1) How you define “disaster” after considering the text readings; and
2) Briefly explain why you define it as such – support your definition with a logical discussion and perhaps some examples.
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
Title: Defining “Disaster”: An Exploration and Analysis
Introduction: In today’s world, the term “disaster” has become increasingly prevalent due to various catastrophic events occurring worldwide. As we delve into the text readings and examine real-life instances, we can develop a comprehensive understanding of what constitutes a disaster. This essay aims to define “disaster” and support this definition through logical discussion and relevant examples.
Defining “Disaster”: A disaster can be defined as a sudden and extreme event or situation that causes significant harm, damage, or loss, affecting a substantial number of individuals, communities, or the environment. It encompasses both natural and human-induced occurrences that exhibit the following characteristics:
- Magnitude: Disasters are characterized by their substantial impact and scale, often exceeding the capacity of affected communities to cope or recover independently. This magnitude can be measured by the extent of physical destruction, loss of life, displacement, or disruption caused.
- Unpredictability: Disasters often strike unexpectedly, catching individuals and communities off-guard. They are usually characterized by a lack of warning or inadequate preparedness, leaving people vulnerable and exacerbating the consequences.
- Widespread Consequences: A disaster affects a significant geographical area or a large number of people, leading to widespread consequences that can extend beyond physical destruction. These consequences may include economic losses, social disruption, psychological trauma, and long-term environmental impacts.
- Loss of Life and Human Suffering: Disasters inevitably result in the loss of life and inflict physical injuries on survivors. Additionally, they generate emotional distress, psychological anguish, and societal disarray. The human suffering caused by disasters is a crucial aspect that distinguishes them from other adverse events.
Supporting the Definition: To illustrate the definition of a disaster, consider the following examples:
- Natural Disasters: The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami resulted in the deaths of approximately 230,000 people across 14 countries. The sheer magnitude of the destruction caused by the tsunami made it a devastating disaster.
- Human-Induced Disasters: The Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 led to the release of radioactive material, causing widespread contamination and long-term health effects for millions of people. The scale of the environmental and health consequences epitomizes a human-induced disaster.
- Pandemics: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a prime example of a global disaster. Its rapid spread, immense impact on healthcare systems, economies, and societies worldwide, and the loss of millions of lives solidify its classification as a disaster.
Conclusion: By considering the text readings and examining real-life instances, we have developed a comprehensive definition of “disaster.” It encompasses sudden and extreme events that cause significant harm or damage on a large scale. Disasters are characterized by their magnitude, unpredictability, widespread consequences, and the resulting loss of life and human suffering. Understanding this definition is crucial for effective disaster management, preparedness efforts, and building resilience within communities worldwide.
