Read the following article. Then, discuss the main points of the article.
What points do Brooke Allen make about Alexander?
What does she argue about his reputation?
What does she have to say about recent works about Alexander the Great?
Allen, Brooke. “Alexander the Great: Or the Terrible?” The Hudson Review58, no. 2 (2005): 220-30. http://www.jstororg/stable/30044758
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
Alexander the Great or Terrible?
In the article “Alexander the Great: Or the Terrible?” written by Brooke Allen, the author explores the complex character and reputation of Alexander the Great. Allen delves into various aspects of Alexander’s life and achievements, challenging the traditional view of him as a universally admired conqueror.
Main points about Alexander
Military Genius: Allen acknowledges that Alexander was undoubtedly a military genius who led his armies to numerous victories, conquering vast territories and establishing one of the largest empires in history. She recognizes his strategic brilliance and ability to inspire his soldiers.
Cultural Integration: The author highlights Alexander’s efforts to integrate different cultures into his empire. She emphasizes that he encouraged intermarriage between his Greek soldiers and foreign women, promoted the adoption of Persian customs, and even adopted certain aspects of the conquered cultures himself. Allen argues that this cultural integration was an attempt to bind his empire together and ensure its stability.
Tyrannical Rule: Allen also highlights the darker side of Alexander’s reign. She points out that he was often ruthless and brutal in his conquests, ordering the slaughter of thousands and destroying entire cities. She argues that his actions were driven by a desire for power and control rather than any sense of justice or benevolence.
Alexander’s reputation
Allen challenges the commonly held view that Alexander was universally admired and revered throughout history. She argues that his reputation has been shaped and manipulated by various individuals and societies over time. For instance, she claims that ancient historians like Arrian and Plutarch wrote biased accounts that portrayed Alexander as a heroic figure, omitting or downplaying his flaws.
The author also suggests that Western societies have idealized Alexander due to their fascination with great conquerors. She argues that this idealization has led to a distortion of his true character and actions. Allen asserts that it is important to critically examine historical figures like Alexander, acknowledging both their achievements and their shortcomings.
Recent works on Alexander
Regarding recent works on Alexander the Great, Allen expresses a sense of relief that these works are more willing to provide a balanced and nuanced view of the conqueror. She praises authors such as Paul Cartledge and Robin Lane Fox for their more critical approach, acknowledging both Alexander’s greatness and his darker aspects.
Allen also highlights the importance of revisiting historical narratives and reevaluating our understanding of figures like Alexander. She suggests that by examining multiple perspectives and incorporating new sources of information, we can gain a more accurate understanding of historical events and personalities.
In conclusion, Brooke Allen’s article challenges the traditional narrative surrounding Alexander the Great, presenting a more complex and nuanced portrayal of the conqueror. She acknowledges his military genius and cultural integration efforts while also highlighting his tyrannical rule and the manipulation of his reputation throughout history. Allen stresses the importance of critically examining historical figures and incorporating diverse perspectives to gain a more accurate understanding of their legacies.
