Some actions in the play Oedipus were fated and freely chosen. In  the play, Teiresias said, “it is not fate that I should be your ruin, Apollo is enough; it is his care to work this out” (27;373), pointing up to Oedipus that he will not be the only one responsible for his doom. Also in the beginning of the play Creon said, “By banishing a man or expiation of blood by blood, since it is murder guilt which holds our city in this destroying storms.” and Oedipus replied, “Who is this man whose fate the God pronounces?” (15;100-104), in this dialogue, Oedipus is denoted that the Gods are responsible for someone’s destiny. On page 189 line 875, Chorus said “Your self-sufficiency has brought you down”, marking that it is not fate that marks your destiny, it is your self, the decisions you make in life. Lastly on page 204 line 1347 Chorus says again, “Our happiness depends on wisdom all the way. The gods must have their due. Great words by men and pride bring greater blows upon them. So wisdom comes to the old.”, on this line we can clearly see that Chorus believes that us, humans,  are responsable for our happiness not the gods. Yes, gods also play their role but at the end of the day, we are accountable for the choices we make. And as we know this better we become wiser.

Darkness is used in the Oedipus play when Oedipus says to Teiresias, “How needlessly your riddles darken everything.”(29;439), Oedipus referring to the unnecessary dilemma of the blind man, always sobbing about his situation, been unable to see, which enables him to see the truth. Blindness is used when Oedipus is teasing the blind man, Teiresias, for his condition, “If you are King, at least I have the right no less to speak in my defense against you. Of that much I am master. I am no slave of yours, but Loxias’, and so I shall not enroll myself with Creon for my patron. Since you have taunted me with being blind, here is my word for you.” (28;407-413). And again when Oedipus speaks to the Teiresias, “…this wily beggar who has only eyes for his own gains, but blindness is his skill.” (27;388+389), referring that blindness is used as an ability for gains. Sight is used in the play when Teiresias tell Oedipus a curse he has which will be the cause for him to leave Thebes, “A deadly footed, double striking curse, from father and mother both, shall drive you forth out of this land, with darkness on your eyes, that now have such straight vision.” (28;418-421).

The relationship between men and god in the play is different, as it says, the gods punishes them with deadly pesticides that does not have mercy on them,”…a God that carries fire, a deadly pestilence, is on our town, strikes us and spares not, and the house of Cadmus is emptied of its people while black Death grows rich in groaning and in lamentation. ” (12;28-32). Different in Homer’s The Odyssey, because gods do take part of their lives in a positive way since they tried to help him, intervening to have mercy on Odysseus and help him find his way home, when Athena speaks to Zeus for help, “…But my heart is broken for Odysseus, the master mind of war, so long cast away upon an island in the running sea…Are you not moved by this, Lord of Olympos?.

In the Book of The Odyssey women have different roles, depending on their characters in the story. Women are like mediators, advocates, for Odysseus as Athena speaks to Zeus: “O Majesty is in the dust indeed, and, justly…But my own heart is broken for Odysseus, the master mind of war, so long cast away upon an island in the running sea…His daughter(Atlas’s daughter) will not let Odysseus go…She keeps his mind from Ithaka…”, and then she asks to Zeus, “Are you not moved by this, Lord of Olympos?…” (1,3;64+65, 67-69, 75-78, 81). Women are also like father figures, as Telemakhos said to Athena, “Friend, you have done me kindness, like a father to his son, and I shall not forget your counsel ever.” (1,11; 355-357). Women are considered attractive beings, “this beautiful lady, as she approached the suitors…” (1,11; 382+383). Some women were considered merchandise, like products that can be sell and brought, “Her(Eurykleia)  father had been  Ops, Poisenor’s son, and she had been a purchase of Laertes when she was still a blossoming girl.” (1,14;483-485).

