Preface
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Preface
The Gates of Fire tells the story of the conflict involving the Spartans and the Persians. It recounts the bravery and courage of a few men and their king, who were willing to face their enemy. All odds were against the Spartans as they were remarkably few compared to the Persian army. They encountered another challenge when one of their people chose to betray them to their enemy by revealing a secret passageway. Their efforts in battle puzzled their enemy. It is a story of honor, pride, and self-sacrifice. Three hundred men dare to face an army of two million, and they do so with boldness. The story includes other themes as it shows the importance of love, dedication, and loyalty. The novel illustrates the importance of boldness, courage, service, and leadership. Through the efforts of King Leonidas, one understands that effective leadership requires a willingness to serve the followers, an understanding of the situation that one is facing, and the skill to motivate people to the point that they can believe in themselves.
The Godfather presents crime in such a different way that readers are almost enticed to admire the characters even though they are engaged in criminal activities. The criminals are presented as men with families. They attend family occasions such as weddings, and they are interested in their children’s lives. At the same time, they take extraordinary measures to protect them, and this can sometimes mean murder. They are involved in drug dealing and other vices, which ordinarily would land them in jail. However, they have enough power to keep them out of the authority of the law. Michael has to take charge of his family and the business after the death of his father and his brother. He leads with bravery and ruthlessness, traits he probably acquired when serving in the navy. Michael was a law-abiding citizen, who intended to change his family’s business focus. However, he chose to sacrifice his desires and ambitions when his family was attacked.