity as a whole, Holy Mary looked after him and protected him from any pain just as God her son did for Hanananiah, Azriah, and Mishael. There was a direction connotation to Holy Mary holding her son in her arms on the alter. It was as if the little jewish boy was her son whom she held on to for dear life. The theme in this one is the opposite of song five. It is about faithfulness, acceptance for other religions, especially since Jesus himself was Jewish. It's also about believing and committing to your belief. Holy Mary obtains the role to save the Jewish boy whom showed faith and hope in Holy Mary. There is a religious commentary concerning Jews and Christians and the unsettling separation of the two. This story shows just how dangerous and violent religion is. It shows how it alters situations and personalities.
Song #5
The plot of this song is the way the empress over came many struggles and tribulations with the help of Holy Mary. The main theme in is the vindictive way of the people during this time period when they thought someone did something wrong or decitful. They acted upon only what they heard from each other and didn't act upon pure evidence. It was a series of bad events for the empress because her beloved emperor had to leave to Jerusalem show his loyalty to god. Under the alone supervision of the emperor's brother, he admitted to her that he loved her. He is betrayed his brother proving the theme of vindictively driven people and betrayal. The role of the Holy Mary is to help the empress in her time of need, in the ocean, during her beatings. Holy Mary saved the empress from hunger and gave her the strength and ability to cure. In terms of a political analyasis of this, there is no governmeant or judge to hear one's story. The people join together to dismiss and kill anyone they belive to have betrayed someone or stolen. The empress was continulosuly hurt by people who had love for her. Her emperor, a lover whom she didn't know killed a baby she was supposed to look after, and her brother in law.

Troubadour & Trobairitz

These two poems share a similar story of longing, heartbreaks, and unfulfilled desires. The emotions love brings out of these poets are very strong. Jaufre Rudel speaks about how his lover is "lands away" from him. He speaks about his longing to see her. He says I must love and not be loved. The depression and heart aches are evident. Sometimes being broken up with is easier than being apart from your lover because it forces you to move on, and you know it's the end. However the separation allows no reassurance and sense of commitment. The two poems in troubadour and trobairitz share a similar foundation of faithless, hopeless lovers. Rudel says, "But the path is blocked to my desire, a great curse on this godfather who doomed to be unloved." He also says how he wishes he were a prisoner for her. The extreme emotions love brings out are spoken about in both of these texts.
The Countess of DIA clearly brings forth a women's voice and thoughts. The poem starts off with her speaking about how she is longing for a lover. When she finds out she feels uncertain and worried. "I pray him to believe my words and not let anyone persuade him that i ever would betray him, except I found myself betrayed. Her lovers name is Floris, and she sings a song to him and tells him how she has been "tricked and cheated" by him. She finds comfort in the deiciving vindictive break-up. "There's one thing though that brings me recompense: I've never wronged you under any circumstance , and I love you more than Seguin loved Valensa. At least in love I have my victory. This is a very feminine trait and mentality because a man would not make that connection or recgognieze it. She tries to figure out why he has wronged her and decides it is his desire to sustain pride and superority. She says, "too much pride has undone many men."

Arabic Poetry

The signs of love indicates that love can easily be seen from looking into one's eye. This adds proof to the idea that love is indeed possible at first sight. It is added that "the eye is the wide gateway of the soul."The central idea of this story is that love is blind and causes us to act differently. This is a central theme for the two readings. In The Dove's Necklace, the idea that people become more suspicious and un trustworthy when they are in love. They question and interrogate their lover to ensure the truth comes out. "Lovers have evil thoughts of one another ; each suspects every word the partner utters and misconstructs it willfully." Once love emerges it is seemed to be infinite. "Love cleaves to such people's hearts and once it lays hold of them never looses grip." Love causes us to act different than we normally would especially to your lover specifically. Betrayal is not easy to overcome as most lovers would act violent and act upon blind fury. Love at first sight is condoned in this reading. "Often it happens that love fastens itself to the heart as a result of a single glance." As a result of this it is assumed that love will not last as long when you fall in love after a single glance. "The quicker they grow, the quicker they decay."

The Dove's Necklace carries into the Poems. The two of them stress the importance of the cause of one's relationship and admiration for one another. "Ibn Hazm states, "It's only cause is the will, and no one knows any cause but that, when we discover that a thing is its own cause, then it is an existence that is unperishing."The Dove's necklace states, "Every love affair must necessarily have some original cause" It is stressed by the two readings that the cause and foundation for love plays a huge part in the outcome and success of it. In the poem Ibn Hazm it is stated that, "...When we find its cause is something other than itself its destruction will come about when we lack that which gave it existence." This quote is the central theme or idea for both stories, it's a common ground.

