Jesus Christ and The Misfit in Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man Is Hard t

Jesus Christ and The Misfit in Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man Is Hard to Find In Flannery O’Connor’s â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard to Find,† there are numerous Christian themes found all through the story, yet the one that I discovered most fascinating is the way that O’Connor is obviously drawing matches between The Misfit and Jesus Christ. At first it appears as though it is highly unlikely this could really be genuine what could the Son of God who yielded Himself to benefit humankind share for all intents and purpose with a cheat and a looter who escapes from prison and murders a group of six without hesitating? Upon closer assessment, we can see that they are more comparable than one may at first think. The principal understanding we might have the option to draw is regarding the matter of names. The Misfit is a term that could without much of a stretch be applied to Christ. In His time, Christ was an untouchable, a dissident, and a man who didn't fit the standards of the general public wherein He lived. He chipped away at the day of rest, He become friends with charge gatherers and whores, and He drove the moneychangers out of the Temple in Jerusalem. (Imprint 3, Matthew 9, Matthew 21). T...

Religion and Hip Hop analysis free essay sample

HIP Hop Is a social artistic expression whose components Like Mincing, eating breakfast, spray painting, and Digging are used by taking an interest individuals to delineate their background and their general surroundings. Hip Hop craftsmen and most melodies show strict perspectives like imparting to an otherworldly, thinking about existential inquiries, and the explanation of subjectivity.One tune that represent distinctive strict viewpoints is Lord Knows by Ace Hood. Ace Hood Is seen as a longshot lyricist who found the footlight by entering the rap game and discussing his life and attempting to draw associations between his biographies and his audience members. Master Knows Is one of a couple of melodies from Ace Hoods collection entitled Blood, Sweat, and Tears. That collection title implies the shedding of blood through all the perspiring from hardships and discharging tears from minor difficulties or failures.Ace Hoods tune Lord Knows is about Ace Hood communicating to God his hardships that God definitely know. We will compose a custom paper test on Religion and Hip Hop examination or on the other hand any comparable point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page In his tune, Ace discussions about his hardships of the expulsion letter his mom had, his mom going to lose her home ND he despite everything put her through a ton of stress, having no food, and pondering will he be fit to be a dad for his up and coming little girls. Expert Hood convey this tunes as a petition to God to see will he answer him and guide him in the correct way to opportunity of these hardships.In Lord Knows, Ace Hood imparts to God by saying Dear Lord, I see all the issue Im going to communicate to you, Are things you definitely know, Well here goes nothing. This arrangement of verses resembles an open letter where Ace feels it Is important to alert out what he Is feeling where it counts Inside. With the end line of the introduction, Ace implies that God definitely realizes what issues he experienced so he Is going to reveal to him in any case since he dont have nothing to lose. Also, Ace says My God what Im going do now?So focused on that the day pass by, Devil on me and I dont know why, ask mom Just please dont cry. In this arrangement of verses, Ace is conveying to God and keeping in mind that doing that he posed an existential inquiry of what he going to do currently cause so much negative Impulses, a case of the fiend, experie nced his life which left him confounded and sad not realizing how to manage life. Most craftsman Incorporate this thought of a demon as detestable, scorn, begrudge, causation of show, and even haters. In conclusion, Ace parts of the bargains saying In your name I supplicate, Amen which is an outline of a typical expression utilized by Christians to end a petition in the wake of conveying to God requesting pardoning or for the bettering of a relative, companion, or self. Furthermore, in Lord Knows, Ace Hood explains his subjectivity. In refrain 1 Ace says, Time get a little unpleasant I know, when I cannot surrender I dont, Got twin and theyre in transit, see the stars when the I wont, Sometimes I ask myself will I be a decent dad, Cause Ive never had mine would I give the world to my daughters.This set of verses communicates that Ace is expecting twin girls and he is uncertain whether he will be reasonable to be a dad since his dad wasnt there however he wont stop his crush for anything. This arrangement of verses assesses Aces complex subjectivity of him going past social classifications and cliché Houghton of how dark men run of the mill leave their youngsters and never return. He monetarily stable to help a family.On that note, Ace represents his dynamic self by saying And consistently that I wake I crush no time never hang tight for mine. His expresses the dynamic self by realizing achievement wont come thumping on the entryway, so he won't resemble every other person and sit on his behind, he will be novel and pursue achievement. On that note, Ace spills his contemplations out in each melody he makes in which he knows his difficult work and commitment will pay off.Ace Hood makes the collection Blood, Sweat, and Tears to communicate his inspiration to granulate which incorporates him shedding hard work to achieve something troublesome with the direction of God. Expert Hood put his everything into this collection to reveal insight to individuals who are occupied with a troublesome life and disclose to them that is it conceivable to conquer anything as long as they attempt to discover answers for their issues. All things considered, Ace Hood seen a ton change during his youth to introduce that he has a lot of confidence in God and for him to keep on having faith in him.

