The+Gates+Will+Close

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Conversation that Never Happened
Sarah Mendenhall

=The Gates Will Close =

On this WikiSpaces page is a complete analysis of two characters from the book of "Genesis" in the Bible. This project has taken a lot of time to perfect and enhance and included on this page are two character analisis's of God and Adam, which reference "The Creation of Adam" as well as the Bible. The final project also includes a script from the 'Conversation That Never Happened', which is the main focal point of the entire project. The script was recorded and edited and can be listened to at the top of the page. In order to write the first character analysis, a webspiration chart was made to organize thoughts into bubbles. There are many other unique qualities in this page, enjoy my hard work.



"The Creation of Adam" is a renaissance style painting by the well-known artist, sculptur, and architect Michaelangelo Buonarroti. "The Creation of Adam" was painted around the early 1500's (16th century ) Michaelangelo's painting is on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel ans illustrates God creating and giving life to the first person, Adam. The Sistine Chapel is in the Vatican in Rome Italy and the painting was commissioned byPOpe Julius II. The image shows God surrounded by Jesus, The Holy Spirit, Eve, and many other important figures in the book of "Genesis" in the Bible. The image leaes the viewer imagining the actual creation of the human race and the life spark that God transmits into Adam.



Character Analysis
Conscious of his own superiority, God doubts the actions of his inferior creations. In the //Creation of Adam// painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Michael Angelo depicts a scene where God is flying with people all around him and is reaching out to Adam who is sitting in solitude on the ground. The people, who are depicted smaller and in God’s shadow, that surround the Lord, really exaggerate God’s egocentric personality. It shows the viewer the how God must have everything revolve around himself and his unwillingness to let anyone else be as important. This occurs numerous times throughout the book of //Genesis// in the Bible, for instance when God destroys the city of Babel because he does not want the people to become like him. This also shows God’s insecurities concerning human life, and another example of this occurs when Adam eats from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, “’See the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out his hand to take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever’”(Gen. 3.22). The redactors have God use the word, “like”, to describe the idea that Adam would be of equal or the same importance as God. This fear of God and humankind being equals scares God and causes him to exile Adam from the Garden of Eden. God’s insecurities within himself lead to many un-needed problems throughout the Bible, much like the city of Babel, in which god destroyed the city because he did not want humankind to be as good as him.

Since Adam acts on a whim, he often becomes fearful of the future repercussions his actions will cause. In the book of //Genesis// in the Bible, Adam and Eve are instructed by God not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but "the tree was to be desired and to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate" (Gen. 3.6). Even after all of God’s warnings Adam just “ate” the fruit that Eve gave to him, there was no thinking, no analysis of the situation, only eating. This shows Adam’s impetuous personality, which leads him to his exile from the Garden of Eden, and also causes God to put curses on women and serpents. In this scene, this is the first time in the Bible where the theme of betrayal is used. Although Adam is hasty in his actions, he soon changes into a fearful man. Michael Angelo depicts this side of his personality, in the //Creation of Adam,// by the way God, who is flying in the sky and surrounded by people, and Adam, who is sitting naked and solitary, interact with one another. Both God and Adam’s arms are extended; but Adam is reluctant and timid, while God is outstretched and reaching. Adam is one of many patriarchs who look up to God and are scared to displease him.

The Script
Narrator: The day after God found out that Adam had eaten from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, the day of Adam's exile was upon them.

God: Adam, fourscore and one day ago you and Eve ate fruit from this forth tree, the idea you two bore to take a bite, has put you into an ugly predicament. You have shown your true character which is like the tree and expectations are like its shadow. The shadow is what I think of you; and the tree is the real thing. The sun has set and your shadow has left.

Adam: I’m so sorry. I only took one bite. That one bite has made me appreciate you so much more. And as I was sleeping last night I dreamed about how things would be if you did not exile me.

(((]Harp like sound fades into Adams dream)))

Adam: Eve and I could live a beautiful, long and intricate life. We could make pretty babies, which look like me, and she could make food that was on the table when I got home from plowing the Garden. I would love her and she would love me.

God: and?

Adam: and we would praise God because he is superior in every way.

(((wam wam waaaaaa)))

God: It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool then to speak out for you cannot change my mind that my decision is just. Fore you know as well as I do that I am better than you and you will never be Almighty like I.

