Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The Road to Paradise: Sin and Death Book 10

After the fall of Adam and Eve, Sin and Death, aware of Satan's success, decide to build a road leading from Hell to Earth.
This allows Sin and Death to infect the world, thus destroying God's paradise and continuing to corrupt mankind.

"Both to destroy or unimmortal make/All kinds and for destruction to mature" (10.611-612).

Clearly their mission is to continue to destroy Earth (as seen when animals begin to eat each other).
This image of Sin and Death entering Earth with plans of destruction reminded me of an episode of "Charmed," specifically the episode "Apocalypse, Not." Remember Charmed? It was an awesome supernatural TV series that ran for 8 years next to Buffy in the 90's and continued to run until 2006ish. I am particularly obsessed with the show, seeing as I have all 8 seasons on DVD, and this image of Sin an Death corrupting and destroying the world for pleasure and revenge definitely made me think of Charmed.

So, this episode is from season 2 (which is actually a long time ago, man I am feeling old..), and basically it's about the four horseman of the Apocalypse, Death, War, Famine, and Strife, invading Earth.
I have posted youtube links containing the full episode for your enjoyment...
The episode is divided up into a few different parts though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bErMUil3oKI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDvoCNyxSaU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtaVWTUqgC4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-zRqTtR96o&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnSI8Eh91I4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GARMj6svoYU&feature=related


So, what's interesting is that this episode opens up with Phoebe, the youngest sister, asking her sisters the question, "What if a building is on fire? Do you save 5 strangers or 1 sibling?" This question sort of connects with Eve in Book 10. After Eve ate from the tree and the Son arrives, she offers to plead with God to punish only her so that mankind isn't. Here, Eve is willing to sacrifice herself in order to save mankind, people she doesn't even really know. In Charmed, the sisters realize that they should save 5 strangers instead of a sister because sometimes the greater good is more important than one sibling or person. I don't know if that is somewhat of a stretch for a connection, but I just thought it was interesting when I started to re-watch some of the episode.

The goal of the four horsemen is to bring about the end of the world by starting and creating war, strife, death, and famine by using their powers. In a way, their goal is similar to Sin's and Death's in Book 10. The beginning of this episode shows the four horsemen transferring into a different plane, which is sort of like Hell is for Sin and Death. This alternate world provides a safe haven for the horsemen, whereas Hell provides a haven for Sin and Death. While the four horsemen are corrupting the world, people do not see them (except for the Charmed Ones apparently). I would think it would be similar to how Sin and Death operate- that people/animals do not necessarily see them, but feel emotionally different instead. A concept of evil sometimes being invisible is kind of interesting. The four horsemen are more modern, yet relate to a very old plan to destroy the world. Even today, death, sin, and evil in general still exist and have the same motives as they did since their fall, just like the idea of the four horsemen.

I'm not sure what I'm going to add about this comment because I feel like this is somewhat of a brief topic, and once you see the episode, I think you may get the connection.

1 comment:

Merideth said...

Lauren, I really like your idea in this post! I, too, am rather obsessed with Charmed, so I know what you're talking about. I don't think you're stretching it. Eve is acting like she should; she's offering to save the rest of mankind as opposed to just her [or just Adam].

I think that evil/sin/death operate in deception and trickery as well as... invisibility? [Sorry, sounds odd... not sure how to phrase that!]

Also, usually in Charmed, there's some bigger evil that the demons [in this instance, maybe the four horsemen] are doing the bidding for - the Source for instance. It's the same thing with this passage. Sin and Death are, in essence, doing Satan's bidding. He set everything up, tempting Eve and therefore Adam to eat the apple, sealing their fate as well. Usually in Charmed, the Source or some other evil plans things out, or sets something up, and then uses others to enact the plan. This could also show part of Satan's manipulative personality.

Anyway, great connection to "pop culture"! I think it works :)