Should You Avoid These Top 10 LinkedIn Profile Overused Buzzwords

Should You Avoid These Top 10 LinkedIn Profile Overused Buzzwords LinkedIn has released its annual report on the Top 10 Overused LinkedIn Profile Buzzwords of 2013. This year they analyzed only English-language profiles. As you read this year’s list, consider for each term whether it’s one you should avoid due to overuse, or whether it’s simply an essential word to have in your profile. As I look through the buzzwords, I find I have a different opinion on each one. Here’s the list: Responsible Strategic Creative Effective Patient Expert Organizational Driven Innovative Analytical RESPONSIBLE Responsible is a word I have banished from resumes and LinkedIn profiles for years now. I think it must have risen to the top as other overused buzzwords such as “extensive experience,” “results-oriented,” “proven track record” and “team player” have been shaved off most people’s profiles. Avoid using “responsible” in your profile â€" it doesn’t tell anyone about what you actually did! I’m hoping that the appearance of “Responsible” on LinkedIn’s list will shrink its appearance on resumes. STRATEGIC I’m frankly shocked that strategic just appeared on the top 10 list for the first time this year. I believe its emergence as #2 is a testament to the importance of the word. When your job includes strategic planning you must use this word, since it is central to your business role. If you claim you are a strategic thinker, however, be sure to include examples of that thinking and the results it has produced. CREATIVE Creative ranked #1 last year and is #3 now. I don’t love this word and rarely use it. “Creative” describes people more than accomplishments and is better left for other people to say about you. Anyone can say they’re creative but the challenge is to prove it. Instead of relying on this buzzword, attach photos and PowerPoints showing your work; provide links to your writing; and describe the ways in which you’ve done things that other people have not. EFFECTIVE Effective, which moved from #3 to #4 this year, is a throw-away word in my opinion, often easily avoided by reporting actual results. If you got your intended results, your strategy was effective. PATIENT Patient? I’m not sure why this word is suddenly on the top 10 list. I’d say scrap it. Patient is a trait you need to demonstrate, not claim on a piece of paper. EXPERT Everyone’s claiming to be an expert these days. If you can truly demonstrate expertise in a particular area, I think it’s okay to use the word (of course this is coming from a woman who calls her company The Essay Expert!) I believe some people might search for terms like “E-Learning Expert” or “Turnaround Expert” ; if they do, you want to have the word “Expert” in your headline and job titles. My caveat would be not to claim you are an expert if you’re really not. Be honest or someone could easily call your bluff. ORGANIZATIONAL Organizational first appeared on the buzzword list as #2 in 2011 and kept its ranking in 2012; it has slipped to #7 but is still on the list and I can understand why. Most LinkedIn members are mid- to upper-level managers and executives, for whom organizational goals are extremely important. I think this buzzword is here to stay, at least for a while, and I see no problem with using it. DRIVEN Driven has started to replace “Results-oriented” as a favorite descriptive word. Take note of its overuse and see if you can provide examples that show your drive instead of calling yourself “driven.” If you would use this word as one of the top three adjectives to describe yourself, you might choose to keep it in your profile. But know that it will be taken with a grain of salt. INNOVATIVE Innovative is a persistent one. It was #2 on the list in 2010, #7 in both 2011 and 2012. Honestly this word is a hard one to eliminate if you are in any sort of product marketing or management role. It’s better than “original” or “creative” in my opinion. If you need to use it, use it. But make sure to explain *what* was innovative about your ideas. Don’t just say “innovative” and think that explains something. ANALYTICAL Finally, analytical is a word that you might need to use if you’re in marketing, finance, or any profession for which analysis is critical. Only claim to be analytical if analyzing things makes your heart sing and is central to the work you do. WHAT’S NEXT? For the first time this year, I have a vision of a world where the top 10 buzzwords on LinkedIn are not “overused,” but instead rank as the important words in business for the year. Let’s cut away the fluff and drill down to the essentials. Anyone with me? Buzz Buzz!

