My essay is a Analysis essay about Frances E. W. Harper comparing her poem ““Woman’s Political Future” and her short story “The Two Offers”
Write a comparative thematic analysis of a poem and short story by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. The poem is titled “The Woman’s Political Future” and he short story is called “The Two offers. You will need to explicate the poems you discuss. Establish what you see as the purpose or intent of each poem. Use examples to prove your point and explain how they do. My feedback on my draft was just to state my thesis clearly.
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
Comparative Thematic Analysis of Frances E. W. Harper’s Works
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a pioneering African American poet and writer, delved into themes of race, gender, and social justice in her literary works. In comparing her poem “Woman’s Political Future” and her short story “The Two Offers,” one can unravel the nuanced perspectives Harper presents on women’s empowerment and agency within societal structures. Through a thematic analysis of these two pieces, we can discern Harper’s intent in advocating for gender equality and challenging traditional norms.
Thesis Statement:
In “Woman’s Political Future” and “The Two Offers,” Frances E. W. Harper explores themes of women’s autonomy, societal expectations, and the quest for empowerment, highlighting the struggles and triumphs of women navigating patriarchal systems.
“Woman’s Political Future”:
– Purpose/Intent: In “Woman’s Political Future,” Harper advocates for women’s rights and political participation, envisioning a future where women can assert their voice and agency in shaping society.
– Example: The lines, “You are the mothers of the race, / With power to save or damn! / You are the makers of the men / Who make or unmake men,” underscore the pivotal role of women in influencing societal values and shaping future generations.
– Analysis: Harper urges women to recognize their influence and potential impact on society, challenging traditional gender roles and advocating for active engagement in political spheres to effect change.
“The Two Offers”:
– Purpose/Intent: In “The Two Offers,” Harper delves into the complexities of choice and agency for women, juxtaposing societal expectations with individual desires and aspirations.
– Example: The protagonist, faced with two marriage proposals—one based on material wealth and security, the other on genuine love and respect—confronts the dilemma of choosing between societal norms and personal fulfillment.
– Analysis: Through the protagonist’s internal conflict and eventual choice based on personal values rather than external pressures, Harper critiques the constraints imposed on women by societal expectations and emphasizes the importance of autonomy in decision-making.
By juxtaposing the themes of empowerment, autonomy, and societal expectations in “Woman’s Political Future” and “The Two Offers,” Frances E. W. Harper underscores the urgency of advocating for women’s rights and challenging patriarchal structures that limit women’s agency. Through her poignant words and vivid storytelling, Harper invites readers to reflect on the complexities of gender dynamics and the ongoing struggle for gender equality in society. In essence, Harper’s works serve as powerful narratives that inspire dialogue and action towards a more equitable and inclusive future for all individuals, regardless of gender.
