Abstract
The author of this paper examines the theme of betrayal in classical literature. The author looks at examples of betrayal in Anne Carson's translation, "If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho," and Homer's epic poem, "The Odyssey". The writer also looks at examples of betrayal as told in the Old Testament.

From the Paper
"In Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, deception is a theme that runs throughout the whole novel. Athena and Odysseus are deceitful to other characters. Athena disguised herself as Mentor to help Odysseus' son, Telemechus, on his own journey. Telemechus never knew that it was a Zeus' daughter guiding and strengthening him. But Telemechus was not the only character that was uniformed of someone's presence--the suitors and Penelope, Odysseus' wife, thought the man in the castle was a beggar. Known to the readers, this beggar is in fact King Odysseus, back to reclaim his castle. Homer's use of disguises to hide an identity represents how people are never truly themselves when betraying others. The true person is hiding under the facade that has been created, but the mask is what everyone else sees. The deceitful person has been transformed into someone new to the rest of the world. Betrayal cannot be undone--it always lingers over shoulders, and unfortunately stays with the ones that were betrayed."

Tags:god, adam, eve, bible, hope, deception, betrayal, humanity, treachery

Abstract
This paper describes how Arundhati Roy demonstrates the theme of betrayal in her novel, "The God of Small Things". These acts of betrayal are detailed in the betrayal of children by adults, of individuals by society, of parents by children, and in the betrayal of history and tradition.

From the Paper
"The impact of betrayal is seen throughout the differing settings of the book; both when the twins are seven years of age in 1969 and when the twins have reached 31 years of age in 1993. Betrayal involves most of the characters in the novel: Rahel, Baby Kochamma, Estha, Chacko, Ammu, Mammachi, Sophie Mol, Murlidharan, and Velutha. As such, betrayal is an important theme within The God of Small Things."

Tags:indian, class, culture, castes, orangedrink/lemondrink, man, mulidharan, velutha

Abstract
This paper discusses how in his novel "American Gods", author Neil Gaiman aims to elucidate his growing concern with the increasingly-popular transition of American spirituality-- trading in their traditional worship of the old and established gods, whose worship was faith-based upon belief and spirituality, to the newfound praise and worship of completely different set of new gods, who have completely consumed their beliefs. The paper also examines how Gaiman chooses to explore the motives behind this betrayal of the old gods and how, in doing so, recognizes the development of progressively-expanding American "melting pot," formed by the continual immigration of diverse cultures, each culture introducing and sharing their beliefs with the surrounding others.

From the Paper
"Foreign immigration to the United States is used as an initial forerunner of the future spiritual transition to come, providing a means for the emerging of a wide variety of various cultures and diverse backgrounds to come together and share their own beliefs, as well as simultaneously learning the beliefs of other cultures. "Neil Gaiman creates not one god, nor a pantheon of gods, but many pantheons -- the echoes of divine spirits and culture heroes who took root in America after migrating in the minds and hearts of countless immigrants. Even now, those gods cling to the last vestiges of faith, piecing together fragments of worship from an easily led human flock" (Knapp). The setting within which the immigration to America takes place enables us to sense an upcoming conflict sparked by the mixture of these varied cultures--the old gods' high status in the lives of Americans will now be challenged by the introduction to an updated, newer set of gods, who offer a completely different sort of appeal to those who choose to transfer their worship to them. "

Tags:culture, belief, immigrants

Abstract
This paper discusses how, in many cultures Christ is viewed as a symbol of good, morality and love--a man who was able to face the difficult challenges presented to him by his society and continue in his mission to be giving and kind. The paper then looks at how, in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "Chronicle of a Death Foretold" and Jorge Luis Borges's short story "Three Versions of Judas," the authors create characters that are viewed as betrayers to and by their communities. The paper contends that both authors, through imagery, plot, symbolism, and characterization, transform the betrayers to Christ-like figures, smashing social standards and demonstrating that judgments are not always valid, signifying that even the most despised person can be innately good despite his outward appearance.

