Extended Essay Introduction
Analysis of the novel Redeeming Love and the book of Hosea
Yu Jin Henson
Any relationships between people can be difficult for lots of people. Relationship with
family can be just as difficult as relationship with friends or with the significant others because
they are all just a human. For me relationships become tricky because I am quick to convince
myself that there just maybe one person that could be perfect and give all the love and care
that I need. Such certainty and convincement is based upon my own delusional belief that I
have no lack of perfection therefore I surely deserve best treatment from others. However, it
doesn’t take the world too long to prove me wrong. In past, my own family has let me down,
my friends has made fatal mistakes to hurt me. But it is more painful when I recall the time that
I have also let my family’s expectation down and have made careless mistake that became fatal
damage to many friendship.
Our defense mechanism is selfishness and self righteousness. People are too afraid to be let
down and get hurt. Base on our experience and in the world of logic we like to measure how
much love we give. Too many of us believe that it’s only worth to give all of our love to
someone if you are only certain that person is going to repay our love. This is also evident in
our media and society. Men with a cold hard face are seen as successful business men. Women
who does not care for love and live out independence are seen as women with high virtue.
Teenagers who do not care for care from their parents and family are admired by fellow
teenagers. But this is just another false image of ‘cool’ portrayed by media. When did
selfishness and cruelty have ever done for the good of humanity?
The book of Hosea and the novel Redeeming Love tells the flip side of our society point of view.
In both of these work, the main character Hosea, pours out his all of his love to an unfaithful
wife whose love does not even come close to love of his. Both author, Hosea and Francine
Rivers, portrays the act of unconditional love of God that redeems life of undeserving sinners.
Both stories hold a powerful message of love and its great impact on one’s life.
My close friend recommended this novel to me when I felt lost trust and hopeless towards love.
These books have brought me back to love. Love is still difficult and full of unanswered
question. However one thing I am sure of now is that love is not envy, rude, nor self-seeking.
Most importantly love never fails. Our world would be such a different place if we all can just
make one act of unconditional kindness in name of love every day. At the end of the day, after
all the pain caused by our careless act, we are just as undeserving as anyone else.