March 19, 2009: Hallowed Secularism—Hints and Portents

Blog post, “Hallowed Secularism—Hints and Portents“ discusses politics, theology and the law in relation to religion and public life in the democratic United States of America

SIGNS AND NARRATIVE DESIGN IN PLUTARCH’S ALEXANDER

Plutarch’s Alexander reflects the tendency among earlier Alexandersources to augment the life of the great Macedonian with asupernatural aspect. Plutarch himself selects from, dismisses andfashions this material in accordance with his own standards forresponsible biography, but also with his narrative purposes. Thispaper explores the relationship between signs from the supernaturalsphere (semeia / theia, including dreams, oracles, omens, portents)and Plutarch’s narrative line. In the initial section of the biography,Plutarch’s deliberate association of his protagonist with divineinvolvement provides sanction for his future success. Afterestablishing his character as ‘spirited’ (thymoeidēs), the signssupport his spirit (thymos) and ambition (philotimia) towardsfulfilling his allotted role. During the latter part of the narrative,portents tend to become ominous, so that Alexander is depicted asdejected (athymos), anxious (tarachōdēs; periphobos), despairing(dysthymos), and superstitious (deisidaimōn). In this way, the signssupport an ascending and descending line in Alexander’s biographyand hint at divine and psychological (in addition to moral) reasonsfor Alexander’s successes and eventual demise.Introductio

The Purple, April 1912

The Purple is a student publication offering news of the month, editorials, poetry, college news and alumni news. This issue contains the following: The Long Road The Buoy Presidential Portents The Modern Automaton Erin\u27s Minstrel A Forsaken Expose Under the Rose Editorial College Chronicle With Our Alumni Athletic