Free will and fate are been treated on The Odyssey, free will when Odysseus stayed with Calipso, sleeping with her in her bed, nobody forced him, and yeah sure circumstances got him there, but nobody obligated him to sleep with her. We can understand after been in the sea and away from his wife, and the desire and trill to be in bed with a goddess,  can be the cause. Fate was treated as a meant to be force, eventually, Odysseus will find a way to escape, even if it took almost 20 years to come back to Ithaka.

The Odyssey had a few biblical allusions like, when Athena being a goddess, could changed looks and transformed to certain people, having power as a god to convey herself to deliver a message. Also when Athena could walk in the air, “who else beheld this but Athena? From the air she walked, taking the form of a tall woman, handsome and clever at her craft…In plain sight of Odysseus, unseen, though, by Telemakhus, unguessed, for not to everyone will gods appear…Odysseus noticed her.” (16,294;182-189), first like God in the Garden of Eden looking for Adam and Eve, second God and celestial beings were seen by certain people, like chosen ones.

Some of the conflicts that Odysseus encounters is that he faces a storm that Zeus awaked, “Now Zeus the lord of cloud roused in the north a storm against the ships, and driving veils of squall moved down like night on land and sea.” (p.147;174-176). He encounters natives of the mainland, which he presumes are savages and lawless, or not “…and find out what the mainland natives are– for they may be wild savages, and lawless, or hospitable and god fearing men.” (p.150;187-189).

The significance of disguises in Books IX-XVI, can be a form to conceal the truth, “I hushed them, jerking head and eyebrows up.” (p.159;512).

Character analysis for Odysseus: he’s loyal, “But in my heart I never gave consent.” (p.146;37) , he was exited and happy, “My heart beat high now at the chance of action,…” (p.154;324) , he was alcoholic, “Kyklops, try some wine.”(p.155;377), he offer more wine to Kyklops.  Odysseus was a master mariner and soldier, “Odysseus, masteere mariner and soldier,”.

I did not understand well the reading of the Odyssey, some parts which I did understood a little were how to describe the relationship between the gods and humans, they seen to be caring and protective to humans as it says, ” …We gods had warned him…” (p.2;55) , stating here that they advised him not to do something bad. They were also happy gods to humans, “…if it now please the blissful gods that wise Odysseus reach his home again…” (p.4;107).

The sea played an important role in this epic since it served as a divider and a barrier for Odysseus to reach his home since he was lost at sea, “…against the brave king till he came ashore at last on his own land”(p.2;31), we can conclude that he was at sea. “…the master mind of war, so long a castaway upon an island in the running sea; a wooded island, in the sea’s middle…”(p.3;68-70), here also says he was in lost in the middle of the sea.

Character analysis for Odysseus: He was pitied by the gods, “Yet all the gods had pitied Lord Odysseus…”(p.2;31). He was a kingly man as it says, “Could I forget that kingly man, Odysseus?”(p.3;87). Odysseus was wise, “…that wise Odysseus reach his home again”(p.4;108). Odysseus was a king, “No meeting has been held here since our king…” (p.20;27), he was a ruler in his land.

Telemachus: He was seen unhappy among the suitors, “…was sitting there unhappy among the suitors…”(p.5;144). He was seen as a stranger by their king, the gods, in their world, “Greetings, stranger!…”(p.5;154). He was seen by Athena as bitter as his father, Odysseus, “Ah, bitterly you need Odysseus, then!”(p.9;300).

Penelope: is the daughter of Ikarios, “…Ikarios’ daughter…”(p.11;380). She was also considered a beautiful lady, “this beautiful lady…”(p.11;382).

John the Baptist had a great  significance in relation to Jesus is that; John the Baptist was the first person to begin preaching about God. Like in Chapter 3 of Matthew highlights, ” In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John the Baptist was the first follower of God, spreading the word of the Lord at his own will. John the Baptist was prophesized by Isaiah. He was also the one who baptize Jesus, “Then cameth Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him”. In Chapter 17, Jesus referred to John the Baptist to his disciple, Moses and Elias, “Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.”

