Write a research paper in a narrative essay or composition format about critical elections/ partisan realignment
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
The Impact of Critical Elections on Partisan Realignment
Introduction
Throughout American history, critical elections have played a significant role in shaping the political landscape by leading to partisan realignment. These elections mark a turning point where new issues emerge, old ones fade away, and political parties undergo a transformation. This paper aims to explore the concept of critical elections and their impact on partisan realignment in the United States.
Understanding Critical Elections
Critical elections are defined as pivotal moments in history where significant changes occur within the political system. These elections often result in a shift in power dynamics, realignment of voter coalitions, and the emergence of new dominant issues. Scholars such as V.O. Key and Walter Dean Burnham have identified key characteristics of critical elections, including a high voter turnout, realignment of party support, and the crystallization of new political alignments.
Examples of Critical Elections
One of the most famous examples of a critical election in American history is the election of 1860, which led to the secession of Southern states and the Civil War. The election of 1932, which brought Franklin D. Roosevelt to power and marked the beginning of Democratic dominance in American politics, is another notable critical election. More recently, the election of 1980, which saw the rise of Ronald Reagan and the conservative movement, reshaped the Republican Party for decades to come.
Impact on Partisan Realignment
Critical elections have a profound impact on partisan realignment by redefining the ideological boundaries of political parties and creating new electoral coalitions. For example, the election of 1932 led to a realignment of African American voters from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party due to FDR’s New Deal policies. Similarly, the election of 1980 solidified the Republican Party’s base among conservative voters in the South and Midwest.
Conclusion
In conclusion, critical elections have played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of the United States by triggering partisan realignment. These elections serve as turning points that redefine party identities, shift voter coalitions, and set the stage for future political developments. By understanding the impact of critical elections on partisan realignment, we can gain insight into how historical events continue to shape contemporary politics.
Through exploring the concept of critical elections and their influence on partisan realignment, it becomes evident that these pivotal moments have lasting effects on the political landscape of the United States. As we continue to witness new critical elections in the future, it is essential to analyze their impact on shaping the direction of our nation’s politics.
