Prompt: In your own words, explain how Crane portrays nature in “The Open Boat:’ Is he right about the natural world? (This discussion question should help you think about this week’s essay.)
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Solution
Sample Solution
In “The Open Boat,” Stephen Crane portrays nature as a powerful, indifferent force that is beyond human control. The story is based on Crane’s own experience of being stranded at sea after a shipwreck, and he vividly describes the relentless and unpredictable nature of the ocean. Crane’s portrayal of nature evokes a sense of awe, danger, and insignificance in the face of its immensity.
Throughout the story, Crane emphasizes the indifference of nature towards human existence. The characters in the boat face constant threats from the elements: the relentless waves, the bitter cold, and the harsh winds. Crane describes the ocean as a “gray beast” and a “machine” that is indifferent to the struggles of the men. This portrayal suggests that nature operates on its own terms, without consideration for human life or desires.
Crane’s portrayal of nature as indifferent and beyond human control reflects a naturalistic worldview. Naturalism is a literary movement that emerged in the late 19th century, influenced by scientific theories of evolution and determinism. According to naturalism, humans are subject to the forces of nature and their lives are shaped by external factors beyond their control. In “The Open Boat,” Crane captures this naturalistic view by depicting the characters’ struggle against the forces of nature, ultimately highlighting the insignificance of human existence in the face of the vast natural world.
As for the question of whether Crane is right about the natural world, it is a subjective matter of interpretation. Crane’s portrayal of nature as indifferent and beyond human control certainly captures the brutal reality of the natural world. Nature can indeed be unpredictable, dangerous, and indifferent to human existence. However, it is important to note that Crane’s portrayal is just one perspective and does not encompass the entirety of the natural world.
While nature can certainly present challenges and dangers, it also offers beauty, harmony, and life-sustaining resources. The natural world is a complex and diverse ecosystem that encompasses both destructive and nurturing elements. It is up to individual readers to determine the extent to which Crane’s portrayal accurately reflects their own experiences and observations of the natural world.
In conclusion, Crane portrays nature in “The Open Boat” as a powerful and indifferent force that is beyond human control. His depiction reflects a naturalistic worldview, highlighting the insignificance of human existence in the face of the vastness and unpredictability of nature. Whether Crane is right about the natural world is subjective and open to interpretation, as it depends on individual experiences and perspectives.
