Commentary of My paper

I wrote my paper on the Slave, which was probably one of my favorite novels that I got to read this semester. I picked this story to write about, because I really liked how well the story mirrored the tales in the Bible. The connection between Jacob and Jacob was easy to make, considering that many stories run along the same plot line. The renaming of Wanda to Sarah was the connection that was the funnest to create. Wanda was the most compelling character in the novel to me, because I felt that she symbolized free will throughout the story. She was one of the few characters capable of thinking, that hadn't already been corrupted with a traditional outlook. She was born a pagan in the eye's of Jacob and therefore was unfit to take home or marry. The renaming of Wanda to Sarah demonstrates a re-birthing or born again ideology. Now that Wanda is Sarah she is fit to live among the "chosen" people. Just as Sarai was now able to take on the roll of the mother of the people Wanda was now able to live amongst society.

It also gave an interesting look at how the worlds religions have evolved throughout time and where beliefs in modern religion get their basis. This novel deals with the blending and meshing of several different pagan and modern religions. There is still a heavy pagan influence in the novel that is really interesting. Imps,trolls and witches are discussed and sometimes referenced to solve problems. The passion that these people in the novel put into their beliefs, shows the decline of folklore and oral traditions that used to drive culture. The traditions and symbols of this story may have become watered down as time progresses, but there are still remnants of it in our daily lives. Choices are still made today out of superstition and luck.

This novel should help explain to it's reader the importance that beliefs have played on our culture and how that is likely to shape the future. As I discussed in the novel, this story is an archetype for many stories to come.