Discipleship Models A Christian Worldview Essay

Discipleship is a process by which one individual helps another become a disciple, or convinced adherent (Merriam-Webster, 2016), of a teacher or movement. Although there are many discipleship models available, a comparison of two discipleship models – LifeShapes (Breen and Cockram, 2009) and Disciplines (Foster, 2002) – reflects two different attempts to teach the same concepts. The following represents a contrast of the key components of the two discipleship models, a discussion of the models considering a Christian worldview, potential applications of the discipleship models, and the presentation of a new discipleship model. Contrast of Key Components of Selected Discipleship Models While discipleship models vary in method, most attempt to teach young Christians the basics that are believed necessary for successful Christianity. The challenge arises in determining what successful Christianity looks like and what disciplines are necessary to reach that goal. Although both models agree on an ‘in, out, and up† (Breen and Cockram, 2009; Foster, 2002) core thrust to discipleship, LifeShapes (Breen and Cockram, 2009) offers a shape-driven mnemonic device (Seay and McAlum, 2010) for presenting Christian behaviors as aspects of church culture whereas the Disciplines (Foster, 2002) model uses a content-reflective (Ochs, 2009; Kirpalani, 2016) approach to examine twelve disciplines considered to be Church classics (Foster, 2002). LifeShapes LifeShapes (Breen and Cockram, 2009)Show MoreRelatedSpiritual Formation Is The Transformation Of The Head, Heart, And Hands Essay1682 Words   |  7 Pageschange in actions. This change is rooted in a Biblical worldview which shapes and molds all else based upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. Joseph Allotta says it well when he says, â€Å"The work of discipleship is so much more than moral development. The goal is to have young people being able to make their own decisions about following Christ for the rest of their lives.† To integrate this growth and development within the classroom of a Christian school we must seek to both understand the process ofRead MoreDiscipleship : A Vision For Our Church1673 Words   |  7 PagesPlanning for Intentional Discipleship from Birth to Glory: A Vision for Our Church In accordance with our church mission statement, the objective of this plan is to justify the need for Christian education within our church, using Scripture as the supreme authority and example, and identify strategies in which we might intentionally seek to develop a Biblical system of discipleship for our congregation throughout the entire lifespan. This discipleship plan will serve as a model to follow when determiningRead MoreTheological Issues On The Body Of A Person Is Broken Through The Lens Of The Adult Mind1436 Words   |  6 Pagesattempting to bring this kaleidoscope of memories and life experiences into focus and for the victim to become a survivor, mentors, a community structure and a strong sense of conviction will aid in the development of resiliency. Within the spiritual model beliefs, values, social support, a sense of efficacy and hope are important; however, beliefs alone are inadequate for healing. Practical application of attitudes and beliefs is critical in providing a sense of relief and hope (Yarhouse et al., 2005Read MoreChristian Philosophy Of Education, Evangelism, And Discipleship937 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to Schultz (2003) a Kingdom-focused education must be built on the following four points: Jesus Christ, A Biblical Philosophy of Education, Evangelism, and Discipleship. The most appropriate place for Kingdom education to start is in the family where children are taught that â€Å"only salvation in Christ can perfect a person† (Schultz, 2003, p.19). Because Kingdom education is rooted in development of a personal relationship with Christ it exists as a present reality and not a future physicalRead MoreDeveloping a Christian Worldview of Spiritual Formation and Growth2200 Words   |  9 PagesDeveloping a Christian Worldview of Spiritual Formation and Growth Liberty University Abstract This paper looks at how spiritual formation and growth can develop through a person’s lifetime. The goal is to show how modern day human development theories relate to Christlike living. Erikson’s developmental theory and Kohlberg’s moral development theory both give a guide to maturity in a secular worldview. 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Although it is unlikely to sway the population of the area, developing a discipleship mentality of leadership for use within the Research Triangle area can touch pockets of those that call the area home and for those that are temporary hires within specific industries. The polity of the church is a unique mix of traditional idealsRead MoreIn the Redeemers Hands1648 Words   |  7 PagesSummary of Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands Paul D. Tripp authored a work that promotes the world of biblical counseling that is not bound to a professional clinical model but incorporates the daily ministry lifestyle founded on the Scriptures. Tripp emphasizes the gospel of Jesus Christ as the hope for those who have lost hope. The moment when sin entered the world through Adam’s fall brought forth guilt, fear, and shame became the standard. In a few pages, Tripp wrote the story of the Fall andRead MoreEssay On Strategic Stewardship1418 Words   |  6 PagesBiblical curriculum and chapel program that parents want. The primary reason that