Neils-Erik Andreasens Adam and Adapa - Two Anthropological Characters - Essay Example

?Discussion Neils-Erik Andreasen’s “Adam and Adapa: Two Anthropological Characters” focuses on the parallelism between two widely known characters.The author concludes that though there might seem to be a close relationship to the stories of Adam and Adapa, there is a clear distinction between the two and that they cannot be the same or very much closely related accounts. He proceeded sternly to state that “parallels do indeed exist between Adam and Adapa, but they are seriously blunted by the entirely different contexts in which they occur” (1981, p.92). The article is mainly geared towards disproving claims to the verity of a great parallelism in the characters. It was written as an answer to other academic articles inclined to this theory and assumes of a predisposition of the audience who might accept the same as truth. The arguments are credible in that the author was able to present factual evidence from the texts to support his claims. But these are more substantive and contextual in that the differences that he cited were mainly on the themes and the plot of the subject stories. I was not easily persuaded to conclude base on an objective interpretation because the author is quick to reveal his biases as apparent on his writing. “Unlike Adapa, Adam, though made of clay, originally has the potential for immortality and is totally free before God. Further, Adam serves the earth, rather than temple” (Andreasen 1981, p.193).This sentence is only one among others that is enough to establish the evident creationist stance of the author and easily devoid it of absolute impartiality. Discussion 2 It is quite true that “The Song of Songs” has posted a conundrum among readers and it is quite comprehensible how it can be regarded as an erotic text. As a literary text and not strictly in its religious context, the same can be both an allegory of God’s relationship with His people and it can also be an erotic poem. This liberal interpretation in literature is not something novel and a contemporary reading of “The Song of Songs” that would be contingent upon the reader’s understanding makes it capable of both interpretation. “For your lovemaking is more delightful than wine. The fragrance of your colognes is delightful” (Song of Songs1:2-3). These lines render the very erotic themes that may seem to be recurring in the text if read outside of the biblical context. To appreciate the use of lovemaking in its literal sense and the comparison provided by the persona to wine and furthermore with cologne makes this very erotic. But to arrogate an allegorical appreciation of the same is even more customary in the relationship provided between God and the church and that the intoxicating effects of wine and the allure of cologne aptly describes the same. “The Song reflects an attempt by a single author or editor to compose his literary piece with artistic skill and rhetorical unity” (Tanner 1997, p.143). This provides for the consideration to treat it as a literary and as such opens it to all possible interpretation. Discussion 3 The Ruined Man Who Became Rich Again Through a Dream This story tells of a man from Baghdad who eventually became poor and saw in his dream a man who said that he will find his fortune if he travels to Cairo. Fuelled by this precept he went to Cairo and without having a place to stay slept at the mosque where he met what seemed to be a misfortune when he was mistaken for a robber when a group of thieves made their escape through the mosque. After getting beat up by the police, he was questioned where he is from and his business in Cairo. He told the magistrate of his dream and the latter laughed at him for his gullibility and then told him that he also has a dream that he should travel to Baghdad and seek a house with a garden and under a fountain is buried treasure. The man went home and found the treasure in his own backyard as described by the magistrate. The major theme of the story is faith. The magistrate belittled the man for not having the wisdom to dismiss something as insignificant as a dream but what he failed to see was the immense amount of faith that this man had which he did not possess and for this he was rewarded in the end. It bears parallelism to Aladdin in the sense that both were afforded great fortune out of nothing. The main characters of both stories were able come through in the end through the adversities that they were faced with. Discussion 4 The modernist fuses together very distinct themes that incorporate not only the personal contemplations of the writer but also a number of many other factors that reveal the culture and history of his own heritage. An essential characteristic of a modernist writer is perceived in how is able to transcend beyond himself and his own caprices and to an extent offer an artistic perspective into historical events. This necessarily means that the modern writer is not restricted into the imaginative quality of the themes with which he works with. The characterization into literary work of his inventive aptitude coupled with cultural reverence makes for the diversified quality of work to which Constantine Cavafy belongs. Such common themes contemplated that can be observed in the work of a modernist such as Cavafy is the use of historical references in a significant number of his poems. The anthology of his works would include poems such as “Trojans,” “Those Who Fought for the Achaean League,” “The God Abandons Anthony,” “Theodotus,” “Thermopylae,” and “Ithaca” among others easily suggests the Greek background of the author and how he has successfully incorporated this in his poetry. Additionally, he wrote poems that center on historical figures such as “Anna Comnena,” “Anna Delassene,” “Manuel Komninos” and a couple others about Nero. The style of his poetry is in free verse and mostly takes on a narrative style. This indicates of the perceptive and simultaneous introspective character that must be possessed by a modernist. Discussion 5 The stories reinforce the truth that as we develop a continued reliance upon modernity and its conveniences we move further from the most basic virtues which make for the totality of the human spirit. These changes that can be seen through the stories as reflected by the authors in their own culture could yield that the same is applicable not only to their particular country but reflects a global truth. At the outset the reader is introduced into societies that are still backward and very much patriarchal and even more to the disconnect between the progression into the acceptance of advancements and the clinging onto cultural heritage. The major themes of the stories enveloped within the cultural contexts of the stories in the perspective of the nation of each author goes beyond the delineation toward the unfolding of each but more on the substance that they convey which includes major themes such as faith, hope, death and others. Each story gives the reader a more vivid perspective on the prevailing practices that each parent culture has. This provides a gateway for understanding through literature what a person may have toward different countries and their accompanying culture. A student gets a different perspective through the reading of the texts and provides for a different cultural perspective that educates. It transports the reader to the extent that one is displace from his comfort zone which is necessarily to have a better grasp of varied cultural perspectives. Bibliography Andreasen, N 1981, ‘Adam and Adapa: Two Anthropological Characters’, Andrews University Seminary Studies, vol.19, no. 3, pp.179-194. Cavafy, C 2004. Constantine P. Cavafy –Poems-. Classic Poetry Series. Available from: Poemhunter.com. [10 January 2012]. Song of Songs, n.d. Available from: http://bible.org/download/netbible/ondemand/bybook/sos.pdf. [10 January 2012]. Tanner, JP 1997, ‘The Message of the Song of Songs’, Bibliotheca Sacra, vol. 154, no.613, pp. 142-161. Read More