Say+What?

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**Introduction**

 //What would you do if a being came down from the heavens, and told you that everyone you had ever known would be killed? What if they then told you that only one family would be spared and that it was yours? This exact situation happened to Lot, and he reacted just how you would imagine: not believing a word of it.// //My dialogue project chronicles the conversation between God and Lot, when God informs Lot that he will be the only one spared from Sodom. Lot goes through the five stages of grief in this conversation, ending with acceptance. He also demonstrates the traits of protectiveness and trust.//

**Character Analysis**

  Although in the Bible the character of Lot is credulous, Hendrick Goltzius shows in his painting, //Lot and his Daughters//, that he sees Lot as being trusting. In this painting, Goltzius used facial expressions to convey a sense of trust in Lot. Lot seems puzzled, but looking at his daughters, who look reassuringly at him, he has a sense of trust in his eyes. In particular, Lot’s mouth conveys a relaxed content nature that shows he is trusting in this situation. He trusts his daughters, and so, while confused as to why they make him drink, is trusting that they do so without ulterior motives. This is shown clearly in Goltzius’s painting, and contrasts with what the redactors have said in the Bible itself.  In The Bible, Lot is very protective of people around him. He would not allow harm to the people he cares for. He tells the angel that God sent to him ""Only do nothing to those men, for they have come under my roof." (Genesis 19.8) In this passage, the word "only" shows that he feels a sense of responsibility to care for those who live with him. His only condition is that God not harm the people who are staying with him, illustrating just how strong this feeling is.

God is shown in the Bible to love his patriarchal line, but in //God the Father// by Artus Quellin, he is seen as an uncompromising figure. Quellin uses gestural placement to convey God’s inability for discussion. In particular, God’s outstretched hand in this statue shows that he is not willing to hear what anyone might have to say. This unforgiving attitude towards input shows that Quellin sees God as not listening, or obeying, what people might have to say about him, and generally not acknowledging other opinions.

The original text of the Bible also shows God as having a bad temper, and easily going off on people who displease him, like with Er: "But Er... Judah's firstborn was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death." (Genesis 38.7) The word "sight" really illustrates just how easily God can go off. It is not said that Er was wicked, but that Er was seen as wicked by God, and was thus murdered. Perhaps if God had looked a little deeper, he would have seen a man who was just a little bit off of his path. But instead, he kills him on a whim, based on an impression that could be deeply flawed.

**Script**

 God: Lot, this is your Almighty speaking.

Lot: Who is this? Where are you?

God: I am God! The Almighty Creator of all you see, Lord of the Israelites, the All-powerful creator of this Universe!

(Lightning in background)

Lot: All right, Jeez, didn't mean to offend you. So why is God talking to me? Shouldn't you be off with Abraham, the "Chosen One"?

God: This isn't about Abraham, I am going to do you a favor.

Lot: What, are you going to choose my other cousin as a savior?

God: Actually, I was kinda planning on destroying Sodom.

Lot: But all of my friends! My family! They all live in Sodom, how could you do this?

God: Lot, Sodom is an evil place full of evil people. You have no say in this matter.

Lot: How would you know? Have you ever even been to Sodom? This cannot be the right path for these people.

God: No, of course not, but I've heard many stories, and that place needs to go. The right path for these people is straight to the grave. Do you know why it's called Sodom? But that's not the point!

Lot: How is that not the point? You're going to kill me and everyone I love over a couple of stories you've heard!

God: See, that's the thing. I'm going to spare your family, for Abraham wishes to protect his family, and you are righteous in your ways.

Lot: Look, look, how about we make a deal. I have two daughters who have not known a man-

(God interrupts) No! Sodom's fate is sealed. It is too late for that dredge of society, and they shall all perish under my almighty Hell Fire!

Lot: But where will I go? I have two daughters to raise, and you want me to become a wanderer?

God: I have found a very nice cave for you, located right next to a beautiful vineyard.

Lot: Well I do love wine, and my daughters are very nice.

God: These children will never be normal, I assure you. And they will find children one way or another.

(Wah-wah-wah sound)

Lot: Well, if you are sure that I will have grandchildren, even if they live in a cave...

God: Look, I promise you that your two daughters shall bear, if you only stop irking me. You should be thankful that I am sparing you, my mercy knows no bounds.

