Topic is “tells us your story. What unique opportunity or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?”
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
My High School Journey: Embracing Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges
Throughout my high school career, I have encountered a combination of unique opportunities and challenges that have played a pivotal role in shaping the person I am today. These experiences have pushed me out of my comfort zone, taught me valuable life lessons, and helped me develop resilience, determination, and a growth mindset. In this essay, I will share my story and reflect on the transformative impact of these opportunities and challenges.
One of the most significant opportunities I had in high school was being selected to participate in a leadership program. This program allowed me to develop essential leadership skills, such as effective communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. It provided me with a platform to make a positive impact within my school community and beyond. Through organizing events, leading teams, and serving as a mentor, I learned the power of influence and the importance of empathy and understanding in leadership roles. This experience instilled in me a sense of responsibility to inspire change and contribute to the betterment of society.
However, along with these opportunities, I also faced various challenges that tested my resilience and determination. One of the most significant challenges was dealing with academic setbacks. There were times when I struggled with certain subjects or failed to achieve the grades I had hoped for. These experiences taught me the importance of perseverance and the value of learning from failure. Instead of allowing these setbacks to discourage me, I used them as motivation to work harder, seek help when needed, and develop effective study strategies. Over time, I learned to embrace the process of learning rather than focusing solely on the outcome. This mindset shift not only improved my academic performance but also fostered a love for continuous growth and personal development.
Another challenge that profoundly impacted me was navigating social dynamics and building meaningful relationships. High school can be a challenging environment filled with cliques, peer pressure, and the need to belong. Initially, I struggled to find my place and establish genuine connections. However, through perseverance and stepping outside my comfort zone, I gradually found a group of friends who shared similar values and interests. These friendships provided me with support, encouragement, and a sense of belonging. They taught me the importance of authenticity, empathy, and acceptance in forming meaningful connections.
In addition to personal challenges, I also faced external obstacles that shaped my high school journey. One such challenge was balancing academic responsibilities with extracurricular activities and personal commitments. Juggling multiple responsibilities taught me effective time management skills, prioritization, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. It also highlighted the importance of self-care and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Overall, the unique opportunities and challenges I experienced throughout my high school career have played an integral role in shaping who I am today. They have taught me valuable life lessons, nurtured personal growth, and fostered resilience in the face of adversity. Through leadership opportunities, academic setbacks, social challenges, and time management struggles, I have developed a strong sense of self-awareness, determination, and a growth mindset that will continue to guide me in my future endeavors. These experiences have not only prepared me for the next chapter of my life but have also instilled in me a passion for lifelong learning, personal growth, and making a positive impact on the world around me.