From the Paper
"Nasar, not only through the plot and characters' action, but also through imagery is described as a Christ-like figure throughout the novella. Garcia Marquez opens the book describing Nasar: "Santiago Nasar put on a shirt and pants of white linen;" (3) "his skin was so delicate that it couldn't stand the noise of starch." (5). By dressing Nasar in white and describing him as "delicate," Garcia Marquez immediately begins using Nasar as a symbol for innocence, as white is traditionally associated with purity, despite that Nasar's supposed actions would not be generally coupled with purity and virtue. Later in the novella Garcia Marquez continues using imagery to symbolize Nasar as a Christ-like figure. "He looked like a little wet bird," (136), Garcia Marquez writes, characterizing Nasar as a chaste creature, similar to how Christ, throughout Christianity, is often symbolized as a sacrificial and helpless lamb. "

Tags:nasar, jesus, christianity

Abstract
This paper explains that the "ontological argument" in favor of God's existence has remained one of the keys to the fundamental notion that the existence of God can be verified through logical argumentation. The author points out that Aquinas introduces the idea of the first, unmovable mover, which is responsible for all of the cause and effect events witnessed today, and investigates what aspects of the world betray the existence of God and why His existence is questioned so readily. The paper relates that Augustine's position is that human beings are positioned so that they can act rightly but that the actions and sins of the past have hindered the path towards God.

From the Paper
"The first sin Augustine characterizes as being like an act of a prisoner who creates false freedom for himself by breaking the rules and intending not to be caught. Obviously, Adam was caught, and all the subsequent sins of man have created a world in which God cannot be found without help; it has become too easy to commit acts of moral evil that those who do so often act out of ignorance. In other words, ignorance of God is not an innate facet of the human condition but is the burden that all human beings carry as a result of past sins."

Tags:mover, path, sins, conception, reasoning

Abstract
The paper shows how both Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex" and Heaney's "Burial at Thebes" revolve around themes of betrayal of family members. The paper points out the element of introspection in both plays and also notes that both plays demand that attention be paid to human actions. The paper explains, however, that the perspectives are very different; "Oedipus Rex" requires humans to respect the gods, but the more modern "Burial at Thebes" requires that humans respect each other.

From the Paper
"The dramatic tragedies of Ancient Greece represent some of the most important and profound stories of Western Civilization. They have been retold many times over the millennia since the myths were first told, sometimes in very direct adaptations that retain much of the original story and intent of the earliest version, and often in new contexts and in almost unrecognizable forms. Seamus Heaney did not go this far in Burial at Thebes, his adaptation of Sophocles' Antigone, but his own interpretation of the classic (literally) story of Oedipus and the fallout of his tragic reign is still an intriguing and obviously modern telling of the story. Without changing any of the elements of the plot of this well known and often adapted story, Heaney manages to shift the focus and the themes of the play just slightly in order to enhance the plays relevance--already apparent in the original form--in these modern times. At times he takes certain liberties with the translation and adaptation, proving that art is never dead but rather that it must breathe, grow, and adapt along with the times that produce and view it."

Tags:Greeks, betrayal, introspection, gods, independence

Abstract
This paper is an argumentative essay in the form of a personal letter to Hamlet, the protagonist of William Shakespeare's tragic drama. The argument tries to convince Hamlet to abandon his thoughts of suicide and take his rightful place as God's divinely chosen king of Denmark.

From the Paper
"Dear Hamlet, The recent loss of your father and spectacular revelation that his brother, the very uncle who married your mother, is responsible for his murder has thrown your world into near madness. Thomas Marc Perrot maintains you are a perfect example of what can happen to a very young man who sees his entire support system disintegrate within a single moment. Your youth confuses you as you confront the death of your father and its implications. You believe your life is not worth a..."

Tags:betrayal, support network, immorality, sin, forgiveness, self-esteem, murder, heaven, eternity, psychology, grief, loss, secularism, Protestantism

Abstract
This paper contends that Odysseus is an exceptional orator, telling many stories in the course of his homecoming and constantly adapting his tales to suit his purposes, such as deception or gaining sympathy or glory. The paper further contends that, despite a lack of complete truth in the majority of his yarns, these tales provide the reader with insight into odyssesus' character, pointing out not only his cunning and his wide range of abilities, but also his greed, arrogance, and egocentrism. They also explain his restless, untrusting nature through a combination of island and betrayal motifs. To illustrate this contention, the author discusses three of Odyssesus' stories in particular: Odysseus attempting to secure Alcinous's pity after arriving in Alcinous's palace, Odysseus trying to gain praise by telling the Phaeacians about his journey, and Odysseus speaking to Eumeaus whilst trying to obtain passage into Odysseus's house under a fake identity.