Lot: Well if my bloodline shall be continued, I cannot be too mad. I suppose I should thank Abraham.

God: And what of my actions? Do you wish me to smite you too, along with that excuse you have for a city? I can kill you right now!

(Thunder crash)

Lot: Please, my Lord, spare me, if only for my daughters.

God: I suppose I must. Now off with you, before I change my mind. And always be thankful for what I have done for you.

Dialogue Analysis

 In "Say What?", Lot's protectiveness and trusting nature is put on display when conversing with God. When God comes down to tell Lot that his city will be destroyed, his first thought is not of his own safety. His response is "All of my friends! My family... How could you do this?" (Sanders 9) Lot's impulsive response is to defend his kin, and not his own life. This shows that his values are primarily responsibility for others, and not self-preservation. He risks angering God, and further condemning himself, but he risks these dangers for his family.

Later, Lot has been told that he shall survive. He quickly comes to terms with the situation, and reasons "If you are sure that I will have grandchildren" (Sanders 22), trusting God that all shall be fine. Lot demonstrates this trust in an incredibly stressful situation. That he so quickly comes to terms with what God is telling him shows that he is trusting. While everyone will die, and the man who is doing it is telling him his plans, he still remains faithful. Faithful that all will be fine, because God has said so.

**Webspiration**



** Artist's Info **

[|Hendrick Goltzius] was a major figure in Dutch art during the late sixteenth century and early seventeenth century. He was very multi-talented, excelling in painting, print publishing, and engraving. In 1590, he began a trip to Italy, and was said to have been so famous that he had to travel secretly. In the year 1600, at the age of 42, he quit print-making and started painting. This was sparked by the belief at the time that painting carried greater prestige. [|Artus Quellin] was a Flemish Sculptor, the cousin of more famous Artus Quellinus. He worked on tomb sculptures and portrait busts for various figures of the time, and in 1682 built his masterpiece, //God the Father//, for the Bruges Cathedral. He also worked independently for cathedrals in Antwerp and Tournai.

** Reflection **

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> This project has tested me because, truth be told, I greatly procrastinated. However, when crunch time came, I put in the effort that was needed and made a quality wiki page. I have made a page that is multi-faceted, containing insightful analysis, creative dialogue, and useful information.

This project was about further defining characters from the Bible by providing added dialogue, then analyzing said dialogue, and supporting character traits with pictures and passages. The evidence I chose for this project is very solid, however I did falter in my character analysis when I failed to analyze half of the pieces, a mistake made after missed classes.

One skill that I have been working on since the beginning of the school year was time management. Although I cannot say that this project was a resounding success in that category, it was certainly a step in the right direction. For five days I did a solid amount of work on separate occasions, a vastly superior strategy to waiting until the last day and cramming all my work in.

One place that I wish to work on after this project is vision. Having a longer dialogue is an advantage for analytical reasons, as you have more material to quote from. However, I was not able to realize this while writing my dialogue, and for a multi-part project like this, a solid base dialogue is crucial. Could I redo this project, I would spend more time expanding and optimizing my dialogue, which would in turn make dialogue analysis a cinch.

<span style="background-color: #ff0000; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">**Citation**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Orenstein, Nadine. "Hendrick Goltzius (1558–1617)." //The Metropolitan Museum of// //Art//. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, n.d. Web. 17 May 2010. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/golt/hd_golt.htm>.

"Quellin, Artus I (or Artus Quellinus) (or Arnoldus Quellin) (bapt. Antwerp, 30 Aug. 1609; d Antwerp, 23 Aug. 1668). ." //eNotes//. N.p., n.d <http://www.enotes.com/oxford-art-encyclopedia/quellin-artus>. Rpt in //The Oxford Dictionary of Art//. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. //eNotes//. Web. 18 May 2010.

Quellus, Artus, II. //God The Father//. 1682. Bruges Cathedral, Bruges. //Songs for// //Praise//. Web. 20 May 2010. <http://www.songsforpraise.com/AgiosOTheos.html>.

Goltzius, Hendrick. //Lot and his Daughters//. 16th Century. Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. //Wikipedia//. Web. 20 May 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lot_and_his_Daughters.jpg>.