the families send their children to our school is that the truths of Scripture are openly and passionately taught in the classrooms, as well as prayers and the discipleship worldview in all areas of life are modeled and encouraged by teachers and staff. Parents appreciate and value the school’s commitment to partner with families to educate and train children to be ambassador s of Christ. Defining and maintaining the overallRead MoreI Delve Into The Gospel Essentials2033 Words   |  9 Pagesapproximately 173 million Americans identified themselves as Christian out of the 243 million Americans in the country (America’s 2015). This is an impressive number of people who believe that they are Christian, but what is a Christian? How does one become a Christian, and what are the core beliefs within the world view? These are the questions I aim to answer in this essay, as I delve into the gospel essentials. God According to the Christian worldview, there is one true God who is our all-powerful creator

My Philosophy of Education Essay - 789 Words

Philosophy of Education The first and most important reason that I want to become an educator is because of my love for children. I cherish the thought of being involved in a childs learning process. I think that my classroom will have a mixture of the philosophy of idealism and pragmatism. I want to be very knowledgeable in my area of teaching and I love the idea of teaching what I know to my students. My students are going to challenge themselves as learners. Any problems that arise in my classroom will be handled by me the student in an appropriate manner. I also want to engage learning by using first-hand activities. Reading, writing, and arithmetic will be emphasized greatly in my classroom. I want the class†¦show more content†¦Supplemental supplies are important to a classroom because they allow me to touch all of the senses of the students. They will be very available for me as the educator and also for my students. Projects will be important in my classroom because they will allo w the students to express themselves. These projects are important to give my students a well-rounded education. I want to have control of my classroom from Day 1. Respect must be established between the teacher and the student at the beginning for a classroom to function properly. Respect is a very healthy feeling to own and receive. Consistency in classroom organization by keeping a timely schedule is important for productive learning time for students. Valuable learning time is to be treasured. By planning ahead and being prepared, organization will be performed in a timely manner. This will increase engagement time, actual time students are engaged in learning. Rewards are very important to students because is shows them that they did a fantastic job. These rewards may be as minimal as a sticker on a good paper, but the child loves the recognition. Students will also be motivated if they are involved in the learning process. Distractions and discipline problems will reduce if the students areShow MoreRelatedMy Philosophy On The Philosophy Of Education844 Words   |  4 PagesIn mathematics, as in life, everything must be brought to the simplest of terms. I base my teaching philosophy on the foundation that every student is capable of learning mathematics. I will strive, as a teacher, to ensure that my students are able to have a strong foundation of mathematical skills when they leave my classroom. Some students believe that they are not mathematically gifted; therefore, incapable of learning mathematics. I believe to the contrary, all students with motivation, sustainedRead MoreMy Philosophy On Philosophy Of Education852 Wo rds   |  4 PagesMy Philosophy of Education My philosophy of education is founded on a belief that all students have a desire to learn and to feel accepted. Learning takes place when students are able to have their specific needs meet inside the classroom, to feel accepted in the environment, and find the learning to be meaningful. I believe that before learning can take place a proper educational environment must be present inside the classroom. In order to make any classroom work I believe you need meet three criteriaRead MoreMy Philosophy Of Education As A Education864 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferent philosophy of education, and what purpose education serves in a child’s life. The five philosophies of education that we recognize are: Essentialism, Perennialism, Progressivism, Social Reconstructionism, and Existentialism. I would most recognize my philosophy of education as Essentialism. Essentialism has been a dominant influence in American education since World War II. It focuses on core curriculum of traditional academic topics. I believe that the purpose of education is teachingRead MoreMy Philosophy of Education824 Words   |  4 Pages13 February 2011 My Philosophy of Education I believe that progressivism educational philosophy most closely matches my educational ideals. In my opinion based on the progressivism educational philosophy, the purpose of education is to enable students to learn useful knowledge that has meaning to them in the future. Thus, the most useful education for students is the skill of â€Å"learning how to learn†. When students understand the methodsRead MoreMy Philosophy Of Education And Education1038 Words   |  5 PagesMy Philosophy of Education When trying coming up with a personal philosophy of education, I had to ask myself what the purpose of education is. To me, the purpose of education is to teach students knowledge that is needed