Religion in Society

I find that religion can play a huge role in society. It started the Crusades. It caused millions of Jews to die in the Holocaust. It causes numerous of genocides and deaths. And yet, religion is a requisite necessity. It is something that the world cannot live without and it is something that humans desperately need. Because when everything is gone, taken away, destroyed the only thing that is left is that measly bit of hope and the crumbling beliefs that a better time will come. While, the role of religion in society has already been discussed many times in Night, I still am compel to “rant” more on this because I feel as though the few times we had gone over this in Night was definitely not enough to satisfy my hunger to understand.

In the mistress of the Art of Death, religion first fueled the animosity for the Jews of Cambridge by the Christians. Not only was it that, but it even fueled the rivalry between Christianity itself. The monks from Saint Augustine were displeased with the nuns from Saint Radegund’s while the nuns over in Saint Radegund harbored an aversion for those from Saint Augustine. And this was only because these two for from two different monastery. They shared the same faith, the same religion, and the same cause and yet they disliked each other because the other was not them. Because of “religion” people were divided up and conflicts could easily ignite from any single spark.

And when that single sparked was created by the murder of the four children, people didn’t bother to resist the temptation of accusing each other to consign the other’s importance and greater their own. Many accused the Jews because they were easy targets. They became the scapegoats so that in a way these people could avoid suspicion them selves. According to the people, the Jews were the one who had killed Jesus Christ and so they were just as evil as the devil himself. And if they were truly that evil then why should it not be their fault? This was their logic. And because of this, innocent people were condemned to death. Other innocent people lost their homes while some lost their parents, or siblings, or relative. Because of religion, many innocent people died. Because while religion might be a good thing but in the hands of some people, religion could be turn into the greatest of all weapon because no one dares to disclaim it for fear of being accuse them selves.

Because of this, religion becomes a part of humanity that can never be extinguished. No matter what, religion will always impact society as long as society remains.

Crucifixion of an Angel

In the Mistress of the Art of Death, murders are committed throughout the town of Cambridge. And even more sinfully, the deceased are children. In one of the first murder committed, an apparent witness claimed that she saw the child crucified. I find this important because this alludes to one of the most powerful events in history, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

However, instead of seeing the child as the one crucified, I find that the murder seems to be more like a crucifixion of an angel. In a way that is what it symbolizes to me. A child is pure and untainted by the evils of the world because they are still young and naive, much in way that angels are perceived. By murdering a child, it is almost like murdering an angel.

Not only that, but the death of this child sparked outrage among the people of Cambridge. After this incident, everybody turned their hatred on the Jews because the Jews were the one who had “crucified Jesus”. This death caused people to turn a blind eye on what the basis of their religion even tells them do - which is to do good and not evil. And yet, ironically, for their religion they fuel their hatred for the Jews and accuse them of this murder. In a way, not only had a child died but so did humanity or rather the ethics of humanity - that of which is the center of all good. And in a way, this is also the murder of an angel that of which symbolizes all good.

Adelia; Part 2

Adelia is a tree! Well, not really. But sometimes I feel as though she’s the reincarnation of one. In my previous post, I stated how she was just like the modern feminist who’s strong, reliable, and independent. Even now, several chapters later, I still feel as though she hasn’t changed at all.

Now, about the tree... Well, when you think about it, a tree is strong and capable. To me a tree symbolizes strength because no matter how much the rain may pour or how much the wind may blow, a tree can always remain standing. No matter what it goes through, a tree will usually still be deeply rooted into the ground. In a way, a tree symbolizes how Adelia is so firmly rooted. It shows how independent and strong she is.

Not only that, but it also depicts that weaker side of her. No matter how strong a tree is, without water or sunlight it will still die. Even though, it may be strong and can withstand any obstacle, in truth it is very dependent on something else. Just like Adelia. No mater how strong she think she is, in reality she is very dependent on the people around her. Even though she may want to deny it but just like a tree she can only remain firmly on the ground if there is water and sunlight. She needs other people to care for her. Either directly or indirectly, she needs people to look after her. She has people that she is dependent on.

Adelia; First Impressions

So far, what do I think of Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar? Well, I think she is the embodiment of a modern feminist. She is strong, independent, and she doesn’t need male to help her. She is able to stand up for her own, however though, at certain points in the book it is clear that she is weaker than she cares or want to admit. For example when she was on the hill alone and Sir Gervase was coming towards her, she knew she needed help but instead of screaming for help like any other sensible young lady of her time then she had held her pride in higher priority and stood her ground. Brave of her to do so, I must admit, but it was also incredibly stupid and unreasonable. If her “bodyguard” Mansur wasn’t there with the slinging axe, then it would have been very apparent that she would have been undeniably hurt. It was also when I got to this point that I decided that Adelia is a very proud person. Or would arrogant be a better word? She puts pride above many of her other priorities and even the risk to her own personal safety could not persuade her to lift her head down a bit. Not only that but Adelia prides herself with the respect other gives her. She thrives on being able to assure herself that she is strong all by herself. She doesn’t want to have to depend on anyone else, which is rather imprudent of her I think. Even though I know the feeling of wanting to accomplish something by your self, I still believe that working together as group is not anything disgraceful. Relying on help is okay, especially when you need it. Refusing it is what would be stupid.
Another thing, I don’t think of Adelia as just someone who commands respect. She is also a person with a good natured but too professional heart. She truly cares for her patients but she acts too aloof, too professional like and that is even to people who are not her patients but people who are her colleagues. There is just something about her that just screams “Get away from me, I don’t need you!” Her persona though truly kind shows off as too cold. She is just too emotionally distant from her peers. It seems as though she wants to detached herself from them in fear of getting too close. Or perhaps she just doesn’t want to think of herself as weak by relying on people, which means she can’t be friends with them because that would be like saying that she needs their friendship which completely destroys the whole “I’m strong. I’m independent and I can do whatever motif.”

However I could be wrong about her. I had thought that Sophie Neveu from The Da Vinci Code was too detached as well, but Sophie had slowly started to change and perhaps Adelia will too. Perhaps later on, Adelia will find that one person that could make her accept wanting to have other people there for her.