I wanted to make a comparison regarding the topics of magic and surrealism. In class we covered what is magic and surrealism but generally I wanted to touch more on the concept of magic because in class we briefly talked about the Bible. Although we brought up points for surrealism, I wanted to give an approach or a connection between the belief in magic in the works of Sundiata and the Bible. Magic in Sundiata could be considered something they have faith in and part of the culture mentioned in the story. I wanted to tie that miracles that Jesus performed on many people. Why is magic so believable in a story such as Sundiata but so questionable in documented books like the bible? Magic is used in these works to represent power. An ability that not everyone can do, something that not everyone gets to see. Respectively Magic is used in their own purpose in both of the works but who’s to say that the “miracles” in the Bible isn’t just fictional magic like in Sundiata.

The story of Sundiata reminds me of the Disney movie Hercules. In the movie, Hercules is cast off and is taken care of by  poor farmers. Growing up, Hercules displayed great strength due to the fact that he was a god but he was looked down upon by the community as depicted by the movie. The similarity between the two is strong as Sundiata was cast off as well with his mother because of the jealousy that Sassouma had. Both characters being very humble and strong, they faced someone that tried to bring them down. Both being very humble as well, they were welcomed by many and both had a destiny to return back home. Although it is a comical comparison, I couldn’t help but notice how the plot of both a Disney movie and a work of literature follow the same kind of sequence of events.

When Dante spoke to Ulysses or Odysseus, Ulysses said to Dante, “Language, the tip of it flickering to and fro threw out a voice and answered.” The fact that Ulysses is in hell telling this tale reminded me of another body of literature. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is embodied in this Canto due to the similarity of the pain both characters suffer in sharing their tale. In the Ancient Mariner, the Mariner is cursed to tell his tale to those who come across his path, it is similar to Ulysses because he is in hell suffering and Dante comes along and he tells his tale. This connection brought me back to my high school days because my AP English class focused on the Ancient Mariner and I saw it embodied in canto 26. I believe this supports the work as a whole because Dante did use many other references but he was able to indiscreetly mention another body of work.

Throughout these chapters, I found that Canto’s 22 and 23 were the most interesting to me simply because of the thrill that it demonstrates in the fifth pouch which contained the barterers. I really enjoy horror and thrill and the imagery of a dark pit seeming like its full of tar looked cool. Virgil and Dante usually do not have conflicts crossing hell or conflicts that could have cost them their lives. In Canto 23, Virgil and Dante try to escape the fifth pouch as the demons struggle to get out of the tar like pit but soon after, they hear the flap of wings and realized that they were being chased. That chase kind of gave me a bit a thrill because it’s crazy to be in hell and being chased by demons. Something I also noticed that isn’t really a big deal but as a Spanish speaker, I noticed that the names of the demons are in Spanish for example “Malacoda” which is evil tail but in Spanish it would be Mala cola.

The one Character who I believe was the greediest in the play was of course lady Macbeth, she served as the motivating drive aside from his ambition. When King Duncan was to reside in their castle, a plan was made to murder him but Macbeth who was still questioning such idea in his head doubted that he should go along with it and also contemplated if he were to fail. It was lady Macbeth who encouraged him to push on because she wanted it more than he did.” I dare do all that may become a man, Who dares do more, is none.” stated Macbeth and replied LADY “What beast was’t then That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man.” (1.7) it shows how Lady Macbeth is calling Macbeth a coward for not wanting to continue with the plane. Following that Lady Macbeth states “I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked the nipple from his boneless gums, And dashed the brains out.” This reflects her sadistic attitude to enforce confidence in Macbeth to ensure that he goes along with the plan. Overall, she constitutes motivation for Macbeth, although fearful persuasion was her tactic, it worked nonetheless.

The Witches are probably the main component for MacBeth working as a tragedy. They are the main reason that MacBeth began having  a blood thirsty ambition to become king, they instilled a seed into Macbeth and they basically played as a puppeteer in Macbeths life throughout the play. It is shown how their importance is noted since MacBeth returns to them to receive another prophecy. At this point, Macbeth is driven by fear and his rationally is practically gone. He was once know as a barbaric soldier and now is in the palms of the witches. If it weren’t for them then Macbeth would have patiently waited for his turn as king.

