What kind of parallel Stevenson makes between slavery and mass incarceration? What that comparison tells us about racial relations in the United States?
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 Parallel Between Slavery and Mass Incarceration: An Analysis of Racial Relations in the United States
Thesis Statement
Bryan Stevenson, in his work Just Mercy, presents a compelling parallel between slavery and mass incarceration, arguing that both systems serve to perpetuate racial injustice and socio-economic disparities in the United States. This comparison illuminates the enduring legacy of racism, demonstrating how historical injustices morph into contemporary practices that continue to oppress marginalized communities.
Introduction
Bryan Stevenson, a noted lawyer and social justice advocate, has long been an outspoken critic of the American criminal justice system. In Just Mercy, he articulates the disturbing similarities between slavery and mass incarceration, highlighting how both institutions function to control and dehumanize African Americans. This essay will explore Stevenson’s arguments and analyze what these comparisons reveal about the state of racial relations in the United States today.
Historical Context: Slavery as a System of Control
Stevenson begins by tracing the roots of systemic racism back to slavery, illustrating how it was designed to enforce white supremacy and economic exploitation. During slavery, African Americans were viewed not as human beings but as property, subjected to brutal treatment and stripped of their rights. The abolition of slavery did not eradicate these oppressive attitudes; rather, it led to the creation of new systems designed to maintain control over Black bodies and communities.
For instance, Stevenson notes how the Thirteenth Amendment, while abolishing slavery, contained a clause that allowed for involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. This loophole paved the way for the emergence of Black Codes and Jim Crow laws, which criminalized Black existence and ensured a continuous cycle of incarceration (Stevenson, 2014). Thus, the legacy of slavery evolved into a new form of oppression—mass incarceration.
Mass Incarceration: A Modern Manifestation of Racial Control
Stevenson argues that mass incarceration functions as a modern-day extension of slavery, systematically targeting Black individuals and communities. He provides statistics that reveal the disproportionate rates of incarceration among African Americans, emphasizing that one in three Black boys born today can expect to be sentenced to prison at some point in their lives (Stevenson, 2014). This reality echoes the historical practices of racial control seen during slavery.
Moreover, Stevenson highlights how the criminal justice system perpetuates economic inequality. The war on drugs, for example, has led to severe sentencing disparities that disproportionately affect people of color, often resulting in long sentences for minor offenses. These policies have not only stripped individuals of their freedom but have also devastated entire communities economically and socially (Stevenson, 2014). The parallels Stevenson draws suggest that mass incarceration is not just a criminal justice issue but a continuation of racial oppression rooted in America’s history.
Implications for Racial Relations Today
The comparison between slavery and mass incarceration challenges the notion that racial progress has been achieved in the United States. Instead, Stevenson posits that systemic racism remains deeply entrenched within societal structures. The stigmatization of incarcerated individuals further perpetuates racial stereotypes, hindering efforts toward equity and justice.
By drawing these parallels, Stevenson calls attention to the urgent need for reform. He advocates for a justice system that prioritizes rehabilitation over punishment and acknowledges the historical context of racial injustice. His work encourages dialogue about race relations, urging society to confront uncomfortable truths about the ongoing implications of slavery in contemporary America (Stevenson, 2014).
Conclusion
Bryan Stevenson’s exploration of the parallels between slavery and mass incarceration reveals significant insights into racial relations in the United States. Both systems share a common goal of maintaining control over marginalized populations while perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality. By understanding these connections, we are better equipped to address the systemic injustices that persist today. As Stevenson articulates, acknowledging this painful history is essential for fostering genuine progress toward racial equity and social justice.
References
– Stevenson, B. (2014). Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Spiegel & Grau.
