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Essay / The Idea of Boundary Crossing in Ancient Literature
Despite the idea that literary works come from a multiplicity of genres and were composed in different periods, they always seem to have an underlying core: a similar thematic idea or an overall idea. moral of the story. A theme that seems to be the common denominator underlying all of the attributed texts is the crossing of boundaries, literal and figurative. In various ancient texts, authors have cleverly incorporated the idea of characters crossing boundaries, whether significant physical or geographic boundaries or subtle emotional and social boundaries. When such individuals – considered “border crossers” or “locals” – enter foreign or unexplored territory, it not only provides insight into the reactions and expectations of both groups of individuals, but also a clear insight into the relationship between distinct groups of individuals. people.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay When approaching the topic of boundary crossing, it is important to identify the specific way in which authors describe the idea of boundary crossing in written literature. the positive and negative implications of such an approach and the possible dangers involved. The implications of crossing borders can also teach individuals about the interactions and relationships between distinct cultures and unique groups of people. But the idea of crossing borders does not stop only at transcribed pieces of literature. In fact, many examples of boundary crossing demonstrated in ancient texts can also be applied to more contemporary circumstances. A common way that authors describe their characters crossing borders is by crossing physical geographic boundaries. In Homer's The Odyssey, the central character Odysseus is on a continuous journey during which he encounters several groups of people living on different islands and the Odyssey thus has distinct experiences with each of them. Odysseus's experiences and actions in each of these journeys go beyond the surface meaning of the text and communicate the possible experiences that any individual may encounter while traveling in different regions. Ulysses' stopover in the land of the lotus eaters reflects that one of the dangers of crossing borders comes from the high expectations we have of other societies. The inhospitable and inhumane intentions of the lotus eaters represent a society in which outsiders are not welcoming. Similarly, Odysseus's journeys to the cave of Eileithyia demonstrate a new understanding of what results from crossing geographical boundaries. As Eileithyia is the goddess of childbirth, Homeris implies that the action of crossing the boundary is a means of “birthing”. In this context, the action of crossing physical boundaries leads to the birth of new tolerances and new acceptances of different groups of people. Furthermore, the crossing of boundaries and social boundaries is representative of the morals and ethics of a given society at a given time in history. In the tale of the Arabian Nights, Sinbad the Sailor talks with Sinbad the Merchant about his fortune and the wealth he has accumulated during his years of sailing. Although it may not be explicit, Sinbad the Sailor crosses social boundaries in two ways in this scenario. Sinbad crosses a social boundary because he is a lower class trader of.