Plato's Republic

It is suggested that the best of the kings are the best philosiphers, warriors, and that they sustain the vaule of their ethics. The ruler should also focus on virture and aspiration, as this is was the foundation for this greek culture. Their idea of the perfect government is a very Sparatan-like one. Their focus is to ensure power for the ruler. The role of the people is to be warriors. Occupations such as farming and other forms of manual labor will not be compensated for. Their idea of an equal economy amongst the people is presented. Their obligation is to be a fit, strong warrior. Escentially, the people will be fighting for money and the desire to be wealthy will be their life goal. This is because whoever has the most money will be the most powerful and can rule over poorer people. The people who do not have power or money succomb to being what they considerd evil. Socrates entitles these people"drones." 

Eventually the oligarchy dissolves into a democracy because their are few rich people left and the country is in poverty and the "drones" rebel against the rich and they are killed. Now the power is determined by the property you obtain. The freedom of speech is given to everyone, founding the idea of democracy. The democratic man succombs to his "unnecesary desires" but in the end appreciates all the luxorious things money can buy. The idea that we are persuaded by wrong and selfish desires founded our form of government. We live and work for money and power as oppose to trying to stabalize peace and harmony as well as equality.  

Odyssey 21-24

The bow symobilzes victory over the suitors. Penelope uses the bow to enforce reseantmeant and hate amongst the suitors. She gives them a bow because Minerva puts it in her mind too.
"Minerva now put it in Penelope's mind to make the suitors try their skill with the bow and with the iron axes, in contest among themselves, as a means of bringing about their destruction." The bow also repsresents a sense of Odysseus' nationalisim and pride he has for Ithaca. He did not bring the bow with him to Troy, he left at home to keep it safe. It is symbolic that he uses this swoard that helped him through his battles at home to regain his ground, wife, and to save his son. It also represents Odysseus' value and appreaciation of friendships because the bow was given to him by Iphitus, a valued friend. The bow also represents Telemachus' desire to fufill the same duties as his father and follow his footsteps as a war hero. It represents his fist step into man hood."...If I can string it and shoot through the iron, I shall not suffer my mother to quit this house with a stranger, not if I can win the prizes which my father won before me." The bow also symobilzes defeatment for the suitors. They do not carry the same strength to use his bow against him. One of the suitors explains his inability to take use of the bow, "What I feel most is the fact of our being so inferior to Ulysses in strength that we cannot string his bow. This will disgrace us in the eyes of those who are yet unborn." Penelope gives more signifigance to the bow, "If the stranger should prove strong enough to string the mighty bow of Ulysses, can you suppose that he would take me home with him and make me his wife?" The bow is a symbol of inevidable victory. The bow is a direct connotation with Odysseus and his infinite power.
 

The violence against the suitors and the guilty women can be justified. They had many chances to give up their desire of marrying Penelope and give the house back to their power. They also were planning to kill Odysseus' son. They were very disrespectful and violent. He does spare the life of a suitor.  "Here I am, my dear sir," said he, "stay your hand therefore, and tell your father, or he will kill me in his rage agahinst the suitors for having wasted his substance and been so foolishly disrespectful to yourself." Ulysses smiled at him and answered, "Fear not; Telemachus has saved your life, that you may know in future, and tell other people, how greatly better good deeds prosper than evil ones. Go, therefore, outside the cloisters into the outer court, and be out of the way of the slaughter- you and the bard- while I finish my work here inside." He his rage is justifiable and although he is embarking on a journey of tranquility and peace after fighting such a grusum war, the first step of this is ironically violence. The suitors had it coming to them. Even though they tried to talk it out and bribe Odysseus of a compensation for all the food they consumed, Odysseus refuses. The women were also punished and had to dispose of dead bodies and clean up after the cleansing of the suitors. Telemachus takes control, for if it had not been for him, the women might have gotten away under Odysseus' rule. "I shall not let these women die a clean death, for they were insolent to me and my mother, and used to sleep with the suitors." Telemachus saw the disrespect and dishonor of the women first hand and told his father about it. The Odyssey wouldn't be the Odyssey if it didn't end with such an epic victory and battle. 

