The Epic of Gilgamesh‚ named after the Mesopotamian king of that name‚ tells of Gilgamesh’s adventures and his struggles with the forces of the divine. The Epic does not describe Gilgamesh‚ the part-god part-human‚ in his role as the king of Uruk in great detail; what is described‚ however‚ is hardly flattering. Gilgamesh is portrayed as arrogant and demanding. In particular‚ he uses his position of power to bed married women before their bridegrooms do; it is this offense which first introduces
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OEDIPUS REX In the tragedy Oedipus Rex‚ Oedipus commits several immoral acts. Typically‚ society views these as evil and unjust. However‚ although Oedipus commits several licentious deeds‚ Sophocles makes the reader sympathize because Oedipus is oblivious to the incriminating facts. Throughout the play Oedipus Rex commits numerous crimes the society see as immorally wrong. Oedipus believes that if he leaves Corinth he will be able to avoid his fate. The oracle says the Oedipus will kill
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particular line so important? These words were coming from a frustrated and broken Biff Loman towards his father Willy Loman. This very quote portrays both sides of a contradicting theme: the concept of selfishness vs. selfishness. Willy Loman’s selfish character in comparison to his son Biff’s selfishness presents opposing characteristics that together end in tragedy. These concepts along with the idea of identity were observed in Arthur Miller’s‚ Death of a Salesman. There is no doubt‚ a traditional
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Nathaniel Hawthorne challenges love’s true power in his novel The Scarlet Letter‚ a tale of adultery‚ sin‚ repentance‚ and emotion. Living in a Puritan colony in the 1630s‚ Hester Prynne had been separated from her husband on their journey from Europe to America. During the 3 years of separation‚ Hester had an affair with a secret lover‚ and a child was born. The colony realized what she had done and immediately convicted her of adultery and punished her by requiring her to wear an embroidered
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come‚ follow me.’ But when the young man heard this‚ he went away sad‚ for he had many possessions." Just as the parables that Jesus taught throughout the Gospels had valuable life lessons‚ as does Guy de Maupassant’s‚ "The Necklace." The theme of selfish vanity vs. profitable hard work is revealed by Maupassant through Madame Loisel’s internal conflict developed from comparison beginning at a young age. Guy de Maupassant demonstrates that one cannot truly discern how to stand behind his or her personal
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“Humans are naturally driven by a perpetual and restless desire of power.” (Thomas Hobbes) Every single human being is selfish and rebellious; it’s an undeniable fact about human nature. Humans will act naturally selfish in a situation without proper order‚ often leading to the corruption of society. In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies‚ the corruption of society is demonstrated through Jack’s attitude towards elements that are necessary for the survival of their civilization. Jack’s opinions in
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that could noticed that the moon was shining over the white sands was a sailor named Rodrigo. In fact‚ it was the Island of the Bahamas‚ in the Caribbean Sea. Rodrigo was supposed to get a good amount of money‚ but never receive it‚ because this selfish man claimed that he had seen a light the evening before‚ and sure he got the reward. As we know‚ the Arawaks tribal was one of many that Columbus found in the new world‚ but the first Indian tribe who received him lived in a village and works
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Altruism for Survival “Pure” altruism is defined as the showing unselfish concern for another’s welfare without personal gain. However according to Richard Dawkins‚ in his Selfish Gene theory‚ pure altruism does not exist. This theory all boils down to expanding and maximizing inclusive fitness. The term selfish does not imply that there is any motives or will to act that way but can be accurately described in that manner. In this theory the body of every living creature‚ from an amoeba to
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How Virgil Portrays Humanity As Selfish Through His Writing In Virgil’s Aeneid Book IV: The Passion of the Queen‚ an outraged Dido bellows‚“I hope and pray that on some grinding reef/ Midway at sea you’ll drink your punishment/ And call and call on Dido’s name!/From far away I shall come after you/ With my black fires‚ and when cold death has parted/ Body from soul I shall be everywhere/ A shade to haunt you! You will pay for this‚/ Unconscionable!”(Virgil 506-511). This is the response of Dido
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The characters in the play who are inherently selfish are the core of the play’s tragic outcome. King Lear mainly focuses on maintaining power and obedience; he goes as far as to disown his own child because he believes she’s being defiant. Likewise‚ Edmund is willing to tear apart his own family in order to gain power and respect‚ after being mocked for being a bastard child. Goneril and Regan‚ the daughters of King Lear‚ are also seeking power and are willing to do anything to achieve their own
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