Use a metaphor to explain how international relations shifted after each of these events?
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
Shifting Tides: Metaphorical Insights into International Relations Post-1648, 1815, 1919, and 1945
Thesis Statement:
The years 1648, 1815, 1919, and 1945 serve as metaphorical crossroads where the currents of international relations shifted, akin to tectonic plates moving beneath the surface, reshaping the geopolitical landscape and paving the way for new global paradigms.
The Treaty of Westphalia (1648) – The Dawn of Sovereign Islands
The Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 acted as a seismic shift in international relations, akin to islands emerging in a vast ocean. It established the concept of state sovereignty, transforming nations into sovereign entities with defined borders and autonomy. Like islands, states emerged as distinct entities, interacting with each other while maintaining their own internal affairs. This shift laid the foundation for the modern state system and the principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs of other states.
The Congress of Vienna (1815) – The Chessboard of Power
The Congress of Vienna in 1815 can be likened to a chessboard where powers were strategically rearranged. Just as pieces are moved on a chessboard to maintain a delicate balance, the Congress sought to realign territories and power dynamics in Europe. The concept of a balance of power emerged as a guiding principle, with major powers maneuvering to prevent any single entity from dominating the continent. This metaphorical chess game set the stage for a century of relative stability in Europe.
The Treaty of Versailles (1919) – Seeds of Discord
The Treaty of Versailles in 1919 can be compared to fertile ground where seeds of discord were sown. Like seeds planted in soil, the harsh terms of the treaty imposed on Germany cultivated resentment and economic hardship. These seeds grew into the roots of discontent and nationalism, ultimately leading to the eruption of World War II. The treaty serves as a cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of punitive measures in international relations.
The End of World War II (1945) – The Cold War Iceberg
The end of World War II in 1945 marked the thawing of one conflict but the emergence of another, like an iceberg revealing its hidden depths. The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union can be likened to the unseen mass beneath the surface, shaping global politics through ideological competition and proxy conflicts. The year 1945 saw the rise of superpower rivalry and the establishment of new international institutions like the United Nations, which sought to navigate the icy waters of global diplomacy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the metaphorical insights into international relations post-1648, 1815, 1919, and 1945 provide a vivid lens through which to understand the shifting tides of global politics. Just as geological forces shape the earth’s surface, these historical events reshaped the geopolitical landscape, setting the stage for new alliances, conflicts, and power structures that continue to influence world affairs today.
