Beowulf

Beowulf wants passionately everlasting glory through performing great deeds of superior strength and heroic courage in order for him to be fondly remembered. The fierce warriors of Beowulf also seek considerable fame through remarkable feats of strength, extraordinary bravery in the eager face of imminent danger, as well as by boasting about their strength, bravery.“Then Beowulf became ruler of the broad kingdom, the realm of the Geats, which he ruled over well for fifty long winters”,(Line 1254-1255). The lifelong quest for eternal fame is traditional of the utmost importance to a fierce warrior intentionally trying to establish himself in the civilized world. However, the quest for established fame naturally comes with an ultimate price. One's quest for fame can undoubtedly result in pride. Fame involves a desire to be great, and it also involves becoming great in order to bring strength and power to one's people. Fame in Beowulf is popularly associated with noble generosity and community. The man who seeks fame can also bear shame to himself if his courage forsakes him. In Beowulf, Shame is not a mere embarrassment. It's a kind of curse that broadcasts to the world that you, your family, and your people lack the courage, will, or might to protect yourselves.“In his own homeland, the thane of Hygelac, the valiant Geat, heard the tales told of Grendel. This Geat was among men the greatest in strength, most noble and mighty, for as long as his life-days were destined to last”,(line 1005-1007). Beowulf fights unarmed, proving himself more capable than the demon, who is terrified. As Grendel struggles, Beowulf tears the mythical monster’s arm off. The severed arm is displayed high in the mead-hall as a trophy of victory securing more fame and glory to the people who look up very highly to Beowulf. “Your fame is renowned wherever men journey, my dear friend Beowulf, among all the peoples. You hold power with balance, with the wisdom of mind. Now I shall fulfill our friendship as we earlier agreed. And you shall bring peace to your people for a long time to come, a source of strength to the heroes” (line 1049-1052). Hrothgar showers Beowulf with generous gifts and treasure at a grand feast in his prestigious honor. Songs are performed in praise of Beowulf, and the celebration lasts late into the night which is a perk of being well known by encountering major battles to influence him where he needs to be. However, fame does not last forever, and another battle with a dragon did not do Beowulf well. A dragon bites Beowulf in the neck, and its fiery venom exterminates him moments after their encounter. This adequately reflects on how the wide-ranging responsibilities of a mighty king, who must act wisely for the good of the local people and not just for his own glory, typically differ from those of the heroic warrior. One key aspect Beowulf seemed to lack through his personal arrogance of the considerable fame and divine glory that went up to his foolish head.

Mental Impact of Infidelity rough draft

Mental Impact of Infidelity 

A woman discarded by her husband for another more adolescent woman and a more ‘suitable’ match not only happens in movies and telenovelas. Infidelity by the husband is not an unusual occurrence in today's society nor in the amid the material of Greek myths. The tragic play Medea addresses infidelity in a short-lived marriage through an emotional turmoil of heartbreak and mixed feelings that she receives from the abandonment of her husband. Jason had foreseen a more valuable opportunity for him to advance in life. Ultimately, believing he would become king. A thoughtless act made by Jason and a majority of others who decide infidelity is the sole way to happiness and ultimate success. A devoted wife and innocent children are left behind to defend themselves against the harsh judgment of the trauma they are currently enduring. An unfaithful person additionally became an arrogant individual. With breaking trust with his wife Medea she had been encountered with the brokenness, betrayal, and pain forsaking her in an unstable mindset of possible suicidal thoughts. Through all the emotional pain, she had also turned her heart cold towards her dependent children as well as affecting essentially everyone who was around her. Medea is by far the best literacy work for contemporary readers that I would recommend. The relevance/importance of the literary work Medea is due to the connections that can be made to modern day with gender role stereotypes, divorce, and the toll it takes in human mindset. Medea is a literary work that deals with modern-day tragedies Readers should put Euripides Medea at the top of their lists because of the Modern day relevance of the psychological toll it takes an on a person who has undergone infidelity. 

