Haitian Revolution more similar to the AMERICAN Revolution or to the FRENCH Revolution

by | Feb 27, 2025 | Essays

In your estimation, was the Haitian Revolution more similar to the AMERICAN Revolution or to the FRENCH Revolution? Explain by highlighting the specifics of the revolution in Haiti in relation to either the American or the French (which one you deem to be “more similar” to the Haitian).

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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.


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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.

In my estimation, the Haitian Revolution bears a much stronger resemblance to the French Revolution than to the American Revolution. Here’s why:

Similarities to the French Revolution:

  • Radical Social Transformation:
    • Both the Haitian and French Revolutions aimed for a complete overhaul of the existing social order. In France, it was the overthrow of the aristocracy and the establishment of a republic. In Haiti, it was the dismantling of the brutal slave system and the creation of a nation of free people.
    • Both revolutions were driven by the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. In Haiti, this meant the literal liberation from slavery and the creation of a society where all people, regardless of race, were considered equal.
    • This level of social change is far greater than what occurred during the American revolution.

In my estimation, the Haitian Revolution bears a much stronger resemblance to the French Revolution than to the American Revolution. Here’s why:

Similarities to the French Revolution:

  • Radical Social Transformation:
    • Both the Haitian and French Revolutions aimed for a complete overhaul of the existing social order. In France, it was the overthrow of the aristocracy and the establishment of a republic. In Haiti, it was the dismantling of the brutal slave system and the creation of a nation of free people.
    • Both revolutions were driven by the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. In Haiti, this meant the literal liberation from slavery and the creation of a society where all people, regardless of race, were considered equal.
    • This level of social change is far greater than what occurred during the American revolution.
  • Violence and Radicalism:
    • Both revolutions were marked by extreme violence and radical changes. The Reign of Terror in France mirrors the ferocity of the Haitian struggle against French colonists.
    • Both saw the complete upending of the pre-existing power structure.
  • Ideological Underpinnings:
    • The Haitian Revolution, like the French, was deeply influenced by Enlightenment ideals. The concepts of natural rights and popular sovereignty resonated with enslaved Africans seeking liberation.
    • Both revolutions had leaders who were inspired by enlightenment philosophers.
  • Global Impact:
    • Both the French and Haitian Revolutions sent shockwaves across the globe, challenging existing power structures and inspiring movements for change. The Haitian Revolution, in particular, was a powerful symbol of resistance against colonialism and slavery.
  • Internal Conflict:
    • Both the Haitian revolution, and the French revolution, had considerable internal conflict, even after the main goals of the revolution were reached. This included fighting between those who were formerly on the same side of the conflict.

Differences from the American Revolution:

  • While the American Revolution was also about liberty, its primary focus was on independence from colonial rule. It did not fundamentally alter the social structure in the same way. Critically it did not end slavery.
  • The American Revolution, while disruptive, did not involve the same level of social upheaval as the Haitian and French Revolutions.
  • The driving force of the Haitian revolution, was the enslaved population, rising up, against the oppressor. This is vastly different than the American revolution, which was driven by colonist, that were land owners.

In essence, the Haitian Revolution’s emphasis on radical social change, its violent struggle for liberation, and its global impact align it more closely with the French Revolution.

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