Adam: Ah perhaps you are right but at least now... now...uh you know that I want to stay?

God: Adam you know as well as anyone that important principles may, and must be inflexible. You can not stay. Be grateful that you are only being exiled instead of executed.

Adam:(gulp) I suppose you do know what is best.

Adam: Well farewell, I will miss this, but I have no regrets.

God: Because of that, Adam, you are leaving. I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.

Narrator: And with that Adam was sent out, although there was no violence, there seemed to be a deeper, more cynical underlying conflict. Adam's unwillingness to not accept his mistake combined with God's unwavering power stick led to the ultimate exile.

 By: Sarah Mendenhall

Character Analysis
In the dialogue conversation between Adam and God written by S. Mendenhall, the writer portrays the scene in the Bible when Adam is exiled by God because Adam ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Mendenhall characterizes each character and helps develope their personalities. In the script, Mendenhall portrays God as being insecure with others knowledge, which therefore leads him to become self-indulgent because of his trust issues with others cause an empowerment within himself. God is portrayed as insecure when Mendenhall has him not allow Adam to stay in the Garden of Eden: "'Adam you know as well as anyone that important principles may, and must be inflexible. You can not stay'"( Mendenhall 1). "Inflexible" in the literal sense of the words means not able to change the laws, but metaphorically in this scene God is indirectly characterizing himself. The inflexibility refers to Gods' unwillingness to change and also his fear in what will happen if Adam were to stay. S. Mendenhall gives God in this scene an egocentric personality. The author developes this trait by having God interupt Adam's fantasy dream life: "'I would love her and she would love me.' 'and?'" (Mendenhall 1). "And" is used as a snide coordinating conjunction that includes god with Adam. Only, God invites himself into the dream instead of being included in it. This "and" shows God's egocentric and rude personality. God is portrayed as an evil antagonist in Mendenhall's unique story.

Reflection

In the creation of this project, It was really hard for me to just sit down and work on it. This is the first time on a project, where my procrastination has gotten out of hand and sadly probably not the last. Although I encountered that one small and easily-avoided problem, I enjoyed creating the project. The 'Conversation That Never Happened' project really sums up my year in Freshman English. It incorporates so many different aspects of what we have learned in the class and I am amazed that I was able to create a website. Before this year, I wouldn't have known how to even start writing a thorough character analysis, I wouldn't have been able to write a script and then record and edit it, and I would not know what WikiSpaces is if it weren't for my tech savy teacher. My favorite part of the whole assignment was editing my dialouge, It was a great experience and was also fun once I got the hang of it. I wish i would have managed my time better, but I am still vert satisfied with my project and I hope all viewers are as well.

Works Cited //<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">Artist Representation of Garden Of Eden // <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">. N.d. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">//<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">Turkish Forum // <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 May 2010. <http://www.turkishforum.com.tr/‌en/‌content/‌2009/‌03/‌01/‌do-these-mysterious-stones-mark-the-site-of-the-garden-of-eden/>.

//<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">Garden Gate //<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">. N.d. //<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">Irvine Housing Blog //<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 May 2010. <http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/‌blog/‌comments/‌garden-gate-turnbury-northwood-irvine/>.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px; line-height: normal; white-space: nowrap;">"His Most Famous Painting -(The Creation Of Adam)-Michaelangelo." <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px; line-height: normal; white-space: nowrap;">Ezine @rticles <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px; line-height: normal; white-space: nowrap;">. N.p., 2009. Web. 11 May 2010. <http://ezinearticles.com/?His-Most-Famous-Painting---%28The-Creation-of-Adam%29---Michelangelo&id=2494204>. <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">

Michaelangelo. //<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">The Creation Of Adam //<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">. 1511. //<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">memorti //<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">. Web. 2 May 2010. <http://www.memorti.com/‌blog/‌creation-evolution-compatibility-1-misconceptions/‌creation-of-adam-750384/>.

//<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">Self Portrait of Michaelangelo //<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">. 1500. //<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">How Stuff Works //<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">. Web. 6 May 2010. <http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/‌arts/‌artwork/‌michelangelo-biography.htm/‌printable>.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px; line-height: normal; white-space: nowrap;">The New Oxford Annotated Bible <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px;">. New York: Oxford, 2007. Print.