- English Literature Essay
- 2-Compare and contrast how the themes such as innocence, guilt, moral responsibility and or punishment are represented in two of the following works Blake’s London Cullen’s incident hawthorn’s young Goodman brown and Sophocles Oedipus rex.
- Various themes are evident in the works of poetry as presented in the stories of young good man brown and Sophocles oedipipus rex. In brown’s story, the theme of innocence is evident when brown is pursuing his evil actions of witchery without the knowledge of his wife. Brown kisses his wife before proceeding on a journey to his evil deeds. His wife is unaware of the situation and thinks that her husband has important things to do. She remains alone in the house while her husband has gone to pursue his things in the forest. Her fear when she is alone while her husband is gone for an errand unknown to her depicts her innocence. On the other hand, Sophocles story presents the theme of innocence in that Sophocles is telling a story of a ruler who goes against the divine laws.
- The ruler is making decisions, which are a mistake. His actions are in faith although he is breaking a law of the divines. The theme of innocence evident because the person doing the mistake is not aware of that he is against the law. His fall is a result of the rules in the community, which are supporting powers of the divine. The man to the views of some people is innocent since his actions are not according to the knowledge that he has. May be because the creator knows the man is not guilty, he will offer forgiveness in the judgment day. What mattered is that god understood the actions of the man although he is against the rules of the law.
- In this story, the theme is portrayal is in a religious viewpoint while in browns story the theme of innocence is in the family set up of a husband and wife. The theme of guilt is as well evident in these works of poetry. In browns story, the theme of guilt is evident where Brown goes for an errand that he do not want his wife to know. He is secretive of the things of witchcraft that he is going to perform that makes him stay the whole night and day. Brown upon kissing his wife, he tells her that she doubts him. He is aware that whatever his missions, his wife does not know though she has a right to know. He feels guilt within himself as seen in his actions and speech.
- When Brown is parting with his wife, his guilt is seen when he looks back to confirm if she is watching his moves. Unfortunately, his wife is looking at him when he is about to join the old man for a walk in the forest. This situation depicts the guilt in Brown’s conscious. In Sophocles, narrative guiltiness is seen Oedipus actions of going against the rules of the church. Although he is innocent in gods view. He cannot avoid the punishment he is to receive due to his actions. He does things without knowledge but still he is guilty according to what the law of divinity teaches. Oedipus expresses his hunger before the polyneices. He becomes an old but a man looking monstrous before the other followers of the law. However, his actions show a person who is both cursed and blessed person as he is both guilty but unaware of his actions. Sophocles story depicts a genre of aspect in the dilemmas of people.
- According to the book of Hawthorn, the theme of moral responsibility contributes in delivering the main lessons outlined by the author. Hawthorn describes moral responsibility ought to be an obligation of every member in the society. He states with various examples in the book that no matter the age difference, everyone ought to be responsible for various duties in the society. This is the same message that Sophocles expresses when referring to the behaviors of one the characters in his book known as Oedipus.
- According to the book, Sophocles describes why it was immoral for Oedipus to kill Laius. Oedipus continued to show his immorality when he married Jocasta. In both of the two books, the theme of moral responsibility tends to show how every person have the role to play in developing an ethically stable environment. Hawthorn points out that every individual is a sinner but that should not be the main reason to engage in immoral actions. In his book, Hawthorn illustrates that some of the leaders in the society contribute in demonstrating immorality especially to the young generation. He stresses his point by stating that Mr. Gascoigne is an example of ruined political leaders who uses his powers to perform immoral actions. Hawthorn describes this politician as a man of evil fame because he did not accept to consider the views of other people in the society.
- Both books contrast in various points regarding to the theme of moral responsibility. According to Hawthorn’s book, he states that many of the immoral scenes occur due to ignorance of people in the society. He states that the cause of ignorance is a result of people failing to acquire the available knowledge. In his book, Sophocles demonstrates that Oedipus argues that he is innocent of his actions as the spirits direct him in performing various immoral issues. According to Sophocles, Oedipus cannot have been ignorant of the actions he performed but he only expressed the theme of moral responsibility. He failed to show moral values because of the pride that he expressed in the society. He was aware of his actions and failed to decide on the right issue.
- Another theme that both of the two books illustrates is the theme of punishment. Both books have similar views regarding to the theme of punishment. According to Hawthorn, those people who contribute to immoral actions in the society ought to receive thorough punishment. He states that the society should not tolerate various acts that relate to immoral actions. According to the book by Sophocles, the actions that Oedipus did deserved to receive punishment in accordance with the rule of law. The fact that he killed his own father and marrying his wife offers a clear observation that the region he was staying lacked to have the recommended way of issuing punishing. In both books, the authors illustrates that parents also have the obligation to issue moral lessons to their children and offer the right punishment when they fail to behave according to the set rules and regulations.
- However, still in the theme of punishment, both books tend to contrast on certain issues. One of the issues that the books differ is the issue of who ought to have the responsibility of issuing the states law concerning punishment. Hawthorn suggests that the state have the obligation of issuing various laws that citizens should adopt while applying punishment. According to Hawthorn, the state should not discriminate some people from facing the law when they do wrong. Sophocles argues that the people or citizens have the power to issue the laws that officials ought to apply in issuing punishment. He supports his arguments by stating that Oedipus could have faced the correct punishment if people set the laws of governing during his time.
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