Watch the following video and respond to the questions below:
Please respond to the following:
Why do you believe women are portrayed as monstrous more so than men in world mythology?
Do you agree that there is a social discomfort with aging? Why or why not? Please reference a myth discussed in the video.
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
Monstrous Women in Mythology: An Analysis
Thesis Statement
The portrayal of women as monstrous figures in world mythology often reflects societal fears and discomfort surrounding femininity, aging, and the power dynamics between genders. By examining myths such as those featuring hags and witches, we can better understand how these narratives reveal deeper cultural anxieties.
Monstrous Women in Mythology
Throughout various mythologies, women are frequently depicted as monstrous beings, serving as embodiments of societal fears and taboos. These representations are often tied to patriarchal structures that demonize female power, especially as it pertains to aging and wisdom. The video discussion on witches and hags highlights this phenomenon, showcasing characters like the Cailleach and Baba Yaga, who personify the terrifying aspects of feminine power.
Societal Fears and Gender Dynamics
One major reason women are often portrayed as monstrous in mythology is the historical fear of female autonomy. Women’s bodies have long been controlled and regulated within many societies, and powerful female figures challenge these norms. For instance, the Cailleach, a hag from Celtic mythology, is both feared and revered. Her transformation from a powerful winter deity to a petty thief illustrates how society often undermines women’s roles as they age, viewing them through a lens of suspicion rather than respect.
In contrast, male figures in mythology often embody strength and nobility, reflecting societal ideals of masculinity. This discrepancy raises questions about the underlying biases in myth-making—why are powerful women frequently depicted as evil or monstrous, while their male counterparts are celebrated? The answer may lie in the patriarchal need to suppress female power and maintain control over societal narratives.
Discomfort with Aging
The discomfort with aging is another crucial aspect of this portrayal. Aging women are often depicted as hags or witches, emphasizing physical decay and moral corruption. This is evident in the stories of Baba Yaga, who embodies the duality of nurturing and predatory instincts. Unlike other mythological figures who gain wisdom with age, these hags are often stripped of their positive attributes, reinforcing societal fears about the loss of beauty and vitality.
In many cultures, youth is celebrated while aging is viewed negatively. The myth of Baba Yaga serves as a perfect example; she is initially portrayed as a fearsome figure with the ability to turn people to stone, representing society’s fear of an aging woman who wields power. However, she also has the potential for nurturing—suggesting that not all aging figures should be seen as monstrous. This duality reflects a complex relationship between society’s perception of age and gender.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the portrayal of women as monstrous in mythology reveals much about cultural anxieties regarding femininity, aging, and power dynamics. The myths discussed in the video illustrate that these narratives are not merely tales of horror but rather reflections of societal values and fears. By recognizing these patterns, we can challenge the negative stereotypes surrounding aging women and appreciate the complexity of their roles in mythology. Ultimately, understanding these narratives allows us to confront our discomfort with aging and reassess how we view women’s power throughout history.
