Explain the significance of these years: 1648, 1815, 1919, and 1945?
Have a clear argument/thesis-statement and use supportive logic and evidence to support your answer.
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
The Significance of 1648, 1815, 1919, and 1945 in History
Thesis Statement:
The years 1648, 1815, 1919, and 1945 mark pivotal moments in history that had far-reaching consequences in shaping the political, social, and economic landscape of the world. These years were significant due to the treaties and agreements that were signed, signaling the end of major conflicts and laying the groundwork for a new world order.
The Treaty of Westphalia (1648)
The year 1648 is significant for the Treaty of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years’ War in Europe. This treaty is considered a milestone in the development of the modern state system as it established the principles of state sovereignty and non-intervention in the internal affairs of other states. The Treaty of Westphalia laid the foundation for the nation-state system that has defined international relations ever since.
The Congress of Vienna (1815)
In 1815, the Congress of Vienna took place, following the Napoleonic Wars. Led by influential figures like Klemens von Metternich, this conference aimed to restore stability and order in Europe after years of turmoil. The Congress redrew the map of Europe, reorganized territories, and sought to establish a balance of power to prevent future conflicts. The Congress of Vienna set the stage for a century of relative peace and stability in Europe.
The Treaty of Versailles (1919)
1919 saw the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which officially ended World War I. This treaty imposed heavy penalties on Germany, including territorial losses, disarmament, and war reparations. The harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles sowed the seeds of resentment in Germany and are often cited as a contributing factor to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the outbreak of World War II.
The End of World War II (1945)
1945 marked the end of World War II with the surrender of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. The post-war period saw the beginning of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, leading to significant geopolitical tensions that shaped global politics for decades. The year 1945 also witnessed the founding of the United Nations, signaling a new era of international cooperation and collective security.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the years 1648, 1815, 1919, and 1945 stand out as crucial turning points in history due to the treaties and events that occurred during these periods. These milestones not only brought an end to major conflicts but also set the stage for new power dynamics, alliances, and global institutions that continue to influence world affairs to this day.
