Essay --

Justin Kim 1C-2 Oedipus: the Perfect Example of Freudian Psychology In â€Å"Oedipus the King† by Sophocles, Oedipus, the king of Thebes finds out that he kills his father and that his wife is his mother. Oedipus is very concerned for his kingdom and his people. He wants to â€Å"drive the corruption from the land† (Sophocles 109) by finding Laius’s murderer and killing him. Through his curiosity, Oedipus finds out that the man he kills long ago is Laius, who is his father, and that his wife is his mother—all in accordance with Oedipus’ prophecy. After coming on this realization as well, Jocasta, Oedipus’ wife, commits suicide, and Oedipus gouges out his eyes as a result of this. In his search for the murderer, Oedipus strives to be a fair king. Ironically, he often is not fair to the people he sees or things that are essential to him. This play demonstrates the theme of justice through Oedipus’ denial of justice in three situations—Oedipus’ meeting with Tiresias, Oedipus’ g ouging out of his eyes, and Creon’s asking of Oedipus to adjudicate fairly The theme of justice is evident during Oedipus’ meeting with Tiresias. Oedipus brings over Tiresias, the renowned prophet to tell him who the Laius’ murderer is. Tiresias, at first, tries to hide the answer, but through Oedipus’ pressing, Tiresias is forced to reveal that Oedipus kills Laius a long time ago and is the source of â€Å"the corruption of the land (178).† Oedipus, enraged at the answer, tells Tiresias that he should be ashamed for cooking up such a story and asks Tiresias who told him to do this. Tiresias responds, â€Å"You did, you forced me, twisted it out of me (179).† The most rudimentary definition of justice is fairness, and back in Ancient Greece prophets’ words were reg... ...ied† show that Oedipus’ surmise is nothing more than a guess that is unable to be proven true, which conclusively proves Oedipus is not just to Creon because all the accusations against Creon are completely false. In conclusion, Oedipus’ denial of justice especially to his eyes, Tiresias, and Creon, show that justice is an important theme in this book. Oedipus denies justice by not giving the full representation of the truth, and by hurting and blaming others for things he himself has done. By doing this, he fails to be the fair king he strives to be by trying to track down Laius’ murderer, and becomes the complete antithesis of what he wants to be. If Oedipus wants to be a just king to his people, then he should take the punishment meant for him—death—because it is fair that since he is the source of the corruption of the land, that he should die in return. Essay -- Justin Kim 1C-2 Oedipus: the Perfect Example of Freudian Psychology In â€Å"Oedipus the King† by Sophocles, Oedipus, the king of Thebes finds out that he kills his father and that his wife is his mother. Oedipus is very concerned for his kingdom and his people. He wants to â€Å"drive the corruption from the land† (Sophocles 109) by finding Laius’s murderer and killing him. Through his curiosity, Oedipus finds out that the man he kills long ago is Laius, who is his father, and that his wife is his mother—all in accordance with Oedipus’ prophecy. After coming on this realization as well, Jocasta, Oedipus’ wife, commits suicide, and Oedipus gouges out his eyes as a result of this. In his search for the murderer, Oedipus strives to be a fair king. Ironically, he often is not fair to the people he sees or things that are essential to him. This play demonstrates the theme of justice through Oedipus’ denial of justice in three situations—Oedipus’ meeting with Tiresias, Oedipus’ g ouging out of his eyes, and Creon’s asking of Oedipus to adjudicate fairly The theme of justice is evident during Oedipus’ meeting with Tiresias. Oedipus brings over Tiresias, the renowned prophet to tell him who the Laius’ murderer is. Tiresias, at first, tries to hide the answer, but through Oedipus’ pressing, Tiresias is forced to reveal that Oedipus kills Laius a long time ago and is the source of â€Å"the corruption of the land (178).† Oedipus, enraged at the answer, tells Tiresias that he should be ashamed for cooking up such a story and asks Tiresias who told him to do this. Tiresias responds, â€Å"You did, you forced me, twisted it out of me (179).† The most rudimentary definition of justice is fairness, and back in Ancient Greece prophets’ words were reg... ...ied† show that Oedipus’ surmise is nothing more than a guess that is unable to be proven true, which conclusively proves Oedipus is not just to Creon because all the accusations against Creon are completely false. In conclusion, Oedipus’ denial of justice especially to his eyes, Tiresias, and Creon, show that justice is an important theme in this book. Oedipus denies justice by not giving the full representation of the truth, and by hurting and blaming others for things he himself has done. By doing this, he fails to be the fair king he strives to be by trying to track down Laius’ murderer, and becomes the complete antithesis of what he wants to be. If Oedipus wants to be a just king to his people, then he should take the punishment meant for him—death—because it is fair that since he is the source of the corruption of the land, that he should die in return.

