In his text, Emerson quotes others when he feels their thoughts align with his way of thinking-he also quotes some who he wishes to challenge. Consider quotations you have come across that inspire you to think bigger, or quotations that are commonly expressed that you might disagree with and wish to challenge.

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 Studies4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

Expanding Perspectives: The Power of Inspirational and Challenging Quotations

Ralph Waldo Emerson, known for his transcendentalist philosophy, often used quotations to support his ideas or to challenge conventional beliefs. Quotations have a unique ability to inspire us to think bigger, question our assumptions, and broaden our perspectives. They serve as condensed wisdom that can spark introspection and contemplation, leading us to new insights and understandings.

Thesis Statement:

Quotations, whether they inspire us to think bigger or challenge commonly held beliefs, have the power to stimulate critical thinking, expand our perspectives, and encourage personal growth and self-reflection.

Inspirational Quotations:

One quotation that has always inspired me to think bigger is from Mahatma Gandhi – “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” This quote serves as a reminder that individual actions have the power to bring about significant transformations in society. It motivates me to strive for personal growth and positive change, no matter how small my contributions may seem.

Challenging Quotations:

On the other hand, a commonly expressed quotation that I find myself disagreeing with is “Ignorance is bliss.” While this saying implies that ignorance can lead to happiness by avoiding harsh realities, I believe that true fulfillment and growth come from facing challenges head-on and seeking knowledge and understanding. Embracing reality, even when it is uncomfortable, can lead to personal development and a deeper appreciation for life’s complexities.

Emerson’s Use of Quotations:

Emerson’s practice of quoting others reflects his belief in the power of diverse perspectives and the importance of challenging conventional wisdom. By incorporating quotations that align with his thinking or those that provoke thought, Emerson encourages readers to contemplate different viewpoints and form their own opinions based on reflection and personal experience.

The Impact of Quotations:

Quotations have the potential to act as catalysts for change, sparking new ideas, inspiring action, and challenging entrenched beliefs. They serve as windows into the minds of others, offering glimpses of wisdom and insight that can shape our own understanding of the world. By engaging with a variety of quotations, both inspirational and challenging, we can cultivate a more nuanced and enriched worldview.

Conclusion:

In a world saturated with information and opinions, quotations stand out as timeless nuggets of wisdom that can inspire us to think bigger, challenge our assumptions, and embrace personal growth. Whether they resonate with our beliefs or provoke us to question them, quotations have the power to shape our perspectives and guide us on a journey of self-discovery and intellectual exploration. Just as Emerson used quotations to enrich his writing and challenge prevailing norms, let us harness the transformative potential of quotations to expand our horizons and deepen our understanding of the world.

 

This question has been answered.

Get Answer