to make it through school and to succeed in the world after graduation. Anyone can go into teaching, but not every teacher can teach. Teachers go above and beyond to introduce methods, philosophies, and strategies to help their students learn, as well as, retain the informationRead MoreMy Education Philosophy 1511 Words   |  6 PagesPersonal Mission Statement Education is the imparting and acquiring of knowledge and skills through teaching and learning. As an educator, my personal mission statement is to master my subject area in order to serve as a role model for my students thereby producing students who thoroughly understand the subject matter, and who develop holistically. In order to achieve this goal I must have a set education philosophy with a strong Christian worldview. I must also have a general understanding of theRead MoreMy Philosophy Of Education1056 Words   |  5 PagesPhilosophy of Student Engagement My philosophy of education is that every child should receive high quality education that is inclusive, relevant and meaningful to their life. I am a firm believer of making pedagogy relatable to my students. My vision is driven by my personal experiences with the American school system. I was what is thought of as â€Å"A child at risk†. I am an immigrant, black, Muslim student. My life is transactional as I am a part of multiple marginalized groups. Most of my teachersRead MoreMy Philosophy Of Education And Education864 Words   |  4 PagesPhilosophy of Education Children are the future and their education is the key to our society’s success. When considering this, I realize I have an immense responsibility as an educator. The main focuses of my teaching are active learning, building character within students, and providing meaningful curriculum. I want to create a comfortable setting where every student feels safe to learn. In many ways, my philosophy agrees with the holistic approach to education. I feel this challenges the studentRead MoreMy Philosophy on Education814 Words   |  3 PagesMy Philosophy of Education I think when I made the decision to become a teacher I was not thinking the seriousness of this decision. When we become teachers we also become the molder that will shape our student to be successful in life. But when you decide to become a teacher in a Christian school you are not only shaping this student to be successful in life but we are also shaping their Christian mind to do things with a feeling knowing that they are shape and where made by the image of GodRead MoreMy Philosophy Of Education1015 Words   |  5 Pagesimmediately sparked my interest in becoming an educator and share my personal beliefs on the important aspects of education. In addition to this, I will present various traits I believe are essential and critical for teachers to successfully fulfill their role as an educator. During my elementary years, I developed an urge to frequently ask many questions during the school day. Being able to question anything was astonishing to me. This was because my parents were unable to answer my questions and help

Causes of the English Civil War Free Essays

Causes of The English Civil War In this assessment I will be analysing the many causes and roots of the English Civil war which broke out in 1642. The English civil war was a long chain of conflict and rivalry, which was set between two very powerful forces, who consisted of The Royalists (King Charles I, and his supporters), and the Roundheads (Parliament, and their supporters). The feud erupted on the 22nd of August 1642, and lasted for 7 years, when its final action took place in 1649. We will write a custom essay sample on Causes of the English Civil War or any similar topic only for you Order Now There were many reasons for this intellectual battle, including political arguments, economical arguments and also religious arguments, which will be categorised and stated in this essay. To begin with, one of the fundamental causes of The Civil War includes a religious argument, about James I’s and Charles I’s dedication to the ‘Divine Rights of Kings’. The Divine Rights of Kings was a religious doctrine, which states that a monarch is to have no authority to the will of his/her people, deriving the right to rule directly from the will of only God. James and Charles were both very firm, believers of The Divine Rights of Kings especially that, as to begin with James expected a great amount of attention from Parliament, by letting him make his own decisions, and did not expect any of his decisions to be argued with. However at this time, Parliament consumed a major advantage over James, as parliament contained a great amount of money, whereas James was constantly short of it. It was from his father that Charles acquired to also be a very strong devotee to the Divine Rights of Kings, as he realised the damaged relationship which was left between his father and Parliament, and blamed this action entirely on Parliament. This led to a complete ignorance with the Parliament, from Charles, and set his Godly rights to do as he pleased. But this action was considered a huge shock to Parliament, during this time, as parliament had experienced to be more powerful under the period of the Tudors, and anticipated current Kings and Queens to listen and abide by their commands, just like Elizabeth I had done, by being a succeeding sovereign, listening wisely to the Parliament, and standing by their rules. But the actions of Charles meant that the power of Parliament had been undertaken by the monarch, and their reputation continued to weaken. Because of this