Patrick Henry asks his fellow Virginians, “Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?” The idea of having eyes, but not seeing and having ears but not hearing can be found throughout both the […]
The Wilderness
Bradford describes the Pilgrims’ plight as facing “a hideous and desolate wilderness,” and says they could not “go up to the top of Pisgah, to view from this wilderness, a more goodly country to feed their hopes.” Unless students are familiar with the books of the Pentateuch which describe, among other historical events, the wandering […]
An Eye for an Eye
Mrs. Heathcliff tells Ellen Dean, in chapter 17, “On only one condition can I hope to forgive him [her husband]. It is, if I may take an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth; for every wrench of agony return a wrench: reduce him to my level.” The law of Moses demanded, for […]
Cities of Refuge
While reflecting on his dual nature in chapter 10, Jekyll alludes to the Biblical cities of refuge, “… Jekyll was now my city of refuge; let but Hyde peep out an instant, and the hands of all men would be raised to take and slay him.” The cities of refuge are found in NUMBERS 35:1-34, […]
Lest We Forget
The words “lest we forget” form the poem’s refrain and one form or another of the phrase can be found in DEUTERONOMY 4 : 9, 23; 6 : 12; PSALM 50 : 22; 59 : 11 and PROVERBS 3 : 15.