Research Paper on:
Comparative Analysis of the Book of Esther and the Book of Ruth

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
about society and especially the role of women during biblical times. In the books of Ruth and Esther we are presented with many religious powers, but also provided with  a very intricate look at society in general. And, one of the aspects of society is that which involves gender. In the following paper we examine the two books separately  and then compare them as they illustrate aspects of society and gender. The paper touches on religious conditions facing these women, only because that is an important aspect of the  stories. The paper, however, is not focused on theological conditions. Ruth "Ruth was a Moabite princess according to tradition. She was used to the best things in life.  She was also a beautiful young woman in the prime of life" (Weisz The_Book_of_Ruth_A_Mystery_Unraveled.asp). She had, however, become a widow and quickly become dedicated to Naomi, her mother-in-law. And, with  the decision to stick by her mother-in-law, whatever the consequences, she became a simple woman of poverty. From this simple perspective it seems all but impossible to argue that  Ruth was not powerful enough to return to her former life, once she was a widow. It seems unlikely that she was powerless to change her life in that regard,  and find a life that surely offered more wealth and more stability. In light of such realities we must argue that Ruth was more than a spoiled princess. One must  argue that she was a woman of strong conviction and a woman of integrity and honor. She would not abandon her mother-in-law to the fates of the world, for her  upbringing, and likely her culture as well, perhaps demanded that she be responsible to her husbands family, of which she was now a part. It is quite possible that Ruth