Write an essay in about 500 words by Explain the difference of attitudes of the man and the woman in the poem, The Home- Burial Robert Frost. The essay, consisting of a title, introduction including the thesis statement, discussion, conclusion and references should be submitted following these criteria.
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
Gender Differences in “The Home-Burial” by Robert Frost
Introduction
Robert Frost’s poem “The Home-Burial” delves into the complex emotions of a husband and wife as they grieve the loss of their child. The poem highlights the stark differences in how the man and the woman cope with their grief, showcasing contrasting attitudes towards loss, communication, and emotional expression. Through their interactions and dialogue, Frost explores the gendered roles and expectations that shape the couple’s responses to tragedy.
Thesis Statement
In “The Home-Burial,” Robert Frost illustrates the contrasting attitudes of the man and the woman towards grief, highlighting how societal expectations influence their emotional responses and communication styles.
Discussion
The man in the poem adopts a stoic and practical approach to dealing with the death of their child. He focuses on the physical task of burying the child, attempting to maintain control over his emotions by busying himself with the practicalities of the situation. His attitude reflects traditional gender norms that expect men to be strong, rational, and reserved in the face of adversity. The man’s attempts to suppress his emotions ultimately lead to a breakdown in communication with his wife, as he struggles to connect with her on an emotional level.
Conversely, the woman’s response to the loss is characterized by intense emotional expression and a need for connection and understanding. She is consumed by grief and unable to move past the raw pain of losing her child. The woman’s emotional outbursts and longing for her child highlight her deep sense of loss and longing for emotional support from her husband. Her need for emotional validation clashes with the man’s more reserved nature, creating a rift in their relationship as they struggle to bridge the gap between their differing coping mechanisms.
Frost uses the couple’s dialogue to emphasize the breakdown in communication between the man and the woman. Their inability to understand each other’s perspectives and emotional needs underscores the gendered expectations that shape their responses to grief. The man’s attempts to provide practical solutions and avoid emotional confrontation only serve to alienate his wife further, while the woman’s desperate cries for empathy and understanding go unheard.
Conclusion
“The Home-Burial” by Robert Frost offers a poignant exploration of gendered attitudes towards grief and loss within a marriage. Through the contrasting responses of the man and the woman to the death of their child, Frost highlights how societal expectations and gender roles can impact emotional expression, communication, and coping mechanisms. The poem serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of open communication, empathy, and understanding in navigating the complexities of grief within a relationship.
References
Frost, Robert. “The Home-Burial.” North of Boston. Henry Holt and Company, 1914.