parliament now despised Charles very much. All these actions shows that The Divine Rights of Kings is implied as a very significant reason to foundation of the civil war, as it is considered as the main reason for the start of the whole dispute and disagreement between the Royalists and Roundheads. This whole feud continued to develop, as parliament were increasingly getting more frustrated, with the fact that James I and Charles I, were acting even more foolishly upon idiotic decisions they made. An important political reason for this is that both Charles I and James I, thoughtlessly and carelessly, choses the most unhelpful advisors for themselves. James I choose the Duke of Buckingham, for the most idiotic reason; because he was good looking. James thought that the Public would be attracted to this reason, but unfortunately were not, as Buckingham came out to be very stupid and a waste of choice. Charles also foolishly chose his advisor, by selecting his best friend the Earl of Strafford, which was a he mistake as he public hated him, which led to a bad impression on the king. Another action that Gave Charles a bad impression was the amount of money that was wasted by him, by spending a hefty amount on insignificant things, such as cloths, parties and palaces. But this meant that Charles was continuously losing his money, and therefore, always ended up asking Parliament for more money. Charles found other ways to get more money, as he also need money for a war taking place against Spain at the time. One way Charles’s used was asking Parliament to increase taxes, so that he could gain the money he needed, but unfortunately this didn’t happen as Parliament refused to give the money to Charles, as Parliament had a list of demand to get more power off the King. But Charles did not take any of this, as he would not allow his power to be destroyed and taken away by Parliament, and in a terrible rage of anger he made the simple decision to shut down Parliament in 1629 for 11 years, which changed England politically, as it meant that there was now less control over England, to guide its path! making this decisions also lead to consequences, as now that Parliament was gone, he needed to depend another resort to get more money. In 1635, Charles decided made a very important economic decision to resort to the ancient custom of demanding ship money. Ship money was an ancient tax, when kings were able to order coastal towns and villages to pay for the expenses of the navy and ships. However, Charles demanded more ship tax the following year, and intended to ask for it every year. But this gained Charles a vast amount of complaints. Especially when in 1637, a man named John Hampden was prosecuted for refusing to pay ship tax. This made people very angry. And eventually in July 1641 ship tax was abolished. How to cite Causes of the English Civil War, Papers

The Handmaids Tale Literary Analysis of the Book [Essay]

The Handmaid’s Tale Book Analysis: General Information The Handmaid’s Tale is a feminist novel that highlights the perils of women in a society that has not only dehumanized their status but also made it almost criminal to be a woman. The story highlights a cruel world where women do not enjoy the freedom of choice. Women are described as mere objects for male selfish desires and satisfaction. In The Handmaid’s Tale, analysis essay, gender roles and inequality issues will be reviewed.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Handmaid’s Tale Literary Analysis of the Book [Essay] specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Using this law, men have withdrawn all the things that would have otherwise made life worth living for women. In the Republic of Gilead, women are not supposed to read, write, or even listen to music. These are luxuries only reserved for men. Women are also denied the natural pleasure s such as love and romance. They have seen as objects of male enjoyment, something that has no human values other than to make men happy. As such, they live in a dystopian world. The story reads like a fictional autobiography. It is told from the first-person point of view. However, this story is not just propaganda to highlight gender issues. This is because of its complex characters, setting, and thematic concerns. The male figure is torn between remaining loyal to the Faith or breaking the law and engaging in the pure pleasure of love and romance. The reader feels that some of the male characters identify with the suffering of the female character but cannot do anything as they are held ransom by the Faith. Critical Interpretation of the Story Setting The novel also seamlessly combines the fundamentals of modern religion with ancient totalitarian regimes of leadership, making it a masterpiece. The complexity of the story and the ideals it propagates makes it more than a work of f iction because it highlights real issues that affect modern-day societies. To a keen reader, the setting of the book is very complicated as it combines ancient, modern, and post-modernistic issues in an almost unnoticeable way. Time-wise, the novel is set not so much into the distant future. Geographically, the story happens in a land where the former United States of America lies after a Christian theocratic regime overthrows it. The Republic of Gilead, the resultant state, thus lies within the boundaries of the current United States of America. When the United States of America’s government is overthrown, and democracy is replaced by ancient Christian theocracy that borrows heavily from the Old Testament, the reader is thrown back in time to when the government hid behind religion to establish oppressive regimes. Still, the novels highlight the use of credit cards, effectively depicting a government desperate to fight pollution and other challenges of the modern world. That a commander rules the country brings the reader into the present-day world of absolute dictatorship (Atwood 81). The handmaids’ predicament who have to bear children for the Commander’s wives may be considered as symbolic of Rachel and Leah, the biblical Old Testament characters.