Research Paper on:
Passion, Influences, and Martyrdom of Perpetua

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
to draw people away from standardized religion in the Roman Empire. Indeed, Perpetua did not desire to be a part of pagan Rome where the primary religious objectives pointed  to such social, religious and political narrow-mindedness. In contrast to Christianitys one God belief, pagan Rome purported the existence of thousands of household gods, a concept that defied Perpetuas  own belief. Carthaginian presented yet another religious obstacle for Perpetua to follow: the existence of voluntary human sacrifice. This, as written in Joyce E. Salisburys Perpetuas Passion, was  an age-old practice ripe for change in which she had no intention of participating, regardless of her North African heritage. "But for the women the devil had made ready  a most savage cow, prepared for this purpose against all custom; for even in this beast he would mock their sex. They were stripped therefore and made to put  on nets; and so they were brought forth" (Salisbury PG). Perhaps above all of these issues resided the most pertinent reason for Perpetuas  abandonment from pagan Rome: the overwhelming patriarchal oppression of traditional Roman society compared with Christianitys democratic pledge to maintain that all people were equal before God, including women. Indeed,  the road to female freedom and self-expression has been paved with patriarchal intolerance and characteristic skepticism so much so that women have been forced to prove their worthiness within the  stringent boundaries of a male-dominated existence, a perpetual assertion that speaks volumes about the inherent fortitude comprising the female spirit. To say that women of all cultures have had  to fight for their existence throughout history would be a gross understatement and one that would also be staunchly supported by the likes of Perpetua.