Reading oedipus once again has brought me back to high school, sat me down in the back row but instead of reading blindly, a second read informed me with much more. I believe that the play was able to stimulate many feelings not to the character but mainly to the audience due to one element. In that being said the play works the dramatic Irony, it is pretty obvious that Oedipus fulfills the prophecy but it is only obvious to us and not the characters themselves. I believe that stimulates the audience to be attentive to his actions questioning if his choices will lead him to the fate that was given to him or will he be able to break that and act on his free will.  Based on the text, “Now if he still uses that same number, I was not the one who killed him. One man cannot be the same as many. But if he speaks clearly of one man on his own, indeed the guilty balance tilts toward me.” This gave us the idea already of the prophecy has started to come about. Not only did it reveal the dramatic irony but it foreshadowed the sequence of events as it hints a bit of regret that Oedipus has.

After finishing the Odyssey and understanding the journey that took place and all the obstacles that Odysseus had to face. This hero’s journey made me reflect on Jesus in a way that they were both heroes and went through different obstacles to achieve the point in life in which they are now. In terms of Odysseus reflecting Jesus. Jesus had society go against him and was sought after, he tested in faith and doubted by locals. Odysseus mirror that in a sense where he as well had a group of people that were opposed to him which in his case were the suitors. In both cases they overcame obstacles that deterred them from being they are in their respective cases. A poem like the Odyssey  gave me excitement, there is always a character that you root for and when it seems like it may be the end to their journey, they always seem to make it out. I couldn’t help but also feel bit of relief. In one case where Odysseus and his men were captured by the cyclops. It revealed such hero characteristics since he was able to escape after out witting the cyclops in which I admire in movies and books.

Matthew 9-17 reveals the power of Jesus Christ himself. In many of the sub headings throughout 9-17, it shows how they state how Jesus uses his power to help many for example, in genesis 9 it states “Jesus heals a palsied man” then following after it states “two blind men receive sight.” Jesus and his disciples go around healing the sick in every city. One thing that stood out to me was in Genesis 11, verse 36-38. Jesus stated that if we love our father and mother more than him then we are not worthy of him. This made me feel a little angry towards the statement because it is quite hard to not have immense love your parents. I felt as if it were a requirement that was not necessary in believing in God due to the fact that you can equally love Jesus as much as you do to your parents so therefore I found that it was a bit to extra. Following that statement, Jesus stated “and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” In my Philosophy class we were told,” A parent will always love their child more than a child will love their parent” applying that to what Jesus demanded, it contradicts what is required. It reflects a sense of selfishness for the acceptance of God. Even though Abraham was willing to sacrifice his first and only son in the Old Testament, I do feel as if that it should not be a requirement in order to be a firm believer in God. Another thing that I noticed is a recurrent theme of doubt. Significantly, I noticed the doubt of Peter who tried to walk on water to head to Jesus and felt himself sinking because he did not have enough faith. There are many that follow Jesus but reveal that they question their belief in the end, even when Jesus foretells his death he reveals how he will be betrayed.

Reading Matthew 1-8, I’ve realized that it consists of Jesus’s journey. It begins with his birth and ends with many people following him in the end. I also realized how Jesus is trying to emulate God referring back to the Old Testament. In Genesis 6, verse 38 and Genesis 5, verse 21 and 27, there is a recurrent theme stating “Ye have heard that it was said by them of the old time” where Jesus uses the Old Testament as a foundation furthering each of the commandments that God once placed.  For example when it was mentioned that thou shall not kill, Jesus further explained that thou shall not also be angry at brethren. Also in Genesis 5, where it was mentioned that one shall not commit adultery, Jesus further mentions that if one looks at a women with lust then thou has committed adultery. Comparing to the work as a whole, Matthew 1-8 serves as an introduction to a prophecy. In favor of Matthew 1-8 serving as an introduction to a prophecy is because it replicates the story of a hero. Hero’s usually tend to face tragedies or is against a society where in the beginning in Genesis 2, King Herod wanted Jesus to be killed and then from there it progress as Jesus begins to escalate in fame as he defies what is the quota and is capable of gaining followers. Tying it back to the claim made in the beginning, Matthew 1-8 reflects Jesus’s journey