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This is the evidence that the social setting is heavily connected not only with fundamental Christian ideals but also with post-modernistic social issues such as population control. The complex nature of the environment, therefore, influences the direction of the story so that it helps the author to sufficiently blend historical and futuristic ideals in a way seen as still relevant to the modern world. The Handmaid’s Tale: Literary Criticism Analysis The reader can understand the story better upon a closer analysis of the characters. The main ch aracter is also the narrator and tells the story from the first-person point of view, making it more of an autobiography. The narrator, Offred, can be seen as both an objective observer and an actor. Telling the story from the first-person point of view means that any misinterpretations are avoided. As such, the reader is able to get information that is as close to the fact a first-person interpretation of those facts. Because the narrator is the emblem of the plight of all women in this society, telling the tale from the first-person point of view makes it easy for the reader to understand what women go through and at the same time, share in their plight. It also helps to make the story real and eliminates the notion that the story is just mere feministic propaganda (Brians para 10). Symbolism in the Book Offred is best understood from the analysis of her name, the symbolic roles she plays in the novel as the symbol of women suffering. Offred, the protagonist, is kidnapped from her husband and thus separated from her family by this oppressive dynasty. She is brought to the Commander’s house to bear children for his barren wife. Offred is her patronymic name that can be broken down into two names: of and Fred. This indicates that she is of Fred, meaning that she belongs to Fred, the Commander. The theme of freedom is clearly evident through the story. Offred is seen to change throughout the story from the wife of a peasant to the emblematic figure of women liberation. Her significance is seen through her symbolic birth name June, which in the context of the Republic of Gilead means Mayday, the day the women, will be salvaged from their torment. Her name June thus becomes symbolic of the rà ©sistance that would soon lead to their freedom (Atwood 220). It is possible to develop an understanding of the character from her description of herself. Despite living in a male-dominated world where the power of women has been dramatically curtailed, Offred still manages to maintain a self-awareness of who she is and confidently identifies herself as a woman without any hint that she belongs to any man. She describes her physical attributes that are distinctively feminine. Furthermore, despite living in a world where a woman is just an object of man’s desire Offred is able to strictly maintain the definition of herself as purely woman, devoid of any material trappings thus: ‘I am thirty-three years old. I have brown hair. I stand five seven without shoes’ (Atwood 143). It is this appreciation of herself as a woman coupled with her symbolic name June, which makes Offred the emblematic figure of the resistance to male domination.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Handmaid’s Tale Literary Analysis of the Book [Essay] specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Theme of Sexual Repression in the Book Offred is also the insignia of how women suffer sexually. It is through her experiences that the reader comes to know her strengths as a woman, repressed thoughts and aspirations that she poses regarding intimacy. It is through Offred that the reader is able to see the way women, in general, are degraded as mere tools for men’s sexual gratification. Offred describes her sexual experiences from the first person’s perspective and sees sex in four ways. For her, the sexual experiences that women in the Republic of Gilead go through cannot be termed as lovemaking. Neither can they be said to be rape as women are not supposed to have the right to sex and thus, by default, should not have the right and the power to refuse. In this case, it is not even within the power of women to refuse sex. Offred says that her sexual encounters with Fred, her master commander, cannot also be termed as copulation either as this means that two people are involved. In a real sense, only the Commander is involved as her senses, mind, and emotion are not. In her words, sex is seen as degrading, humiliating as well as an emotionless experience as it is only physical and given upon demand from men thus: â€Å"My red skirt is hitched up to my waist, though no higher. Below it the Commander is fucking. What he is fucking is the lower part of my body. I do not say making love, because this is not what he’s doing. Copulating too would be inaccurate because it would imply two people and only one is involved. Nor does rape cover it: nothing is going on here that I haven’t signed up for† (Atwood 94). Men’s Roles in The Handmaid’s