What are the benefits & difficulties of having children in mid-life? Compare this to having children at a younger age. In other words, what are the benefits & difficulties of having children younger, in say early adulthood or adolescence? What are some of the reasons more people are waiting to have children until mid-life? Do you think the benefits outweigh the costs of this decision? Feel free to share any personal experience, but make sure to include information from the readings and other materials. Read the article at the following link for a look at some of the current research on this topic:
https://health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/2017-03-09/5-benefits-of-having-children-later-in-life
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 Answer
Sample Answer
Title: The Pros and Cons of Having Children in Mid-Life
Thesis Statement: Having children in mid-life presents unique benefits and challenges compared to having children at a younger age, and while there are reasons for the increasing trend of delayed parenthood, it is essential to critically evaluate whether the benefits outweigh the costs of this decision.
Introduction
The decision of when to have children is a deeply personal one, influenced by a myriad of factors such as career aspirations, financial stability, and personal readiness. In recent years, there has been a discernible shift towards delayed parenthood, with more individuals opting to have children in mid-life. This trend has sparked discussions about the advantages and difficulties of having children later in life, as well as how it compares to having children at a younger age. This essay aims to explore the benefits and challenges of having children in mid-life, compare it to early parenthood, examine the reasons for delayed parenthood, and evaluate whether the benefits outweigh the costs of this decision.
Benefits and Difficulties of Having Children in Mid-Life
Having children in mid-life offers unique advantages, such as increased emotional maturity, financial stability, and established career paths. Individuals in their 30s and 40s often have a deeper sense of emotional readiness and stability, which can positively influence their parenting abilities. Additionally, they may have greater financial resources to provide for their children’s needs and opportunities, such as education and extracurricular activities. Moreover, having already established their careers, older parents may have more flexibility in managing their work-life balance.
However, delayed parenthood also presents challenges. Advancing age can bring increased health risks for both parents and children. Older parents may have reduced energy levels and may face age-related health issues that could impact their ability to keep up with the physical demands of parenting. Furthermore, the potential generation gap between older parents and their children could pose challenges in relating to each other’s experiences and perspectives.
Comparison to Having Children at a Younger Age
In contrast, having children at a younger age, such as in early adulthood or adolescence, offers its own set of benefits and challenges. Younger parents may have more energy to keep up with the physical demands of parenting and may have a closer generational connection with their children. However, they may also face financial instability, limited career opportunities, and may still be in the process of developing their own identities and coping mechanisms.
Reasons for Delayed Parenthood
The increasing trend of delayed parenthood can be attributed to various societal shifts, such as the pursuit of higher education, delayed marriage, career-focused priorities, and the desire for greater financial stability before starting a family. Additionally, advancements in reproductive technologies have provided individuals with greater flexibility in family planning.
Do Benefits Outweigh Costs?
Whether the benefits of delayed parenthood outweigh the costs is a complex and subjective consideration. While older parents may bring valuable life experiences and resources to parenting, they may also encounter heightened health risks and challenges in keeping up with the energy demands of raising children. It is essential for individuals to weigh these factors against their personal circumstances and priorities.
In conclusion, the decision of when to have children carries both benefits and challenges, regardless of whether it occurs in mid-life or at a younger age. The increasing trend of delayed parenthood reflects shifting societal norms and individual priorities. Ultimately, the decision to have children in mid-life should be carefully considered based on individual circumstances, readiness, and the ability to provide a nurturing environment for the child.
