Class in The Penelopiad and The Odyssey (translated by Wilson)
○ What do these texts similarly or differently ultimately suggest about the agency of the maids and crew in these narratives?
How so (through what idea or logic) or why (to what end or to support/critique what specific idea or consequence)?
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
Class in The Penelopiad and The Odyssey: Agency of the Maids and Crew
Introduction
Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad and Homer’s The Odyssey (translated by Emily Wilson) present contrasting representations of class and agency, particularly concerning the roles of the maids in Penelope’s household and the crew aboard Odysseus’s ship. While both texts explore themes of power dynamics and social hierarchy, they diverge significantly in how they depict the agency of these lower-class figures. This essay will analyze the similarities and differences between the two texts in terms of agency, exploring how Atwood critiques the traditional narrative found in The Odyssey by giving voice to the marginalized characters.
Agency of the Maids in The Penelopiad
In The Penelopiad, Atwood amplifies the voices of Penelope’s twelve maids, providing a narrative that emphasizes their experiences, struggles, and ultimately their tragic fates. Although the maids are often portrayed as subservient figures, Atwood reclaims their agency by allowing them to narrate their stories:
– Reclaiming Voice: The maids express their perspectives on love, betrayal, and their execution at the hands of Odysseus. Through their individual accounts, Atwood highlights their humanity, desires, and grief, challenging readers to reconsider their roles merely as background figures in The Odyssey.
– Critique of Patriarchy: The plight of the maids serves as a critique of the patriarchal society that reduces women to mere property or objects of male desire. Their execution symbolizes not only physical violence but also the erasure of their identities and narratives. By showcasing their agency, Atwood argues that even those in the lowest social strata possess inner lives and moral complexities.
Agency of the Crew in The Odyssey
In contrast, The Odyssey presents Odysseus’s crew as largely anonymous characters who serve to advance Odysseus’s journey. While they exhibit some moments of individuality, their agency is primarily contingent upon their loyalty to Odysseus:
– Subordinate Roles: The crew’s identity is often defined by their relationship to Odysseus, emphasizing a hierarchical structure where their fate is tied to his decisions. They follow his commands without much autonomy, illustrating a lack of agency that underscores their position as tools in his epic quest.
– Consequences of Disobedience: Instances such as the crew’s disregard for Odysseus’s warning about the Sirens or the cattle of Helios highlight their vulnerability and susceptibility to temptation. Their collective fate often reflects Odysseus’s choices, which leads to their deaths and serves as a narrative device to emphasize his heroism.
Comparison and Contrast
While both texts depict figures with limited agency due to their social class, the outcomes for the maids in The Penelopiad and the crew in The Odyssey differ fundamentally. In Atwood’s retelling, the maids’ collective voice allows them to critique the societal norms that dictate their existence. Despite their tragic end, they assert their experiences and emotions, reclaiming a form of agency through storytelling.
Conversely, in The Odyssey, the crew’s anonymity reinforces their lack of agency. They exist mainly to serve Odysseus’s narrative arc and exemplify the consequences of following a flawed leader. Their deaths serve as a reminder of the dangers inherent in loyalty without critical thought, further emphasizing Odysseus’s role as a tragic hero.
Conclusion
Ultimately, both The Penelopiad and The Odyssey offer insights into class dynamics and agency through the lens of marginalized characters. Atwood’s work serves as a powerful counter-narrative to Homer’s epic, reclaiming the voices of Penelope’s maids and illuminating their struggles against a patriarchal system. In contrast, The Odyssey presents a more traditional view where the crew remains subservient, lacking independent agency or narrative significance. Through these differing portrayals, Atwood critiques societal norms that diminish the value of lower-class individuals, urging readers to acknowledge their humanity and complexity beyond their societal roles.
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