In the middle ages, minks were a popular topic of discussion. They performed many practical services in the Middle Ages, for they housed travelers, nursed the sick, and assisted the poor; abbots and abbesses dispensed advice to secular rulers. But monasticism also offered society a spiritual outlet and ideal with important consequences for medieval culture as a whole" (Sorabella 2001). Overall, they were just good people. Though they had many restrictions on what they could and could not do, their presence in their communities lives brought people together and brought more hope in their parts of the world because of their religious beliefs.

Sorabella, Jean. “Monasticism in Western Medieval Europe: Essay: The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History . The Met’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, 1 Jan. 2001, www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mona/hd_mona.htm#:~:text=Monks%20and%20nuns%20performed%20many,medieval%20culture%20as%20a%20whole.

When I hear the word "governess" I always think about the movie The Sound of Music and the Vontrapp family's governesses. Or even in Mary Poppins and the Banks's countless nannies leading up to the arrival of Mary Poppins. After seeing this content in this story, I realized that there is a common theme among these classics. It seems that the role of the governess was very common in European households. Governesses had important jobs "in the households of the clergy, prosperous businessmen and the larger farmers as well" (Horn). They practically raised the upper middle class/upperclass's children.

Pamela Horn (1989) The Victorian governess, History of Education, 18:4, 333-344, DOI: 10.1080/0046760890180403

According to my research, leprosy is a deadly disease and “has been associated with fear, prejudice and immense social stigma”, remaining “one of the leading causes of deformity and physical disability from an infectious disease” (Chaptini and Marshman, 2015). Anyone who had it was extremely contagious. Almost like a pandemic, by law, they would have to quarantine from their friends and families until they were healed or deceased. With such a job as he had, it was a joyous experience to hear the news of being free of leprosy.

Chaptini, Casandra, and Gillian Marshman. “Leprosy: A Review on Elimination, Reducing the Disease Burden, and Future Research.” Leprosy Review, River Valley Technologies Ltd, 11 Jan. 2015, leprosyreview.org/article/86/4/30-7315.

This line sparked. my attention because of the word choice "Yet more precious". To me, the specific details and elements of the knight's armor hold more symbolism than just armor. The text explains that the knight's helmet was covered in diamonds, which happen to be a precious part of Earth’s nature. Based on my research if a diamond crystal’s "surrounding conditions change, its impurity content may change as well, perhaps yielding a diamond with zones of different types” (Harlow, Page 21). What’s interesting is this is what the helmet is clocked with diamonds. Of all parts of the knight to be protected, the helmet of diamonds is what protects the head. Further, I would suggest that there is hidden symbolism here explaining that the mind is a fighter’s most important asset and should be protected at all costs.

Harlow, George E. The Nature of Diamonds. Cambridge University Press, 1998.

I've noticed references to Zeus throughout this text, so I wanted to just pause here and give some context to help myself better understand since I really don't know much about Greek mythology. I do know that Zeus was a Greek god. It is said that he "is considered the ruler, protector, and father of all gods and humans" (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2023). Throughout this story, characters refer to Zeus quite often in the same way many people in today's society use the phrase "oh my god." It is interesting to me to see the parallels in cultures here.

Works cited: Edited by The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, Zeus, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 23 Dec. 2023, www.britannica.com/topic/Zeus.

This quote stood out to the reader because of the descriptive wording it was using. The words "earthly pains" gave the reader notion that this is comes from a transcendentalist perspective, which makes complete sense considering the fact that it is a Hindu piece and transcendentalism is a major philosophy in Hinduism. Transcendentalists, specifically the early traditionalists, "believed that a Divine Essence enlivened everything and that this essence was available to every human being without need of an intermediary" (Lewis and Bicknell, 2011). In other words, they believed in an reincarnation: that one continues to live in a new body after death; another cycle of life.

Works Cited:

Lewis, Todd, and Kent Bicknell. "The Asian Soul of Transcendentalism." Education About Asia 16.2 (2011). https://college.holycross.edu/faculty/tlewis/PDFs/transcendentalism_bicknell_2011.pdf