SH+2015-16+P6+Number+three

=**The Number Three**=

**I. Aim - Trinity Peters**
In Christianity, the number three signifies unity and is represented as the “Holy Trinity" which includes the Father, the Son and the Holy spirit (Holy Ghost), where all three of the components are separate, but unified. The Bible addresses, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one” (King James Bible, John 5.7-8). Each segment of the “Holy Trinity” is unique and different from the others, however, they are all “one.” This is similar to society where each person has their own personality and traits that define them, but God still deems them equal. However, just as the “three” mentioned in Christianity are unique, but united, modern society can also relate. Along with the differences everyone has, each person requires assistance from others to sustain a goal. That goal cannot be reached with one person or source contributing because outside knowledge provides more enrichment to the idea. The number three is the addition of outside knowledge to the two sources in order to solidify a proposal. A triangle, for instance, is formed from three different lines, where the third one connects the other two together. These lines, once connected together, create the polygon and set a basis for other shapes to be created.



//Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Trinity Window. n.d//. Stained Glass. Avondale, Pennsylvania.

//The Holy Bible//, King James Version. New York: American Bible Society: 1999


 * II. Audience - Autumn**

The number three itself does not have any specific intended audience; it is how it is utilized and what it symbolizes in a specific context that gives it one. Dante Alighieri uses the number three as a method to cunningly describe a hell to his audience, particularly all sinners and Christians, especially during the 14th century when he lived, when religion was a major influence in modern life and politics. The author of a short article said, “Because he is so meticulously logical in his approach to writing, almost everything in Dante's work has its number, and almost every number has its own meaning.... Three's provide a structure not only for the poetry and overall design of Dante's work, but also for its landscape, for the attributes of creatures that populate the Inferno, and finally, for the punishment of sinners that are damned eternally”(Agoodmixture). Dante’s writing incorporated threes many times to illustrate several aspects of his book, such as the Divine Comedy, the three beasts, the three heads of Satan, the Holy Trinity, etc. In addition, an author of a biography reported, “The Divine Comedy is an allegory of human life presented as a visionary trip through the Christian afterlife, written as a warning to a corrupt society to steer itself to the path of righteousness: "to remove those living in this life from the state of misery, and lead them to the state of felicity" (A&E Television Networks). These aspects are to give society a different view of the afterlife being divided into three parts that was not present during the middle ages and how people should live their lives in attempt to become more virtuous. It is somewhat of an advantage to assume the audience has some religious background, seeing as religion is so common when it comes to knowing how the world was made and what happens after death; even if someone is not, threes can represent other concepts such as the past, present, and future. The reader can also read the book for the chronological and systematic story line revolving around the use of the cleverly placed application of the number three.



"Dante." //Bio//. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 27 Aug. 2015.

Agoodmixture. "Dante's Use of Threes in the Inferno." //Dante's Use of Threes in the Inferno//. Everything2.com, 15 Mar. 2001. Web. 27 Aug. 2015.

Michelino, Domenico De//. Dante and the Three Kingdoms//. 1465. Oil on canvas. Museo Dell'Opera Del Duomo, Florence.


 * III. Historical - Katie**


 * [[image:https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/EQjeHcGV4VbpjnOBRVgRAHgXXNDbvXNZsbKZG3xewNeBp7OqA334Ra0nBK7S4TDrET886SS-F5J7q8dNqflrmmfSl1P8vzIMCqnYAzxaKaqrHIoHKCN1a2H4cmXUcKp_SV0cFtc]] ||
 * From the moment man was put upon this Earth, he has been surrounded by the number three. He lives in a three-dimensional reality where the most basics of beliefs and cycles of life are made of three basic parts. The number three “is birth, life, death. It is the beginning, middle and end. Three is a complete cycle unto itself. It is past, present, future” (Weitzman). Three represents multiplicity in that it is said that three is derived from one and two, and all other numbers can be then derived from three. The number three also represents completion in cycles, processes, and life itself. Throughout history, it has led to the evolution of various number systems, mathematical calculations and arithmetic, and from there the basics of scientific understanding as well as religious beliefs. With the ancient Roman numeral system, three was the largest number whose numeral was drawn using the same number of lines as its value (e.g. 3=III). From there, they began the subtractive notation used for numbers four and higher. This relates to the saying that all other numbers were derived from three. Three is also related to the number pi (3.14159265…) which is the basis of circular mathematics and algebra. These are examples of how the number three has impacted the world of mathematics. In the religious perspective, the number three can be associated with everything from the Holy Trinity in Christianity to the ancient mythical Greek Titan, Kronos. Also, “ The ancient Babylonians and Celts interpreted this number to represent creation being born out of the union of 2 and thereby being a 3rd and distinct thing” (Stevens). This particular number is used in religious symbolism enough to actually in some cases, be considered a holy number. The value of three plays a part in nearly every religion in the world and has since those religions were founded. Without this numeral, modern society would never have been able to evolve into what it is today and humanity would still be living in a prehistoric age.

Stevens, Sam. "Holy and Unholy Numbers." //Holy and Unholy Numbers//. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2015.

David, Hillel Ben, and Greg Killian. "The Significance of the Number Three." //Betemunah.org//. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Aug. 2015.

Weitzman, David. "Numbers and Their Meanings." //Crystalinks//. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2015.

"The Symbolism and Spiritual Significance of the Number Three." //The Symbolism and Spiritual Significance of the Number Three//. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2015.

"3 (number)." //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2015. ||


 * IV. Cultural - Natalia**

What is the modern cultural impact of the term? Why is it that the number three has so much power especially in culture? In life, people always wish for a choice between three things, not two. The reason why is because three gives the individual hope contrary to death. The modern cultural impact of three gives a person hope and the feeling of luck. There are many cultural totems that are linked with the number three. “Sometimes, you get things right the first time. Others, the second. But the third time, they say, is the charm”(Dessen). The third time an action is attempted, it creates the action to be more successful and even more likely to achieve than the previous two attempts before. So it is easily viewable in a cultural aspect that people see the number three as something lucky and hopeful. Additionally, in today's culture many people view three places in life a person can be in; heaven, hell, and earth. No one knows what occurs after death and with these three choices laid upon a person, it gives guidance to the individual where they want to end up in after their life has expired on Earth. Tied in with religion, there is the Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in Christianity. Plato viewed 3 as being symbolic to the triangle. Even though that shape is so simple he considered the world to have been created from triangles. In German folklore, a triangle shape of paper with a cross in each corner and a prayer in the middle was thought to operate as protection against witches from babies’ cradles. Finally three black animals were oftentimes sacrificed when attempting to call upon demons. On the other hand, a three coloured cat is considered a protective spirit. Everyone has different beliefs and opinions, except one thing that is everyone will agree on is the relation of luck with the number three to their cultural beliefs.
 * Natalia Jacobson- Cultural
 * Natalia Jacobson- Cultural

__Sources Cited:__ Dessen, Sarah. “Sarah Dessen Quotes.” Good Reads. Web. 26 August 2015. < [|__http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/470065-sometimes-you-get-things-right-the-first-time-others-the__] >

"Lucky Number 3."Travel China Guide. Web. 27 Aug. 2015. < [|__http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/lucky-number3.htm__] >

"Numbers and Their Meanings.” Crystal Links. Web. 27 Aug. 2015. < [|__http://www.crystalinks.com/numerology2.htm__] > ||