What does the term “society within us” mean? How is it an essential part of social control?
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
Exploring the Concept of “Society Within Us” and Its Role in Social Control
The term “society within us” refers to the internalization of societal norms, values, and expectations within individuals as a result of socialization processes. It suggests that individuals carry within themselves a set of beliefs and behaviors that reflect the broader social environment in which they live. This internalized society influences how individuals perceive and interact with the world around them, shaping their actions and decisions.
Internalization of Social Norms
– Beliefs and Values: Individuals internalize societal beliefs about what is right or wrong, acceptable or unacceptable.
– Behavioral Expectations: Social norms dictate how individuals should behave in various situations, influencing their actions and choices.
– Cultural Practices: Customs, traditions, and rituals are ingrained in individuals through socialization processes.
Essential Role in Social Control
– Norm Enforcement: The internalized society within individuals acts as a mechanism for enforcing social norms and expectations. Individuals regulate their own behavior based on internalized societal standards.
– Conformity: By aligning their actions with societal norms, individuals contribute to social cohesion and order.
– Self-Regulation: Internalized societal values guide individuals in self-regulating their behavior, reducing the need for external sanctions or control mechanisms.
– Collective Consciousness: Shared beliefs and values within a society create a collective consciousness that influences individual decisions and promotes social harmony.
Implications for Social Control
– Informal Social Control: The society within us contributes to informal social control by guiding individual behavior through internalized norms and values.
– Cultural Influence: Cultural practices and traditions embedded within individuals shape their conduct and interactions with others, reinforcing social order.
– Adherence to Rules: Internalized societal expectations encourage individuals to adhere to established rules and norms, fostering compliance and cooperation within society.
– Socialization Processes: Socialization agents such as family, education, and media play a vital role in shaping the society within us, influencing individuals’ attitudes and behaviors.
In conclusion, the concept of “society within us” highlights the profound impact of societal norms and values on individual behavior and decision-making. By internalizing social expectations, individuals become active participants in social control processes, regulating their own conduct in alignment with broader societal standards. This internalized society serves as a powerful mechanism for promoting social order, cohesion, and stability within communities.