From the Paper
"These stories also throw light on Odysseus's character, intentionally showing him to be cunning and multi-talented, and unintentionally conveying his greed and arrogance. He displays his ingenuity, recounting his use of the name "Noman" (9) to keep the other giants from helping Polyphemus, and proves himself to be multi-talented by adding sailing to his repertoire of mastered skills: he single-handedly sails his ship for nine days because he "wanted to make good time" (10). In addition to these good traits, however, a darker side of him is inadvertently revealed. Throughout his journey, Odysseus repeatedly makes mistakes that result in the death of his men. Rather than accept the blame for his mistakes, however, he unconsciously reveals his arrogance by redirecting the blame either to his men or to the gods. For example, Odysseus decides to stop along the way to pillage the Cicones because he is too greedy to simply sail home with the loot from Troy, and this pillaging results in the death of many men. His arrogance, however, doesn't allow him to accept that it was his own fault that they died. Therefore, he first blames the men because they didn't pull out fast and then accuses the gods, claiming he and his crew were "cursed by Zeus/To suffer heavy losses" (9). Odysseus's greed and conceit get him in trouble again when he visits Polyphemus. Even though his men say they should "make off with some cheese/And then come back for the lambs and kids,/...and sail away" and despite "a strong premonition" (9) that doing so would be a good idea, Odysseus insists on waiting for the giant, hoping Polyphemus "would give [him] a gift of hospitality" (9). After narrowly escaping death, Odysseus then has the arrogance to yell back, "Cyclops, if anyone, any mortal man,/Asks you how you got your eye put out,/Tell him that Odysseus the marauder did it" (9). It is this arrogance and greed that is at the root of his suffering, sentencing his entire crew to death, and Odysseus to many more years of suffering."

Tags:homer, greek, tragedy, illiad, fortune, crew, sailing, storm, calypso, gods, crete, poseidon

Abstract
The paper describes the way that the film, "Passion of Christ" starts with a painful prayer from Jesus Christ followed by his disciple Judas betraying him. The author believes that the tortures and beatings of Jesus Christ are shown so intensely that they disturb the viewer's emotions. The paper relates the film's slow, gloomy environment as Christ moves along the path to the Mount of Olives. The author thinks that the most outstanding feature of the film is the portrayal of the human nature of the Son of God, which is beautifully expressed throughout the different emotional incidents.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
About the Story
Characterization of People
Characterization of Time
Characterization of Town and Others

From the Paper
"The entire movie moves along a single streak of time expect for the events of Jesus' life and his preaching remembered now and then .The sky, the sun and the moon are used to denote transition of time. Jesus Christ is caught on a gloomy night when he offers prayers to God to free him from the evil. Satan appears and signifies the start of evil. Mother Mary also feels that night to be strange and signifying something evil."

Tags:judas, peter, pharisees, innocent, mary

Abstract
The paper discusses seven similar aspects of, and events in the lives of Samson and Jesus based on the Biblical texts that tell their stories. The paper mentions similarities such as-- their births were both announced to their mothers by Angels, both were betrayed, Samson by his wife Delilah and Jesus by the Apostles and both died with arms outstretched. It also points out the differences between the two men, such as: Samson had a weakness whereas Jesus had none, Samson was a mere mortal while Jesus was both man and God at the same time.

From the Paper
"Samson was thrice strongly entreated by Delilah to reveal the secret of his awesome strength, but he yielded to her wiles the fourth time. Jesus Christ, on the other hand, was also tempted three times and powerfully by the devil himself in different manners, but did not yield, because He had no weakness. Samson acknowledged that his fall brought much dishonor to God and scandal to Israel. But Christ's death and resurrection fulfilled God's plan for mankind, brought infinite honor to God His Father and salvation to those who would choose to be redeemed in Jesus Christ. Samson also acknowledged the pride, vanity and pettiness with which he used the privilege God gave him."

Tags:judge, suffering, preachers, redemption