In the literary work Medea, Euripides lived vicariously during the Golden Age of Athens. Euripides' typically composes older contemporaries playwrights undoubtedly created the dramatic tradition that would be amplified significantly. Euripides' standing as the most tragic of prominent poets, a dramatic innovator admired by other philosophers. Defenses of oppressed groups of women and slaves enter heartily his historical plays as well shedding light on the gender stereotypes women face till this day. Gender role within the play embodies stereotypes between a man who is unfaithful and women, a woman always being devoted to him and her family. “I am at enmity with friends at home, and I’ve made enemies of those I should not have done evil too—just to do you a favor. And in return, how blessed you’ve made me among Greek women”(line 506 - 510). A woman typically sacrifices for their man going reluctantly against her family. Men completely disregard all women did for their significant other and simply only cares about himself and his own well being. When Medea was talking to the people in Corinth, she presents a bold statement of how women are still being treated till this day and the injustices of it. “First we must buy ourselves a husband, at great cost, and thus acquire a master over our own bodies—a second evil still more grievous than the first”(line 40 - 41). She forcibly expresses wicked men still having control over women. Man is still superior over a woman. If a personal dilemma is solemnly presented in the relationship, a woman is faced with harsh criticism from others as opposed to a man. She has no other choice to accept what comes her way. “The greatest ordeal here is whether we will get a worthwhile or a bad one; for departure harms a woman’s reputation, and she can’t refuse a husband”(line 235-238). It also merely expresses that even if women do nothing wrong in the relationship but the man has foolishly left her women’s critical reputation has been severely tarnished. Being a woman in the play signifies that although we provide the best of the best for our significant other people is going to favor the man over the women.Thus, women must stay quiet and must settle for the new life they are given.

Works cited 

Euripides, and Ruby Blondell. Women on the Edge: Four Plays by Euripides. Routledge, 1999.

Odyssey Blog Post

In the Odyssey revenge is shown through different perspectives of the peculiar characters. It presents the perspective of those who seek revenge and those of the consequences of their revenge. When Athena had talked to Telemachus who was in search of his long-lost father, she had mentioned the suitors plans to assassinate him to receive more benefit. She was already in relentless determination to merely provide aggressive actions to their personal consequence of what they were already setting up. “The suitors’ ringleaders have set up an ambush In the strait between Ithaca and rocky Samos. They mean to kill you before you make it home. I don't think they will. Those mooching suitors will be in their graves before they can get at you”(line 30-34). Athena revenge was based wrongdoing to others that was not necessarily done to injure her. She believes in correcting the wrongs of people who express malicious intentions. Telemachus equally receives a personal glimpse of those who went through with their own revenge and what effect it inevitably has on them. Theoclymenus killing one of his own whom he considered a brother currently is confronted with the fear of the revenge the group has for him. "I, too, have left my country, because I killed a man, one of my own clan. He has many brothers and kinsmen left In bluegrass Argos, powerful men, and I am on the run to escape a black fate at their hands. It seems I am doomed to be a wanderer”(line 29-35). Theoclymenus merely proves that although causing harm to someone else that may at the time have been a good idea and resolve his own problems had inadvertently created more issues for himself. Allowing him from being surrounded by many people who had cherished him to isolation. Inevitably leaving him to be alone and fend for himself until he is protected from the undesirable consequence he will receive overwhelmingly.

