How does this book challenge our assumptions of what youth is/should be? How does it reinforce them? Your paper should be edited/proofread with appropriate citations. Use direct quotes from novel. NO PLAGIARISM.
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
Challenging and Reinforcing Assumptions of Youth in Literature
In the novel “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, challenges and reinforces societal assumptions of what youth should be. Through Holden’s character, Salinger presents a complex portrayal of adolescence that both defies and aligns with conventional expectations.
Holden Caulfield challenges the traditional notion of youth as a carefree and innocent period of life. He expresses disillusionment with the adult world, criticizing phoniness and insincerity. For instance, he remarks, “If you had a million years to do it in, you couldn’t rub out even half the ‘Fuck you’ signs in the world. It’s impossible” (Salinger, 2019, p. 132). This quote underscores Holden’s rebellious spirit and his rejection of societal norms.
Moreover, Holden’s struggles with identity and belonging challenge the idea that youth is a time of self-discovery and growth. He grapples with feelings of alienation and depression, reflecting deeper existential questions that go beyond typical teenage angst. Salinger writes, “I felt so lonesome, all of a sudden. I almost wished I was dead” (2019, p. 106). This quote highlights Holden’s inner turmoil and emotional complexity, subverting the simplistic image of youthful exuberance.
On the other hand, the novel also reinforces certain assumptions about youth, particularly regarding innocence and vulnerability. Despite his rebellious behavior, Holden retains a sense of idealism and naivety that is often associated with youth. He expresses a desire to protect the innocence of his younger sister, Phoebe, symbolizing his yearning to preserve childhood purity. Salinger writes, “Certain things they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone” (2019, p. 213).
In conclusion, “The Catcher in the Rye” both challenges and reinforces assumptions about youth through the character of Holden Caulfield. By portraying adolescence as a time of rebellion, disillusionment, and vulnerability, Salinger offers a nuanced exploration of the complexities of youth identity.
Bibliography:
Salinger, J.D. (2019). The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company.
This analysis highlights how J.D. Salinger’s novel “The Catcher in the Rye” challenges and reinforces societal assumptions about youth through the character of Holden Caulfield. The citations from the novel provide direct evidence to support the arguments presented in the paper.
