In a detailed essay of 275 words explain the conflict Darius faced with Mr. Madison and his father Sam Poe. How does Darius handle the conflict? (Does he avoid it or confront it?) How does he resolve the conflict? Empathize with Darius? Why or Why not?
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
In the novel “Darius the Great Is Not Okay” by Adib Khorram, Darius faces a significant conflict with Mr. Madison, his boss, and his father, Sam Poe. Darius struggles with feelings of inadequacy and a lack of connection in his relationships with both individuals. Mr. Madison embodies the embodiment of Darius’s feelings of not being good enough, as he constantly criticizes Darius’s work and belittles him. On the other hand, Darius’s father, Sam Poe, who has high expectations for Darius and wants him to be more assertive and confident, also contributes to Darius’s internal conflict.
Initially, Darius avoids confronting both Mr. Madison and his father, internalizing his feelings of inadequacy and believing that any confrontation would only exacerbate the situation. He fears that standing up for himself may lead to further rejection or disappointment. However, as the novel progresses, Darius begins to find his voice and assert himself. His friendship with Sohrab provides him with the support and strength he needs to address these conflicts.
Ultimately, Darius resolves the conflict with Mr. Madison and his father by expressing his feelings and asserting his value. He learns to set boundaries and advocate for himself, leading to a deeper understanding and acceptance from both parties.
Empathizing with Darius is crucial as his experiences resonate with many individuals who have faced similar conflicts in their lives. The fear of confrontation and the desire for acceptance are universal emotions, and Darius’s journey towards self-empowerment is inspiring and relatable. His growth demonstrates the importance of self-advocacy and the strength that comes from addressing conflicts head-on. Therefore, empathizing with Darius is essential in understanding the complexities of human relationships and personal growth.