On the other hand, when Odysseus has ultimately returned to avenge the suitors who have caused nothing but trouble to his wife and son. The suitors had forcibly taken over his personal home and aggressively courted his wife while Odysseus was trapped on the desolate island still alive. His personal revenge was solely of all the emotional pain and torment that these suitors have inadvertently caused for the battered women that were reluctantly forced to sleep with them.“You dogs! You thought I would never come home from Troy. So you wasted my house,
Force the women to sleep with you, And while I was still alive you courted my wife
Without any fear of the gods in high heaven Or of any retribution from the world of men.
Now the net has been drawn tight around you.” (line38-44). Telemachus revenge has been scarcely for the personal arrogance of the suitors and for the armed defense of his outraged father. “The true son of godlike Odysseus slung on His sharp sword, seized his spear, and gleaming in bronze took his place by his father's side”(line 461-464). Odysseus revenge was admittedly, to begin desperately with the gruesome killing of Antinous for he was merely the alleged ringleader behind all the malicious intentions. “I'll see if I can hit a mark that no man has ever hit. Apollo grant me glory”(line 5-7). Once the suitors had seen the power and strength of Odysseus they knew they to would be avenged for what they had contributed. They sustained an act of cowardliness even though they were not troubled before when they were performing heinous actions.“Now he's been killed, and he deserved it. But spare your people. We will pay you back for all we have eaten and drunk in your house” (line 56-58). Therefore, the suitors know their time had come, and karma was about to take over even though they begged and pleaded for mercy. Ultimately, it causes the deaths of all suitors and Odysseus seeking the justice they had deserved after an extended period of time.

Gilgamesh Blog Post

     Gilgamesh Being two-thirds God and one-third Human was not only a terrible person through the constant raping of women. In addition to was a terrible king to his people. In order to somewhat seek redemption on himself, he was not afraid to challenge powerful God-like figures.
“As for human beings, their days are numbered, and whatever they keep trying to achieve is but wind! Now you are afraid of death--what has become of your bold strength?”(Line 230-233). He did not want human limitations and sought for mortality to become more of a God. The journey he bestowed Upon himself was to prove others and mainly to himself that he is more of a God than human by wanting that power in return for a glorious deed he must do. “I want to make myself more mighty, and will go on a distant(?) journey!”(line 263).Therefore, when Gilgamesh has aggressively gone throughout this lengthy journey with Enkidu, he aggressively challenges Humbaba a demonic monster not only to be a hero like a figure once again but to prove himself of his personal greatness of a God that he so desperately wants to become. When returning with the decapitated head of Humbaba to his kingdom a princess Ishtar has confessed her love only to be scorned and indignantly rejected by Gilgamesh. "Father, Gilgamesh has insulted me over and over, Gilgamesh has recounted despicable deeds about me, despicable deeds and curses!”(line 80-83). Ultimately, it has inevitably led to an attempted killing of Gilgamesh and the tragic death of Enkidu who has passed wearily through debilitating illness. At this critical point, there may have been merely a overwhelming sense of negative karma of his past wrongdoings.

     He subsequently undergoes another journey or ideal hero like nature to the underworld in order to rescue his dear friend. "I am going to die!--am I not like Enkidu?! Deep sadness penetrates my core, I fear death, and now roam the wilderness--I will set out to the region of Utanapishtim, son of Ubartutu, and will go with utmost dispatch!" (line 1-5). He desperately tried to achieve a successful journey, his personal limitation of being merely a human had unwittingly caused him to fail miserably his personal journey. However, when Utanapishtim has scarcely explained to Gilgamesh about a peculiar way to be escaped of death, he set on another quest to achieve his legitimate desire after unsuccessful attempts in his previous journey.“(Yes, you are a) human being, a man (?)! After Enlil had pronounced the blessing, the Anunnaki, the Great Gods, assembled”(line 29-31). At this critical point, Gilgamesh has not yet accepted himself for whom he is and is desperate to keep on going. He is miserable with himself as part human. When being challenged by Utanapishtim for immortality Gilgamesh has accepted his unusual request.“Now then, who will convene the gods on your behalf, that you may find the life that you are seeking? Wait! You must not lie down for six days and seven nights”(line 204-203). Gilgamesh naively assuming not being able to sleep would be easy had thought wrong and yet failed once again only to reluctantly return empty-handed on again.“Gilgamesh and Urshanabi boarded the boat, they cast off the magillu-boat, and sailed away”(line 264-265). No matter how many journeys Gilgamesh had caused he ultimately had no successful missions only tragedy. This may have resulted disastrously from all the personal wrong he had done to those helpless women and how terrible of a cruel king he was.