Tale Society Literary analysis of the The Handmaid’s Tale shows that other than the main character, other characters play significant roles in this story. Even though these characters have individual uniqueness, they have been categorized into two main groups: male and female. The male characters are divided into four: The Commander of the Faithful led by Fred, for whom Offred is a handmaid. He is the symbolic male chauvinistic character in the novel. There are also the Eyes, the men who offer intelligence services to the Republic of Gilead rulership, Angels and Guardians of Faith who are the soldiers who fight to protect the republic as well as the Gender Traitors, the homosexuals seen as traitors of the Faith and sent to die painfully in the colonies. The relationships between the main character Offred and the men are master-servant kind of relationship. Through this relationship, the reader is able to see the weaknesses rather than the strengths of men. Although the novel presents men as superior and faultless, it is their ability not to procreate (to be infertile) that exposes their weak side. This proves that the notion of men being superior with absolute power over women is false.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Women are the stronger characters as they are the ones who are able to procreate. Offred, as well as other handmaids, are taken from their lawful marriages to procreate for infertile kings (It is unheard of and illegal to declare men as sterile). The Commander is seen as sterile by his wife, Serena Joy, who arranges from Offred to sleep with her driver to give birth for the Commander. This experience also presents women as too willing and ready collaborators. Women’s Roles in â€Å"The Handmaid’s Tale† Society Women characters are also divided into two main groups: legitimate and illegitimate. The legitimate women are the wives, maids like Offred, Aunts, Marthas, and Econowives. The Aunts are seen as stumbling blocks to the freedom of the women. They, like the men, have the luxuries of reading and writing (Atwood 139) and are seen as part of the colony. In one of the most visible oppositions to the liberation of the woman, the aunts tell Offred to stop’ J une-ing’ too much: June means mayday liberations (Atwood 220). The handmaids in the house of the Commander also give the story from a biblical perspective in reference to some of the biblical figures who took maids to bear children for them when their wives could not. Literary Devices in the The Handmaid’s Tale The most effective tool for communication is the use of language. The author uses narrative techniques and vocabulary creatively as a tool for communication. The author uses modern language words and syntax construction, making the novel seem so deceptively easy to read. Language is used as a potent tool for communicating women’s aspirations for freedom as well as portray the colonial mentality of their men in these societies effectively. The choice of words in describing Offred sexual experiences with the Commander shows that the women are emotionally removed from the experience. It also portrays the ability of the woman to communicate their notion about sex, which is far from what men see it be. The author chooses words like copulations, rape, fucking, and making love to describe Offred’s perspectives of sex. These words also portray the author as having a modernistic approach to sex not just as an act of procreation but as a way to express love. Through the tone of language, the reader can see that a woman does not see sex as just an act but an expression of love, something devoid in this society (Atwood 94). The author’s choice of words like ‘unbabies’ reflects the fears that do exist amongst the women of this society. The author’s use of dialogue is also as effective as the choice of words. Various conversations have different effects. However, the most common outcome of the use of dialogues portrays women’s emotional connection regardless of their character. Offred’s prayer said in monologue reflects her fears as a woman, her loss self and of life, and her desire to gain it back (Atwood 286). Although the treacherous Ofglen is the opposite of Offred in character, their dialogue portrays them as sharing in the suffering that all women go through (Atwood 285). Furthermore, the telephone conversation that Moira and Offred have prepares the readers for what might occur the woman after the fall of the United States of America. It is also an indication that the woman had a premonition of what was to befall her after the establishment of the Republic of Gilead (Atwood 174). Conclusion Analysis of The Handmaid’s Tale shows that this is a story told about the future and the problems that might occur in the world due to technological advancement. As such, it is not necessarily a piece of science fiction but speculative fiction, a narration of probable things that might happen in the future. It also deviates from the mere   feminist propagandist genres as it has a complicated setting, characters, and themes. The Handmaid’s Tale essay proves that even t hough the novel is an exaggeration, it portrays the fact that women are still oppressed in the modern world. Thus, the tale is not far fetched, since even a male reader is able to identify with the oppressed women in both the novel and real life. Works Cited Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale. New York: Anchor Books, 1986. Print. Brians, Paul. â€Å"Study Guide to Margaret Atwood: The Handmaid’s Tale (1986).† 1995.   Web. 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