After watching the lecture video on Medieval Europe and its connections to the larger world, answer the following question. Your response should be at least 150 words in length.
10 points
After watching the Lecture Video read “Two Travel Accounts” on page 342 – 343 of your textbook, which compares excerpts from Marco Polo and John de Mandeville. What does Marco Polo focus on in his account of Java? What does John de Mandeville focus on in his account of the Kingdom of Prestor John? Considering their focus, which travel account would be more useful to someone wanting to know more about the world? And which account would be more exciting for a reader? Why?
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 World Through Medieval Travel Accounts: A Comparative Analysis
In Marco Polo’s account of Java, his focus primarily lies on the island’s wealth and resources, highlighting the abundance of gold, pearls, spices, and exotic animals present in the region. He delves into the local customs and practices, emphasizing the opulence and prosperity of Java. On the other hand, John de Mandeville’s narrative centers around the mythical Kingdom of Prestor John, a land of wonders and marvels where fantastical creatures and mystical occurrences abound.
From a practical standpoint, Marco Polo’s account of Java would be more useful to someone seeking to understand the world in a historical context. His detailed descriptions of the geography, economy, and culture of Java provide valuable insights into the trading networks and resources of the region. In contrast, John de Mandeville’s account of Prestor John, while captivating and imaginative, lacks the concrete details and factual basis that make Polo’s narrative more informative.
In terms of excitement and intrigue, John de Mandeville’s account of the Kingdom of Prestor John would likely captivate readers more. The fantastical elements, such as giants, headless beings, and miraculous events, add a sense of adventure and mystery to his narrative, making it a thrilling read for those interested in fantastical tales and imaginative storytelling.
In conclusion, while both Marco Polo and John de Mandeville offer unique perspectives on the world through their travel accounts, Polo’s detailed and factual portrayal of Java makes it a more informative resource for understanding historical contexts. On the other hand, de Mandeville’s fantastical narrative of Prestor John may appeal more to readers seeking excitement and wonder in their exploration of medieval travel accounts.
