Eve and Adam, Remark of the savages - Essay Example

Adam and Eve by Phyllis Trible The thesis of the article by Phyllis Trible is the suggestion she presents that there is a perception by the feminist movement that the bible is hostile to the female gender. By quoting the story of creation and the book of Genesis to back her suggestion, the author argues that it is important to reread the texts. This would enable us to clearly understand that the bible errs in the perceived legitimization of the male gender as being superior over the female since Eve and Adam were of the same and equal standing before God.

The first main idea put forward by the author is that she tries to reexamine the origin and true meaning of the name Adam, which is spelled as Adham in Hebrew. The author argues that even though it is generally accepted that Adam is the name of the first male to be created by God, the Hebrew terms Adham is in fact neutral and can be used for both sexes. The second main idea and important point the author presents in the article is that Eve, the first woman, was created through a divine act and not because Adam requested God to do so due to loneliness.

The author, in trying to explain that the perceived male superiority is not fact, quotes Genesis 2:18 where God makes the decision to create a helper or “ezer” in Hebrew for Adam. She informs us that the word “ezer” is usually used to define a mutual and equal relationship between people and does not indicate inferiority as is always perceived. Remarks concerning the savages of North America by Benjamin Franklin The thesis of this writing by Benjamin Franklin is the suggestion that Native Americans experienced hypocrisy from the White Europeans which the author points out by giving examples in the value of respect between the two nations of people.

The first main idea and most interesting point the author puts forward is a depiction of the ways in which the Indians behaved and went about their daily lives although the White Europeans always thought of them as a backward people. Franklin gives examples such as the hospitable nature of the Indians whereby he says they were always more than ready to help out strangers whereas the English were more concerned about how much money one had before deciding to help them out. The author also shows how much respect and decorum the Indians had during debates and when talking.

He gives the example of public debates where in the Indian culture, they would listen until one finished talking while in the European culture, they were accustomed to shouting and yelling. Another main idea and important point in the writing is that of satire and hypocrisy, the author, in the opening line, says that the North Americans were called “savages” by the British for no other reason but just because they were different. Citing several examples, he goes on to show ways in which the so called savages were actually better and more civilized than the white man.

This point shows that the author was actually not writing to show that the white man was in deed superior or more civilized than the natives, but rather it can be understood as a mockery of the white man’s thinking toward the Indians (Franklin 249). Work CitedFranklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Including Poor RichardsAlmanac, and Familiar Letters. New York: Cosimo Classics, 2005. Print