Power of Classical and Scriptural Witches Essay - 1309 Words

1 Mà ³nica Rodrà ­guez Pà ©rez 801-09-6274 To what extent does the Classical Tradition agree with the Scriptural Tradition on the powers witches can wield? The two biggest differences we have from the Classical witch and the Christian Ideal featured in their sacred texts, is definitely the connotation that either receives and, the powers they may or may not have. In the first, witches aren’t seen in a negative light; just as they are in the later doctrine (the word Witch was created by the Christian Faith later on.) Before, they were known as oracles, and in some cases, as humans gifted by pagan deities, or the deities themselves (the case with some†¦show more content†¦being covetous, incestuous, lascivious, vengeful, choleric and many more). During the time of the Inquisition, the term witchcraft gained a new meaning. It didn’t only limit itself to prescribing certain acts of earlier pagan religions as not virtuous, but to be an act of Devil worship. An example of the kinds of negative consequences th at would result of consulting witchcraft is the story of King Saul and the Witch of Endor in the book of Samuel 1.He is the first king, appointed by the prophet Samuel. He has a couple of shining moments when he defeats the Ammonites. He commits his first big mistake not soon after, he spares the Amalekites who are sworn enemies of the Jewish people, as per dictated by God. After he spared the Amalekites, he is tormented by the Lord’s unresponsiveness to his pleas. He is full of doubts, concerning his upcoming battle with the Philistines and their leader, David. When his doubts are not appeased via prophet, a dream and such, he decides to go to this woman, who is also called â€Å"familiar withShow MoreRelatedWho Goes with Fergus11452 Words   |  46 Pagespresence (â€Å"a flame that cannot singe a sleeve†). The narrative and imagistic arrangement of this poem is highly ambiguous and complicated; it is unclear whether Yeats intends the poem to be a register of symbo ls or an actual mythological statement. (In classical mythology, dolphins often carry the dead to their final resting-place.) In any event, we see here the same preference for the artificial above the actual that appeared in â€Å"Sailing to Byzantium†; only now the speaker has encountered actual creatures