The Core of Religion, Art, and Faith

The Core of Religion, Art, and Faith When reading both the texts of Georges Bataille and Soren Kierkegaard, the reader is taken on an exploration of humanity. Although approached differently, this humanity is shown to be intimately intertwined with religion by both authors. Bataille studiously delves into the mind of the prehistoric man through his cave art in an attempt to understand and define what it means to be human. The art of this prehistoric man is the art of a consciousness at war with what it is and what it will become.It depicts a duality of identities. On one side the animalistic identity at one with nature and on the other side a creative rational identity that uses nature. This dual-meaning shown in the cave paintings lifts them to more than mere art. It is the visual first step in the transition from the simple to the complex. The cave art served as more than a creative outlet for our human ancestors. It held more of a ritualistic importance. They respected and loved t he animals they hunted but also degradingly used them as an instrument for personal survival.Bataille points out that it was in the ritual act of drawing the animal that the hunter created a spiritual connection. â€Å"Everything points to the fact that the carvings or the paintings did not have meaning as permanent figures of a sanctuary in which rituals were celebrated. It seems that the execution of the paintings–or the carving–was itself part of these rituals. . . The nascent[developing] image ensured the approach of the beast and the communication of the hunter with the hunted. † (75)The animals on the cave walls possessed a divine strength in the eyes of prehistoric man and as a result the hunt, and the drawing of the hunt, were a religious experience. Perhaps even the first religious experiences. As a product of the previously mentioned duality present in prehistoric man, the hunter used art as a corporeal representation of their remorse towards their des ired prey. â€Å"†¦ for the men of primitive times. . . the act of killing could also be shameful. Many primitive men ask for forgiveness beforehand for the evil that they are about to do to the animal they are pursuing. . For primitive human beings, the animal is not a thing. And this characterizes very broadly all of primitive humanity, for whom ordinary animality is rather divine. † (Bataille 54-55) To Bataille, â€Å"†¦ the world of understanding is to religion as the clarity of day is to the horror of the night. † (122) Religion is an experience undefinable through direct words. This â€Å"horror of the night† is all that is not understood; it is the undefinable, the intangible, the experience that lacks rationality and is based instead on feeling.It is how we explain and give meaning; it is the answer to the unanswerable questions that man has. Religion and art are intertwined in that they are both chaotic tools used by man to gain order over the chaotic horrors of the night. Kierkegaard, on the other hand, arrives at religion through the avenues of faith. To Kierkegaard, the man Abraham in the Bible is the perfect model of religious faith, the very first case in history of a man of pure faith, or as he calls it, a knight of faith.Faith is similar to Bataille’s idea of art and religion in that it can not be clearly defined through words. Faith is an experience; it is the idea that a single individual can have a one-on-one relationship with God that transcends the ethical. Abraham was faced with the dilemma of sacrificing his only son Isaac. Ethically and morally this would be labeled as murder, but through faith it is an absolute duty. This absolute duty is not something that can be shared, it is a private struggle, it is a solitary path to follows God’s command without remorse or doubt..It is only moments before the murder and sacrifice of Isaac that God stops Abraham and directs him to a ram instead. Through faith, ethics and morality become an entirely different thing. â€Å"He who loves God without faith reflects upon himself; he who loves God in faith reflects upon God. † (Kierkegaard 37) God’s will is the only correct way; what he asks is what will be done even if it goes against what society says is right. The man of the world, or ethical man, follows a different code of conduct. He is moral through and through and has a universal duty to others.He follows the laws and commandments of God for the good of everybody around him. His actions are dictated by cultural norms and given meaning by religious institutions. He is understood and buoyed by his peers. This is precisely the opposite of the knight of faith. Abraham has to do what is ethically wrong to do what is absolutely right in the eyes of God. Both art and faith are passionate pathways connecting with the divine. They give humanity a structure in that they give meaning to our emotions and guidance to our actions . Faith is a marvel, and yet no human being is excluded from it; for that which unites all human life is passion, and faith is passion. † (Kierkegaard 67) Faith was Abrahams way of expressing the inexpressible duty he felt toward God, just as art was the expression of prehistoric man inexpressible connection with the animal. Work Cited Bataille, Georges. The Cradle of Humanity, Prehistoric Art, and Culture. Brooklyn, New York: Zone Books, 2005. Kierkegaard, Soren. Fear and Trembling/Repetition. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1983.

