The Judge’s Instructions to the Jury
Following the final summation, the judge will sometimes give specific instructions to clarify the issues to be considered.
For the defendant, Mary Barnett, to be found guilty of Second Degree Murder, the prosecution must prove that she intended to kill her daughter, made a conscious decision to commit the act of murder in the moment (without premeditation), and was aware of the consequences of her actions.
On the other hand, Mary’s questionable mental statenecessitates that we also ask: Did she did intenddestructive results? Was she then guilty of irresponsible behavior that was likely to result in harm? How guilty? And is she mentally competent enough to have made a decision knowing full well what the consequences would be; in short, was she was sane enough at the time of the crime to know right from wrong?
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 Judge’s Instructions to the Jury: Key Considerations in the Case of Mary Barnett
Introduction
In the case of Mary Barnett, the jury is tasked with determining her guilt regarding the charge of Second Degree Murder. This decision hinges on various factors, including Mary’s intent, mental state, and awareness of the consequences of her actions. The judge’s instructions provide clarity on the issues that must be considered when evaluating the evidence presented during the trial.
Elements of Second Degree Murder
For the prosecution to secure a conviction for Second Degree Murder against Mary Barnett, they must establish three critical elements:
1. Intent to Kill: The prosecution must prove that Mary had the intention to kill her daughter. This means demonstrating that she possessed a conscious desire or aim to end her daughter’s life at the time of the incident.
2. Conscious Decision: The act must have been a conscious decision made in the moment, without premeditation. This distinguishes Second Degree Murder from First Degree Murder, which requires planning and deliberation. The jury must evaluate whether Mary’s actions were impulsive or premeditated.
3. Awareness of Consequences: It is essential to ascertain that Mary was aware of the consequences of her actions. This involves understanding whether she comprehended that her actions could lead to death or serious harm.
Mental State Considerations
Given the complexities surrounding Mary’s mental state, several additional questions arise that the jury should consider:
1. Intent for Destructive Results: Did Mary intend for her actions to yield destructive outcomes? The jury must explore whether her mindset at the time indicated an awareness or intention towards causing harm, or if her actions stemmed from a different motivation entirely.
2. Irresponsible Behavior: Was Mary’s behavior reckless or irresponsible to a degree that it was likely to result in harm? While this does not equate to intent to kill, it is crucial in assessing her culpability and potential degrees of guilt.
3. Mental Competence: The jury must deliberate on whether Mary was mentally competent at the time of the crime. Specifically, did she possess the mental capacity to understand right from wrong? If she was suffering from a mental illness or impairment, this could significantly influence her level of culpability.
Evaluating Guilt and Sanity
In determining Mary’s guilt, the jury must weigh the evidence concerning both her intent and mental state. They should consider:
– The Context of Actions: Understanding the circumstances under which Mary acted can provide insight into her mental state and intentions.
– Expert Testimonies: If psychological evaluations or expert testimonies were presented, these should be carefully assessed to understand how they inform Mary’s mental competency and intent.
– Behavioral Evidence: Any actions or statements made by Mary before, during, or after the incident may shed light on her state of mind and whether she understood the implications of her actions.
Conclusion
The jury finds itself at a critical juncture in determining whether Mary Barnett is guilty of Second Degree Murder. They must rigorously analyze both the prosecution’s claims regarding her intent and awareness, as well as the defense’s arguments surrounding her mental state. Ultimately, their decision will hinge on a comprehensive understanding of these elements, balancing legal definitions with the nuances of human behavior and mental health. Through careful deliberation, they will strive to reach a fair and just verdict based on the evidence presented.