Odyssey Books 6-10

Nausicaa encounters Odysseus on the beach at Scher while she is washing her clothes after Athena appeared in her dream telling her that she is lazy and needs to make more of an appearance for the men that wait on her. Odysseus tells Nausicaa how he has been stranded in the water for 20 days. She reacts sympathetically and tells her maids to clothe him. When Odysseus finds out that Nausicaa is the daughter of King Alcinous his automatic assumption is that he would show hatred towards him because he is a foreigner. This reflects on his past experiences with war and violence. When asked by King Alcinous how he was clothed he says,  "she is not to blame. She did tell me to follow along with the maids, but I was ashamed and afraid, for I thought you might perhaps be displeased if you saw me. Every human being is sometimes a little suspicious and irritable."  The peace and harmony he encounters is unfamiliar and reliving to him. He is surprised that King Alcinous and Queen Arete take such a huge likeing to him. King Alcinous insists he marries his daughter, Nausicaa."I am not the kind of man to get angry about nothing; it is always better to be reasonable; but by Father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, now that I see what kind of person you are, and how much you think as I do, I wish you would stay here, marry my daughter, and become my son-in-law. If you will stay I will give you a house and an estate, but no one (heaven forbid) shall keep you here against your own wish, and that you may be sure of this I will attend to-morrow to the matter of your escort..." This move represents his journey home because he is on land and in a very civilized, wealthy, home which resembles his own. He finds a guaranteed way home and his journey has begun. Odysseus embodies King Alcinous by maintaing power and authority in his home the way King Alcinous does. 


Odysseus' appearance plays a huge role in the appeal King Alcinous sees in him. "Every one was struck with the appearance of Ulysses, for Minerva had beautified him about the head and shoulders, making him look taller and stouter than he really was, that he might impress the Phaecians favourably as being a very remarkable man, and might come off well in the many trials of skill to which they would challenge him." King Alcinous really goes out of his way to ensure that Odysseus gets home saftley. He assigns "two and fifty" of his smartest sailors to help Odysseus embark on his journey. He also orders that a new ship be made to embark on the voyage. Lastly, he commands that a feast be made and his favorite singer, Demodocus obtained a "divine gift of song." Demodocus' songs are so touching and over whelming that Odysseus begins to sob, and hide his face to save him from embarrassment and humility. Odysseus is then challenged by Eurylaus to compete in their olympic games after the feast. Odysseus refuses as he wants to embark on his journey home. After being accused of not obtaining any athletic ability or will power, Odysseus replies, "Now, however, I am worn out by labour and sorrow, for I have gone through much both on the field of battle and by the waves of the weary sea; still, in spite of all this I will compete, for your taunts have stung me to the quick." His personality and morals are demonstrated. His "war-hero" mentality has been taken from him and he reacts very manly and assertively. As Odysseus is saying his goodbyes he says to Demodocus," Demodocus, there is no one in the world whom I admire more than I do you. You must have studied under the Muse, Jove's daughter, and under Apollo, so accurately do you sing the return of the Achaeans with all their sufferings and adventures. If you were not there yourself, you must have heard it all from some one who was. Now, however, change your song and tell us of the wooden horse which Epeus made with the assistance of Minerva, and which Ulysses got by stratagem into the fort of Troy after freighting it with the men who afterwards sacked the city. If you will sing this tale aright I will tell all the world how magnificently heaven has endowed you." Odysseus is taken back by his songs when he sings about the quarell between he and Achilles  Demodocus becomes a key player in Odysseus' voyage home by singing tales of Odysseus' and his men encountering sufferings and adventures. Demodocus' songs enact King Alcinous to ask about his warrior stories, past, and identity.    

Odyssey Books 1-5

The epic journey that is the theme and main discussion point of the Odyssey is Odysseu's return home. Although the story opens with Odysseus' inability and desire to return home, the story proceeds to focus on the impediments that get in Telemachus' way of finding himself in manhood. The story begins in the middle of chaos as oppposed to the victorious outcome of Troy. This reinforces the intensity of the drama between Telemachus and the Suitors whom he has to step up to in order to dive into man hood and regain his fathers real estate I belive this story will mainly be about Telemachus and his journey to man hood and saving his father. With his father gone, he takes on the role of the man of the house. Odysseus' story is not yet told because the context and the way it's written is much more intriguing and captivating for the audience. It sets the theme and idea that this will be about Odysseus' travel to go home as the loving hero he is, and for Telemachus to go to save his father so he too can loath in heroisim. He must also go to Pylos to ask Nestor about his father's where about's and see if he is still alive. He is told by Proteus that his father is still alive and being held captive by an obsessive lover, Calypso.

Telemachus is a 20 year old who lives in his fathers shadow. He wants to be a devoted, strong prince and do justice as prince for his father. He embarks on a journey to find and save his father, when in reality he is also saving himself from his insecurities and douts. He is protected by gods and godesses because of his good intentions and ambitions. Telemachus telling the suitors of their banishment from his fathers' estate symbolizes the first step he takes to becoming a man, "let there be no brawling, for it is a rare thing to hear a man with such a divine voice as Phemius has; but in the morning meet me in full assembly that I may give you formal notice to depart, and feast at one another's houses, turn and turn about, at your own cost. If on the other hand you choose to persist in spunging upon one man, heaven help me, but Jove shall reckon with you in full, and when you fall in my father's house there shall be no man to avenge you."