There were some  conflicts presented in Matthew 1-17 are: the first conflict seen in Chapter 1, is that Mary got pregnant when she “was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the holy Ghost” (1:18), it was a conflict since she was a virgin and just got espoused to Joseph. The second conflict was that Joseph, “being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put away privily” (1:19), he thought of keeping this incident a secret, to avoid bad gossip. The third conflict is when the King Herod wanted to get rid of Jesus, after rumors the birth of the new king Israel, “…the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him” (2:13).

1.) Dreams are used in the narrative to convey messages from the GOD to this specific individual. (Matthew 1, 20) “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” Dreams were also used in the narrative to communicate warnings from people who wanted to harm Jesus, (Matthew 2, 13) ” And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”

2.) Some of the mores (customs, norms and behaviors that are acceptable to a society or group) of the time are:  • when you get marry, you must be a virgin, and not pregnant: (Matthew 1,18) ” Now the birth of Jesus Christ was this wise: when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”  • there could only be one worshipful GOD (ruler, to be called king) that people should follow  ; (Matthew 2, 2-3) ” Saying, where is he that is king of the Jews? for we have seen him star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”

CHARACTER ANALYSIS

ABRAHAM

• FORTUNATE|EVIDENCE: GENESIS 12; “2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great ; and thou shalt be a blessing :”
• DECEIVER/LIER|EVIDENCE: GENESIS 12; “13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister :that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.”
• JUST| EVIDENCE: GENESIS 15; “6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
• LOYAL| EVIDENCE: GENESIS 22; “12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not with-held thy son, thine only son from me.”

SARAH

• INFERTILE/STERILE|EVIDENCE: GENESIS 16: “Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children:”
• FAIR/BEAUTIFUL|EVIDENCE: GENESIS 12; “11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:”
• UNFAIR|EVIDENCE: GENESIS 16; “5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes : the LORD judge between me and thee.6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Be hold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.”
• MEAN/GREEDY/SELFISH: EVIDENCE: GENESIS 21; “10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son :for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.”

WEEK 3 WRJ: KJB; GENESIS 1-3

When I was 11 years old, I began going to be part of a congregation, the Jehovah’s witnesses. I learned the majority of chapters from the bible, I could find the reading from certain chapters so easily. I stopped going, but now that I’m reading the King James Bible I do find it difficult to understand the bible. Through the King James Bible, we got a view of how the world was created through the eyes and words of the “bible” this time. In Genesis, it states that the GOD was the one who created the world. It also tell us the intensions/visions to why it was created. To me there’s some similarities to the Rid Veda; Creation. In the bible it also gives details on how the earth was created, the animals created, the man created, how EVERYTHING was created. But this time, it specifies, that the “GOD” was responsable for everything that breaths on earth. It says the  reason to why GOD created  everything, why he created man and woman. Why GOD created the animals, so that man didn’t felt alone. All living things will feel that they were not the only ones in the world. GOD gave conditions on living on Earth, he told Adan and Eve not to eat from this tree.

I personally do believe GOD created everything, but at some point he seems naïve to believe that man would follow and listen to his rules. As it says on Genesis 3 that Eve was so fool to hear what a serpent said about not eating from this tree, “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, know-ing good and evil.”

I mean come on, why would you give rules to newborn human, they were just created, they don’t know how to follow rules. Its like telling a baby “don’t touch that”, “don’t do that”, and they don’t listen. If man and woman were just created of course they wouldn’t listen, they will say they know better to make their own decisions.

WEEK 1: WRJ: RIG VETTA CREATION; P. 25

By reading the Creation Hymn, I get the chance to get the point of a different culture on God. I’m don’t considere myself as a religious person, but I don’t find myself to be full of doubts in regards to our creator. I firmly believe in a “God” as society decided to call. But by reading the Creation Hymn I realized how other people, indeed, from different cultures view differently  the “person” or force who created us. And that in fact, there are many people who question religion and GOD. I like the Creation Hymn, I like how it describes the creation of the universe, giving a description, says, “the life force that was covered with emptiness that one arose through the power of heat”. Explaining a theory that a  “force” beyond our understanding created the universe.