3 Types of Recommendation Letters

A recommendation letter is a written reference that offers information about your character. Recommendation letters may include details about your personality, work ethic, community involvement, and/or academic achievements. Recommendation letters are used by many people for many different occasions. There are three basic categories or recommendation letters: academic recommendations, employment recommendations, and character recommendations. Here is an overview of each type of recommendation letter along with information on who uses them and why. Academic Recommendation Letters Academic letters of recommendation are typically used by students during the admissions process. During admissions, most schools—undergraduate and graduate alike—expect to see at least one, preferably two or three, recommendation letters for each applicant. Recommendation letters provide admission committees with information that may or may not be found in a college application, including academic and work achievements, character references, and personal details. Scholarship and fellowship programs usually ask for recommendations, as well. Students might request recommendations from former teachers, principals, deans, coaches, and other education professionals who are familiar with the students academic experience or extracurricular achievements. Other recommenders may include employers, community leaders, or mentors. Employment Recommendations Letters of recommendation for employment and career references are a major tool of individuals who are trying to get a new job. Recommendations can be put on a website, sent in with a resume, supplied when an application is filled out, used as part of a portfolio, or handed out during employment interviews. Most employers ask job candidates for at least three career references. Therefore, its a good idea for job seekers to have at least three recommendation letters on hand. Generally, employment recommendation letters include information about employment history, job performance, work ethic, and personal accomplishments. The letters are usually written by former (or current employers) or a direct supervisor. Coworkers are also acceptable, but not as desirable as employers or supervisors. Job applicants who do not have enough formal work experience to secure recommendations from an employer or supervisor should seek recommendations from community or volunteer organizations. Academic mentors are also an option. Character References Character recommendations or character references are often used for housing accommodations, legal situations, child adoption, and other similar situations where understanding a persons character is important. Almost everyone needs this type of recommendation letter at some point in their life. These recommendation letters are often written by former employers, landlords, business associates, neighbors, doctors, acquaintances, etc. The most appropriate person varies depending on what the letter of recommendation will be used for. Asking For a Recommendation Letter You should never wait until the last minute to get a recommendation letter. It is important to give your letter writers time to craft a useful letter that will make the right impression. Start seeking academic recommendations at least two months before you need them. Employment recommendations can be collected throughout your work life. Before you leave a job, ask your employer or supervisor for a recommendation. You should try to get a recommendation from every supervisor you have worked for. You should also get recommendation letters from landlords, people you pay money to, and people you do business with so that you have character references on hand should you ever need them.