Author: Sylvan Martin

“His limbs were weak, each moment they grew more numbed and stiff……He pulled out the hatchet, raised it with both hands, and let it descend without force, almost mechanically, on the old woman’s head” (76). The classic novel Crime and Punishment emphasizes the idea of internal and physical suffering through our actions, therefore mimicking the biblical…

Carrying the Cross Through Crime and Punishment  By Sylvan Martin  “His limbs were weak, each moment they grew more numbed and stiff……He pulled out the hatchet, raised it with both hands, and let it descend without force, almost mechanically, on the old woman’s head” (76). The classic novel Crime and Punishment emphasizes the idea of internal…

Focus of Paper: Roskolnikov struggles both mentally and physically throughout the novel as a result of his actions. There seems to be a parallel between the the disciples “cross to bear” for being a Christian, and Roskolnikov’s “cross to bear” for committing murder. Exploring Roskolnikov’s decisions and actions depicts the the biblical theme of bearing…

In chapter five of Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov finds himself flirting with the idea of committing murder. Looking at the events that lead to Raskolnikov making his final decision, might show us why he did what he did from a circumstantial point of view. However, on a deeper level, is there a culprit behind his…

The vivid and eye-opening dream of John Bunyan’s, called The Pilgrim’s Progress, brings a brutal reality to the reader that causes them to reflect upon their own lives. The book of Tobit within the Apocrypha also briefly emphasis some of the same key points from Bunyan’s dream, which are that walking the straight and narrow…

What in your life would you be willing to give everything for? For some, they are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for it. This is much like how Franz from, “A Hidden Life”, was willing to give his life up in order to lead as an example. From a biblical context, a husband has…

Job is a simple man who has everything anyone could ever ask for, wealth, family, land, etc. Then on a day that was no different from any other, he receives news that all his children are dead, his land is gone, and his wealth has disappeared. Where does Job turn in this situation… faith. The…

Psalm 138 is one of the more popular psalms. But why is this? Is it the personal connection we feel to God when reading it? Or maybe an admiration for the poetic combination of words King David was able to put together. By analyzing and comparing Psalm 138 in three different texts, KJV, Septuagint, and…

Thesis: The play J.B. models many of the same struggles that Job went through because the book of Job acts as inspiration the book of Job The play J.B. was written shortly after a period of hardship and trials, because the book of Job outlines many of these struggles as well as how to make…

If you have ever read the book of Job or the play J.B. by Archibald Macleish, then you know that your life isn’t nearly as bad as it seems. However, despite all the adversity Job and J.B. are faced with, they still praise the Lord. This seems remarkable considering most of us might have trouble…